15 Decorating Tips from the Summit County Parade of Homes

A beloved annual tradition of ours is an autumn drive from Albuquerque, past golden leaves and through winding hillsides, to Breckenridge, Colorado to view the stunning dream homes on display during the Summit County Parade of Homes. This year, there were so many great ideas for when we build our dream home (this spring, I hope!) that they couldn't possibly all fit into just 1 post. Be sure to check out the second post, 10 Decorating Ideas for your Modern Mountain Home.

Bonus tip? Build your home on a lake! Can you imagine seeing this from your kitchen window? *swoon*

Tip 1: For a grand, stately first impression, two front doors are better than one.

Tip 2: If you can see the ceiling of your covered patio from inside, continue it in the same style for a seamless indoor-outdoor vibe.

Tip 3: Sliding barn doors are in. Waaay in. Almost every house had at least one. Some were small...

...and some were huge. I really had to muster my strength to push this one open!

Tip 4: For a mountain home, you can never have too many natural materials.

Tip 5: Your dog washing station should be raised up off the floor. Your back will thank you.

(Also, you should tidy up your garbage when your home is featured in a fancy home tour. You never know what will end up displayed on someone's blog!)

Tip 6: When using glass doors in the bathroom, gain extra 'wow' factor by continuing your wall tile all the way into the shower. This will also make your room feel larger.

Tip 7: Stained red cabinets actually look really nice in person. I never would have considered them for our new home before, but these had so much charm. They seemed more like a quality piece of furniture than everyday cabinets.

Tip 8: Placing a countertop above your washer/dryer is old news, but have you ever considered including drawers? They're the perfect place to stash dryer sheets and detergent pods.

Tip 9: If you love a tree and can't bear to cut it down when building your dream home, just incorporate it into your plans.

(And hope it lives forever!)

Tip 10: Backsplash tile with a slight sparkle is in. We saw this exact same tile featured recently during the Denver Parade, Colorado Springs Parade, Summit County Parade, Angel Fire Parade, and Albuquerque Parade and it received plents of Ooohs and Aaahs wherever we went.

Tip 11: No dream home is complete without an elevator. Almost every Summit County home had one! Can you imagine?

When we build, I'd actually like to include an elevator button next to a closed door as a joke, as our home is going to be a single story. We'll also hang a little basket with chalk on the wall and whenever someone is fooled, we'll add another dash to our scoreboard.

Tip 12: When trying to bring the outdoors in, every detail counts. This little twig adds so much more character to the room than if the homeowners had gone with a plain towel bar.

 Tip 13: Applied with restraint, reclaimed wood paneling can add such coziness to a room.

Tip 14: Every home needs a window seat. This rustic one is like your own, personal log cabin.

Tip 15: Rather than rely on a closet in your guest bedroom, which most guests will never open, why not borrow an idea from the mudroom? This provides a handy place to sit and tie shoes, hang coats and purses, and store a suitcase out of the way.

Aren't these ideas so fabulous? Be sure to check Part 2 of this post, 10 Decorating Ideas for your Modern Mountain Home. And I hope to see you at the Summit County Parade of Homes in beautiful Colorado next year!