QC Design School’s Top 10 Design Articles of the Last Decade - QC Design School

Welcome to 2020, designers! Happy New Year! Before we get too excited and put the 2010s in the past, we wanted to take one last moment to appreciate all of the wonderful information The Focal Point was able to share. Here’s our list of the Top 10 blog articles over the last 10 years.

interior decorator decorating inside of home

Every time we turn around, there seems to be some new and exciting décor that we simply “must” have in our homes. It can be difficult to say no, especially when it looks so beautiful and trendy. But once you begin adding up all of these ‘essential’ items, all it leads to it unnecessary clutter in the long run.

While there is definitely décor that’s too good to be resisted, there are other things that your client can afford to avoid. This is an extremely useful article to help determine what’s truly a must-have, and what’s simply a passing fancy.

There’s an inherent level of trust that your client places into you when you enter her home for any project. As a designer, it’s important to respect her boundaries in order to maintain a good relationship with your client, and uphold your professional reputation.

Yes, while some clients may come with more rules than others, there are 6 basic guidelines you must always be sure to follow whenever you step onto a client’s property. Definitely a must-read!

Any professional organizer understands that helping a client declutter her home can be an emotionally sensitive process. Certain items will carry a sentimentality that your client won’t be ready to let go of yet, and that’s okay.

That being said, there are still certain things lying around that simply have no purpose anymore. What’s more, this kind of clutter probably shouldn’t hold much (if any) of a personal connection to your client. That’s the stuff that needs to go! Want examples? We’ve got 7 of them!

professional organizer straightening out closet

As the saying goes, “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”. But for some of these interior decorating trends, you may need to stand way back in order to appreciate its beauty. Nope, further than that… Little more… Okay, maybe just keep backing up and walk out of the house entirely. All we can say is, we’re thankful that the days of an overabundance of retro wallpaper in every room are behind us!

If you’re interested in getting into the world of Design, what better way to find inspiration than by seeing someone just like you succeed? If they can do it, so can you! New Yorker, Bradley Schlagheck, is both a QC graduate and a current student, having completed our Professional Organizing course, while also currently enrolled in our Interior Decorating program.

A childhood dancer and professional Broadway performer, Bradley had a knack for keeping things organized, and eventually realized he wanted to make a career out of it! He launched his very own business in 2019 and became a member of NAPO (the National Association of Productivity and Organizing). For those of you who may have a hectic and on-the-go life like Bradley, read more about why he feels QC was the perfect online design school for his busy lifestyle!

When your whole job revolves around so many intricate little details, it’s only natural that things can sometimes go wrong. But there are some things that are in your control, and will make your life as an interior decorator much easier! Whether it’s ignoring your clients, or making the space too busy, avoiding the 6 mistakes outlined in this article will help you steer clear of a ton of unnecessary stress.

We get it: even if it’s your dream to become a professional home stager, it can often feel like there are too many obstacles in the way, stopping you from achieving your dream. For a lot of people, those fears alone will be what stops them from even trying to pursue this field.

This article covers 4 of the most common reasons why people, however willing, choose not to go through with getting their staging certification. Our hope is that you’ll read this list, realize that you can overcome any and all of these hurdles, and finally take that leap you’ve been owing yourself!

What if your client is unable to get a brand new bed in preparation for their home being staged? Easy peasy – just throw a sheet on an air mattress to achieve the same effect! This is just one of but 7 thrifty and smart home staging tricks this article has to offer you if your client is looking for a few ways to save money, without sacrificing quality.

kitchen after staging

Marie Kondo first became a household name back in 2014, when the professional organizer released her book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying. Since then, her KonMari Method has swept the world off its feet (and then neatly stored it on the shelf).

Amazingly, this method has proven itself successful for many people, both regular homeowners and professional organizers alike. In case you haven’t had a chance to read Marie’s book, we’ve broken down her approach to organizing into 5 basic steps. Give it a read, and see how it could change your life, too!

Scientists theorize that a first impression is made within 7 seconds. But only one tenth of a second is needed for someone to start determining whether they like something or not. In the most popular Focal Point article of the decade (WOW!), we explore some of the quickest ways to make a bad impression – before a potential buyer has even walked through the front door. Whether it’s a bad lawn or clashing colors, make sure your client’s home doesn’t fall victim to any of these curb appeal follies.

outside of a beautiful house with great curb appeal

The 2020s are sure to be an incredible decade to come, and we can’t wait to see which articles will make the Top 10 when we do this again! Is there anything you’d like to read about in the New Year? Let us know in the comments!

Ready to turn your passion for design into a professional career? Enroll in QC’s leading Interior Decorating course today!

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