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Perhaps you’re on the “Decorating Committee” or “Renovations Committee” at your association. Or even possibly you’re the manager at such a community. There’s a decorating project coming up and you’re thinking “how are we going to pull this off?” Other than the budget, which is a completely different topic, there is a lot that goes into a décor project whether on a large or small scale. The design of your new lobby, community room, hallways or even exterior colors is a BIG DEAL when living in a community association. When it comes to selecting colors and pieces, there are so many options from which to choose. According to designers, today’s décor will have a “pop” feel with much less. You can obtain the “wow factor” by simply streamlining your design strategy. Is it smart to go with the latest trend? Will we be redecorating in 5-10 years? Do we want something that is going to be timeless? In 2017, we are in a great era of décor where old is mixed with new and the “rules” of the past are bending on a grand scale.
When working on a renovation project, there are some key components to consider before you start picking colors. First, taking into consideration the area you’re renovating and the impact it will have on your residents is of most importance. The last thing you want is your project to end up like a one-hit wonder. What seems to be a simple project like painting doors becomes a labor-intensive mission. The scheduling alone can be a full-time job. Then there’s the security and safety component. Just think: if unit doors are open for painting, that unit has to be secure for a number of hours. The possibilities of what could happen with an open door all day are endless (think pets and children). Security must be hired and proper communication must take place in order for a door paint project to be pulled off smoothly. Your typical hallway renovation will include multiple stages. These types of projects again affect the residents personally. They’re in and out of these areas multiple times a day, which disrupts workers and the progress of the project. Selecting a professional who has experience in these areas will ensure a timely result and you’ll have happy homeowners singing, I can make your hands clap (Fitz and the Tantrums), down the hallway.
Second, you’ll need to pick your team. This team will likely consist of your community manager, a board member or two, some homeowner committee members and most importantly your designer and installation team. The first group will happen organically as these are the people in the community that have a fully vested interest and possibly some knowledge on the subject of decorating. The designer and installation team may take a little bit more work. Designers are like musicians; they need inspiration and together you’ll find a groove that you can stick to. If you’re lost, a designer will help you Time after Time (Cindy Lauper). You’ll want to pick this team based on years of experience in the multifamily industry; people or companies who specifically work in communities that have common areas and private residences. Why is this important? Because without this experience, you may be setting yourself up with
a decorator who will make your environment look stuffy or businesslike. You want décor that says, “Welcome Home.” Otherwise, you’ll be left Living on a Prayer (Bon Jovi) at the end.
Consider trends in decorating. Décor in 2017 is an eclectic mix of both timeless and current design trends to maximize longevity of the design. This means choosing solid timeless pieces for the big-ticket items and to go trendy with your lower ticket items that can be easily changed or replaced in 4-5 years; things like pillows, paintings, and accessories. To stay with current trends specifically in the multifamily market, styles may consist of the industrial look and urban farmhouse design. The larger pieces are midcentury modern furniture, styles incorporating natural elements like wood, and use of brass and chrome as accent pieces as opposed to brushed nickel. Depending on your application, multifamily common areas oftentimes consist of quartz counters as opposed to granite, flat panel and shaker style cabinetry and large-scale tiles and flooring. Gray is the new neutral, and transitional styles the blend traditional and modern elements are the trend
Considering that you’re decorating common areas that take a lot of abuse, wear, and tear, the design should include durable products. These can be durable paints that absorb odors, or paint that has a durable washable finish, wallpaper, solid trim, solution dyed carpeting to prevent stains in high traffic areas and incorporate bleach prevention too. Selecting high quality sturdy products initially will help save the cost and inconvenience of repeated repainting and too frequent carpet replacement. Another element to consider is design with energy efficient benefits such as LED Lighting. You’ll get a lot of bang with your buck there. This will make your board members and homeowners sing Hey Ya (Outkast) all the way to their unit doors.
Decor should appeal to the masses in order to attract homeowners that like different design styles. It is not a wise idea to go super trendy and ultra-urban in an area that doesn’t warrant it. This again is where your designer and installation team come into play. Together, they can help you create a balanced, clean and updated environment. Keeping your décor clean and crisp and not too busy are key elements in your design theme. Most multifamily communities want décor that will last 10 years or more. That is a hefty goal and should not be taken lightly. Simple goes a long way. Don’t overdo anything – stay neutral with your core design and add some flare with pops of color and texture through accent walls, artwork, door color and furniture.
Using a team of experts that will focus on the inspiration of your committee and a designer’s artistic flair with design, like a musician, will create harmony. In the end when your project is complete, your happy homeowners will be Dancing in the Street (David Bowie & Mick Jagger or Martha & the Vandellas) or at least dancing down the hallway for that matter.
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