Scatty.com

Author: scatty

5 Ways To Boost Your Creativity

Posted on by scatty

Are you stuck and having trouble getting your next creative project off the ground? Creativity leads to innovation, but how do you jumpstart the creative process when you’re in a slump? Let’s take a look at five ways to reignite your creativity, whether you need it for your job or a hobby.

1. Update Your Decor or Change Your Location.

If your creativity is in a slump, get a new perspective by changing the décor in your office or relocating yourself to another room. You could even take a trip outside to view your natural surroundings. If you’ve been staring at the same four walls and the same décor for years, it could be the reason for your creative slump. Change the pictures on your walls, and update your bulletin board. Add items to your desk that invoke creativity, like a puzzle box or a cryptex. Additionally, take the time to work in other locations within your building and even outside. A change in scenery can help you get a new perspective and ignite your creativity.

2. Learn Something New.

Innovation and creativity can come from learning new things. To start, think about the things you don’t know. Have you ever researched medieval construction techniques? What items did ancient Romans have in their homes? How are shoes constructed? What’s the loop on the back of dress shirts for? By increasing your knowledge base, even on obscure topics, you’ll help foster new ideas and broaden your thinking.

3. Write Down New Ideas.

Do random thoughts come to you during the day? Write them down. Most people have random ideas and thoughts that occur to them on a daily basis. Jot them down in your phone’s note feature or on a tablet, even if it’s not a fully formed idea. Reviewing these ideas later can help you boost your creativity.

4. Write Down the Things that Annoy You.

Innovation can come from frustration. What’s bothering you today? Does the trash bag liner keep falling down? Are you having trouble with a piece of software or not able to find the software you need? Write it down. Later, you can elaborate on the problem and brainstorm ways to fix it. Solving small issues in your daily life can help you broaden your creative horizons.

5. Add Some Brains.

The saying that two brains are better than one is true. When you’re in a creative slump, seek out new ideas by listening to other people. This could be as simple as holding a conference call or in-person meeting with others in your industry or similar industries. These individuals may have ideas and thoughts that will spark new ideas in your mind.

To inspire your creativity, make an effort. Remember not to limit yourself. Write down even the craziest idea, and don’t forget to learn and try new things. By expanding your horizons and knowledge, you’ll better be able to tackle your next creative project.

Posted in Art

5 Easy To Learn Arts And Crafts

Posted on by scatty

Feel like being a little crafty? Making something with your own two hands is not just rewarding, it’s also considered a form of therapeutic meditation by some mental health professionals. Whether you are a constant crafter with a knack for anything artistic or a total beginner, certain arts and crafts are easy to learn. We’ve pulled together five of the simplest art and craft projects you can try that don’t take much time at all to master. 

1. Creating Origami 

Origami is the ancient Japanese papercraft that involves folding paper into decorative figures and shapes. Best of all, all you need is sturdy paper, possibly a pair of scissors, and simple instructions found online. From birds and mammals to flowers and everyday objects, it’s a lot of fun to use paper to create a 3D object. Most pieces involve simple paper folds and tucks to achieve the finished product. 

2. Sharpie Tie-Dying 

Sharpie ink works out really well for tie-dyed art projects. Grab a handful of your favorite markers, a bottle of rubbing alcohol, and something to make more colorful. Keep in mind, this art project is best done outdoors or in a well-ventilated area. Simply use the markers to create shapes on a shirt or piece of paper, and then spray the rubbing alcohol over the ink. The colors will bleed together to create a masterpiece. 

3. Creating Hand-Painted Landscape Rocks

Looking to spruce up your landscape with a touch of personality? Pick up some acrylic paint, a few paintbrushes, and a clear enamel sealer spray at the craft store. Scout out a few good stones with interesting shapes and smooth surfaces. With a little creative thinking, you can transform a basic rock into your favorite book, an animal, or a flower-donned garden piece bound to attract attention. 

4. Making Flower-Rimmed Picture Frames 

Grab a few inexpensive picture frames, some faux flower blooms and greenery, and your hot glue gun. Pluck the flowers and greenery from the stems, arrange them how you like on the frame, and tack them in place with the hot glue. In the end, you have an adorable photo frame to house your favorite memories. It can also be fun to make your own wreath using a simple straw wreath or circular base using this same process. 

5. Crocheting 

Crocheting is considered one of the easiest-to-learn needlework techniques. You are simply using yarn and a crochet hook to create rows of loops or knots. These rows eventually become a full piece of fabric. Stitch patterns with crocheting vary, and some are easier to learn than others. There are a ton of instructional crocheting videos available for free online, and the craft is easy to pick up. You could be crafting everything from baby booties to comfy throw blankets in no time at all. 

 

Posted in Art

What Personality Profiles Lead To Success?

Posted on by scatty

Personality profiles generally group people into types based on the traits they share. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one such test that’s often used for career advancement. While any profile can lead to success, it’s helpful to pursue the right career for your profile. However, you can also take steps to align your profile with your dream job, even when they don’t appear compatible.

Overview

The MBTI sorts people into 16 personality types based on the following four pairs of opposing elements:

  • Extroversion-introversion
  • Sensing-intuition
  • Thinking-feeling
  • Judging-perceiving

The extroversion-introversion pair describes how you spend your energy, and the sensing-intuition pair describes how you receive information. Thinking-feeling describes how you make decisions, and judging-perceiving describes how you see the world.

Elements

Associating your personality type with your actions can provide insight into your behavior in the workplace. For example, introverts must expend greater effort in communicating with others, which can present a challenge when they need help. Sensing types are able to gather facts from their environment, while intuitive types look for meaning in patterns and connections. Thinkers try to find logical solutions to problems, but feelers make decisions based on emotions, needs and values. Judgers look for structure in their organization, while perceivers prefer to remain flexible with respect to structure.

Jobs by Personality Type

Many jobs naturally align with a particular MBTI personality type. For example, Introverted, Sensing, Thinking and Judging (ISTJ) types are often attorneys, civil engineers, dentists, loan officers and software developers. Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling and Judging (INFJ) types are well-suited to be animators, designers, HR managers, professors and school counselors. Extraverted, Sensing, Thinking and Perceiving (ESTP) types are compatible with professions like acting, paramedics, entrepreneurs, sales managers and stockbrokers. Extraverted, Intuitive, Thinking and Judging (ENTJ) types are likely be art directors, editors, executive assistants, real estate brokers and sociologists.

Find Your Career Passion

Discovering what you’re passionate about requires time and self-awareness, especially if you want to make it your career. If you already have job, start by identifying the high and low points of your work day. This information can help you decide to apply for a different role or even promotion that better suits your personality type. If you’re still in school, you should learn which subjects and classes are your favorites, and why. This type of inward thinking can help you select your major and career.

Align Your Career with your Passion

The Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant and Time-based (SMART) framework can help you align your career with your passion. Begin this process by outlining your career goals as specifically as possible. You’ll also need to determine what you can reasonably accomplish within set timeframes. You must then identify the actions needed to reach goals that align with your personality types. Finally, the SMART framework requires you to prioritize these action items.

How To Read For The Purposes of Study

Posted on by scatty

Reading for enjoyment is very different than reading for the purposes of study. When you need to read something and really comprehend it, you need to employ a different strategy. Here’s how to read for the purposes of study.

First, have a highlighter pen ready. If you don’t want to use a highlighter, you can use a pen. Just make sure it’s in a contrasting color than the ink in the book. Use the highlighter or pen to highlight essential information. You can also use it to highlight something that you need to do further research on.

Next, don’t be afraid to write in the margins. Forget the old rule about never writing in a book. Remember when Harry Potter used Tom Riddle’s book in the Half Blood Prince? The margin notes made Harry Potter go to the top of his potions class. Margin notes can help you get an A in your college class, too.  Make all the margin notes you want to, and include questions if they might help you to go find more information about the subject.

If it helps, you should try reading the text aloud. Sometimes reading something out loud helps you retain the information better. You could even use a funny voice or an accent to help you get into the feeling of the text. Funny enough, this can help you to understand even better. You might want to ask your roommate to leave while you do it, though.

Visualize what you just read. If you come across an abstract idea or something that’s hard to understand, visualize it. Put the book aside for a minute and try to picture what the author is saying. In many cases, pictures help us remember things better. Then, when it comes to getting tested on the material, you can just pull up that picture in your head to help you get a good grade.

Use your dictionary. Whenever you come across a word that you don’t know, don’t skim over it. Words are important. It’s essential that you understand all the words. Otherwise you might get the wrong meaning. If the sentence you’re reading has a word that you’re unfamiliar with, pause and look it up in the dictionary. Then go back and read the sentence again and make sure you really understand what it’s saying.

Use bookmarks. Another great way to read for the purposes of study is to use bookmarks. You don’t need a fancy bookmark. Just a small slip of paper will work. Insert a bookmark anyplace that’s really important, or in an area that you want to read again.

Finally, test yourself. After finishing a section or chapter, take a sheet of paper and jot down the key points. Then check to see if you’ve got them right.

Whether you’re reading to study for a college class, to pass an exam or to impress a client, these tips will help.

 

5 Different Approaches to the Meaning of Life

Posted on by scatty

Great philosophers have pondered the meaning of life and written comprehensive discourses articulating ways to harmoniously exist. Aristotle laid out a broad interpretation, saying the ultimate goal is eudaimonia (happiness). French existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre claimed there is no objective meaning or purpose in life outside the freedom each individual creates. Douglas Adams clearly articulates in his work, “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” that “The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything is . . . 42.” That being said, these are 5 different approaches to the meaning of life everyday people may find illuminating.

1: The Pursuit of Pure Pleasure

Some people take Aristotle’s idea about happiness as the goal to an extraordinary sensory level. Hedonism is the relentless pursuit of pleasure primarily through the physical world. It involves experiencing fine foods, wines, music, art, and eroticism. Although hedonists are often remembered for their sometimes excessive sexual leanings, hedonism can include anything that provides pleasure.

2: Embracing the Struggle

The ancient Greeks laid the foundation for wide-reaching ways to approach the meaning of life, and the Spartans set an iconic example. Virtue for the soldier-class involved adapting and overcoming hardships in an effort to acquire self-discipline and wage war.

The notion that life is but a struggle is reflected across music, films, theater, and literature. Perhaps the most iconic tale involves Sisyphus. In punishment for escaping the underworld, he is tasked with forever pushing a boulder up a hill only to see it roll down the other side. His meaning is derived from labor and toil. Hedonists find such scenarios bleak.

3: Fill Your Life with Purpose

The existentialism of Sartre can fill some people with dread. The idea we live without objective meaning leaves people thinking life is not worth living. But the existentialists offer a viable solution that revolves around choosing a purpose.

By considering your values, it’s possible to bring about positive change by exercising your freedom. Joining the Peace Corps, becoming a doctor, fighting for civil rights, and protecting the environment are all ways seemingly ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things. These actions are a purposeful way to approach the meaning of life.

4: Follow a Higher Power

Religious doctrine teaches that the precise opposite of existentialism holds true. Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and polytheistic religions point to a higher being or beings who created life and expect humans to practice an ethical code of conduct. By following laws such as the Ten Commandments, people live a more meaningful existence and will be rewarded in the afterlife. Essentially, this approach to the meaning of life involves building a relationship with a higher power.

5: Modern Day Mindfulness and Buddhism

Early Buddhism taught that life is suffering, and we can overcome this condition through mindful mediations and right actions, among others. During the Fifth Century, Indian prince Siddhartha Gautama renounced his life of wealth and entitlement to become a beggar while searching for the meaning of life. He discovered that extremes were not necessarily the best way to become enlightened.

Developing a “Middle Way,” he taught that deep meditation, increased mindfulness, and a thoughtful approach to everyday life can end human suffering. Today, Buddhism has evolved into different branches, Therevada primarily teaching that either the purpose of spiritual practice is to develop ones own inner enlightenment, and Mahayana Buddhism teaching us that we are inseparable from others and our environment. On this latter view, the purpose of life is to help others as well as oneself, gradually develop a society based on compassion and respect for the dignity of life, and ultimately achieve enlightenment together through concrete actions in daily life.

How To Improve Your Reflexes

Posted on by scatty

Reflexes are the transmission of a neural impulse from the brain in response to stimuli, resulting in a muscular contraction. This process typically takes at least ¼ second, but the reaction time from the perception of stimuli to the transmission of an impulse varies greatly between individuals. Activities that can improve your reflexes may be classified into mental exercises, physical exercises and self-care.

Mental Exercises

Studies show that playing video games can improve your reflexes, since they typically require you to quickly transition from thought to action. First-person shooters are usually the best choice for this purpose, since they require the most eye-hand coordination. Some role-playing games are also good for improving reflexes.

Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), a type of hypnosis, can help some people increase their awareness of an object. This state of mind creates the perception of time slowing down, thus reducing reaction time. Athletes often use NLP to improve their performance.

Mindfulness attempts to achieve a similar state of mind as NLP except it doesn’t focus on a particular object. Instead, mindfulness increases your awareness of everything happening around you at each moment. Increasing your situational awareness can help you respond more quickly to stimuli.

Physical Exercises

Physical exercises like bouncing and catching a reaction ball are often effective at improving your reflexes. These “balls” have irregular shapes that cause them to bounce in unpredictable ways and are available at most sporting goods stores. Tossing a reaction ball on a hard surface and trying to catch it is a great way to improve your reflexes because it requires you to focus on it more than trying to catch an ordinary ball.

Jacks is a children’s game that uses a small rubber ball and 12 metal pieces called jacks to develop eye-hand coordination. The player bounces the ball on the floor, picks up jacks and catches the ball with the same hand before it reaches the floor. You can make the game as challenging as you want by picking up more jacks and spreading them out more.

Self-Care

The right diet can help keep you feeling alert, which is essential for quick reflexes. Foods that are high in simple sugar can give you a quick burst of energy, but you’ll feel sluggish after your body converts the sugar into energy. Complex carbohydrates provide a more even energy supply over a longer period, as opposed to the energy spikes of simple sugar. Additional foods that can improve cognitive function include fish, nuts and leafy green vegetables. Proper hydration is also a key dietary requirement for maintaining the alertness needed for fast reflexes.

Adequate sleep is essential for keeping your reflexes as sharp as possible. It’s particularly important to complete at least four sleep cycles between deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM), which requires a minimum of seven hours. Athletes often schedule a nap of a few hours before an event.

5 Delicacies That Will Probably Make You Wince

Posted on by scatty

Many food delicacies are regional; therefore, what one person enjoys, another may find totally repulsive. If you’re squeamish, beware! There are lots of regional specialties ahead, some are liable to make you wince!

Balut

Balut, also spelled balot, is a delicacy enjoyed across Southeast Asia. It looks like a boiled egg, but crack it open, and that’s where it all changes. Essentially, it’s a boiled duck or chicken egg that contains a partially formed embryo. Depending on where it’s prepared, the embryo is allowed to develop between 17 and 21 days. Suffice it to say, that’s long enough to recognize bones, feathers, feet, beaks and so much more.

The right way to “enjoy” balut, if one is able to enjoy it, is with squirts of lemon juice and seasonings, then slurp it up from the shell. Balut can contain many hazardous bacteria, including Salmonella.

There are ethical issues with boiling a living embryo that is old enough to experience pain. In many countries, embryonic birds that have reached this stage are protected.

Casu Marzu

Casu marzu is a Sardinian cheese made from sheep’s milk. Cut it open, however, and you’ll discover hundreds of live maggots. In fact, the maggots will hop off of it while you’re eating it. Casu marzu aficionados eat the maggots with the cheese. In fact, they feel that the cheese isn’t safe to eat without them. You need to wear eye protection, though, because the maggots can jump up to 6 inches when disturbed.

Eating this cheese comes with a health risk – pseudomyiasis. With pseudomyiasis, you become the one being eaten! The worms can survive inside you and bore through your stomach and intestines.

Casu marzu is typically illegal. But if you’re really feeling adventurous, it’s easy to obtain from a “black market” peddler.

Fried Tarantula

It’s likely people started eating fried spiders out of the desperate hope of avoiding starvation during the Khmer Rouge. It has since become a delicacy. The tarantula are fried until their legs are stiff and the contents of the abdomen are not too runny. Most of the meat and nutrition is in the head and body. The abdomen is filled with a thick brown gravy made up of excrement, organs and possibly eggs. As they explode all over your tongue, the creamy spider innards are said to taste like crab.

San-nakji

San-nakji is octopus, that is still alive when it’s cut into small pieces. It’s served with sesame seeds and sesame oil, and it’s still squirming on your plate when it reaches your table. Yes, you eat it while it is still alive. Sometimes, it’s served and swallowed whole.

This delicacy is made from a type of baby octopus, the nakji. The octopus does not always go down without a fight. In fact, its suction cups are active and can stick to your mouth or throat. Incidents have been reported of people choking while eating san-nakji.

Bat Paste / Soup

Bats are a native cuisine in Thailand, Guam, parts of China and other countries. Bat paste is commonly served and easy to make! Just throw a whole bat into a pot of water and boil until soft. Then, chop and mash into a paste with herbs and spices. Voilà! Bat paste!

Bat soup, a Palau Islands delicacy, is also made by throwing a whole, live bat into boiling water or milk, fur and all. You can eat the soup while its fuzzy little face stares back at you.

Both dishes are dangerous to consume and, in fact, can be fatal if you come down with some diseases bats are known to carry.

5 Celebrities Who Took On Normal Careers AFTER Being Famous

Posted on by scatty

If you became famous, you’d probably never want to go back to a normal job, right? But these famous celebrities ended up taking on normal careers just like you and me, after they were famous!

1. Will Wheaton

Young Wesley Crusher from Star Trek the Next Generation won young girls’ hearts everywhere. His role as Doctor Beverly Crusher’s son lasted through the first four seasons of the show. After that, he reprised his role sporadically, as the story line needed. But being a child star took its toll on Will Wheaton. He later recounts his ongoing struggles with anxiety and depression in his blog and in his books. He is now a New York Times best-selling author who lives quietly with his wife and children in California, writing away.

2. Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba began her acting career at the tender age of 13. Her good looks quickly garnered attention and she rose to fame in the TV series, Dark Angel. Her acting career flourished in films such as Fantastic Four, Little Fockers, Good Luck Chuck and others. However, Jessica became disenchanted with the Hollywood scene, where she says she suffered from degradation and discrimination as a woman. She turned her sights on being a business woman. She founded The Honest Company, a line of natural products for home, baby and personal use. After taking her company public, The Honest Company is worth an estimated 1.7 billion dollars.

3. Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz had no shortage of acting work coming her way. Over the course of a 20-year acting career, she has appeared in dozens of blockbuster movies. She has won numerous awards and even has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But Cameron famously retired from acting in 2014, citing a desire to live like a human being. That’s when Cameron decided to start a wine company with her best friend. The wine company is called Avaline, and is made with organic grapes, free of unwanted additives, and it’s already a booming enterprise.

4. Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg, also known as Marky Mark, has enjoyed a successful film career spanning over 33 years. He still acts and is considered one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars. But Mark took on a normal career after being famous. He now owns a total of five car dealerships, all of them located in Ohio. He has partnered with a dealer-operator, but Mark still takes a hands-on approach to his dealerships. The reason, he says, is that he loves cars and loves to be in the car business. Fans should note that Mark actually works at some of the dealerships selling cars when he’s not busy working on his latest film.

5. Vanilla Ice

Vanilla Ice became famous largely because of his hit song, Ice Ice Baby. Even now, you can probably hear the song in your head. Vanilla Ice was incredibly popular and successful as a musician, though he never again had a hit as big as Ice Ice Baby. Afterward, he became even more successful as a house flipper. He demonstrated his weirdly talented aptitude for figuring out if a house had potential, and even did much of his own renovation work. He ended up with his own reality show, which was also weirdly popular.

It just goes to show that maybe being a famous celebrity isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

 

5 Books That Will Get You Back Into Reading

Posted on by scatty

Have you lapsed in reading recently? Do you love a good book? Well then, you’ve come to the right place! Sometimes, you just need a little inspiration to find the next great book to get you back into reading.

Where the Crawdads Sing

Are you a fan of mysteries? Do you like a touch of romance in your novels? “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens is a great read for fans of mystery or romance. The compelling story features a girl who was abandoned by her family in the marsh. After raising herself in the marsh, she finds that the local town is suspicious of her. It is a page-turning mystery that will keep you interested until the end.

Sapiens

If non-fiction is your area of interest, then “Sapiens” by Yuval Noah Harari is the book to get you back into reading. The history book tells the story of humanity from the beginning and takes a compelling approach to giving you pertinent information. The book is filled with facts, figures, and metaphors that give an interesting take on human society and the development of modern human behavior.

A Court of Thorns and Roses

Do you enjoy fantasy novels? Are you a fan of classic stories remade into unique tales? “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas is the book to consider when you want to get back into reading. The story takes a new spin on the classic Beauty and the Beast tale, with an interesting and unique world full of intrigue and new thrills. It is as much as a thriller as a fantasy story, so you may find it hard to put down after you start to read!

Frankenstein

Do you love the classics? Are you a fan of the horror genre? “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelly is a great read to get back into reading. The classic is haunting, intelligent, and full of human emotion. It pulls at the heart while also giving a touch of science fiction, history, and poetry that makes it hard to put down. Though the book was written more than 200 years ago, it remains an interesting read for anyone who enjoys classics, horror, science fiction, or history.

The Guest List

Are you a fan of thrillers? Are mysteries your area of interest? If you love a good thriller or mystery, then “The Guest List” by Lucy Foley is a great book to read. The page-turning story starts with a wedding and goes far beyond a fun-filled event. The author keeps you guessing throughout the story and it is an engaging read that will get you back into the habit of reading.

If you are looking for a great book to get back into reading after a lapse, then you want to start with something compelling and interesting. By starting with a book that keeps you coming back for more, you will remember why you enjoy reading and can start setting aside time to get back into reading.

Top 5 Home Decor Mistakes – Avoid These If You Want To Sell Your Home

Posted on by scatty

The housing market has been ultra-hot for some time. Nearly everything sold quickly – and for much higher than the asking price. Sellers really didn’t have to do much to prepare their home for sale to receive multiple offers.  Unfortunately, those days seem to be waning. It’s a bit harder today to sell a home than it was this time last year. And, the experts agree that selling a home is going to get even tougher.

That does not mean your home won’t sell. It just may take a little more thought and planning. So, what do you need to do to land a contract? A good place to start is to avoid some common décor mistakes that can turn off buyers.  Fix them, and your home will stand out amongst others on the market.

Mistake # 1:  Going Too Bold

Yes, you want to make a statement. You want your house to stand out. But you don’t want to be so bold that it actually turns away potential buyers. Whether you are painting an accent wall, adding wallpaper to a powder room, or even accenting the kitchen with tile or a backsplash, be sure that your style isn’t too much. Adding some color is always good. Just remember the word “some” when designing a room.  Small touches add flare and depth to a space without overpowering it.

Mistake # 2:  Using Dark Furniture in a Small Space

Not every home features vaulted ceilings and large spacious living areas. Let’s be honest, many houses sport “cozier” rooms.  Don’ t weight down smaller spaces with big, dark furniture. Go light. This means lighter colors (beige, light grays and even white). Stay away from dark browns, blacks and navy. If you have darker furniture, add slipcovers.

And be sure the furniture style matches the size of the room.  You may love your four-poster king sized bed, but if it makes the master bedroom look tight, opt to show it with a full or queen bed instead. Entice buyers with the size of the room; not the size of your furniture.

Mistake # 3: Overdoing Designer Trends

Not every trend is going to sell a house. Especially if you overdo it. Most design experts agree that less is more.  Adding a small accent of tile in your kitchen or a single wall of shiplap will grab more attention than flooding the entire room with the same materials. Want to add a modern appeal? Go simple. Go light. And always opt for less.

Mistake # 4:  Using Washed Out Lighting

If there is one mistake nearly every home seller makes, it is over lighting each room. Yes, potential buyers need to see what your home has to offer, but that doesn’t mean over lighting your rooms.  Lighting can either wash out a space, or make it feel more intimate – like home. Create a warm and inviting space by layering your lighting using multiple light sources. Don’t rely solely on overhead lights. Add table lamps too.

Be sure to add dimmers where you can and replace harsh white and fluorescent bulbs with soft white ones.  This gives rooms a calm, more inviting feeling.

 Mistake # 5:  Using Rugs That Are Too Small

Rugs can add  color and texture to a room. But only if they are the right size. Opt for rugs at least 8 x 10 or 9 x 12 in most areas. Anything smaller should grace only in entryways and halls

A good rule of thumb when choosing a rug style is to be sure several pieces of furniture fit on it and still offer some rug space around the furniture.

 

Most sellers know the rules for keeping their home neutral, uncluttered and free of personal items when showing them to potential buyers. Unfortunately , few know about these common mistakes which can thwart a sale. Avoid the pitfalls listed here and watch your home gain the attention it needs for a quick sale.