STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — It is beginning to get dark a little a bit earlier, the kids are preparing for a new school year and, before we know it, the leaves will be starting to change.  With Labor Day approaching, The Staten Island Board of Realtors (SIBOR), like many Staten Islanders, is beginning to look for ways to bring a bit of summer’s sunshine into the colder months ahead.

Outdoor projects will become increasingly difficult as we head into autumn and winter, so why not move your creative endeavors indoors? Sure, spring-cleaning is all the rage, but SIBOR suggests a bit of fall-finessing.

You will be spending significantly more time inside your home in the upcoming months; perhaps it’s time to spruce up your paint choices. A new color can completely change the look and feel of a room. Try something fun, paint your ceiling a color other than white; make use of painters’ tape and create a modern pattern on an accent wall; spend quality time with your children and include them in sponge-painting their room.

Browse through your summer photos and pick out a few favorites. Find space to hang or display them throughout your home. This is a great way to bring summer light into the darker months. Whether your children are headed off to kindergarten or college, it will be nice to have updated family photos in your home.

Take the time to assess your lighting fixtures. Natural light is easy to come by in the summer, but in the winter we have to rely on interior lighting a bit more. Now is a good time to replace that bulb you keep meaning to get to, or purchase an updated fixture.

Gardening isn’t only for the summer! Consider an indoor potted plant to keep your green thumb busy. Peace Lilies, Christmas Cactus and Geraniums make excellent winter house-plants.

Lastly, use these last few weeks of summer to wrap up any outdoor projects you have been meaning to get to. And maybe, squeeze in one last trip to the beach.

About The Staten Island Board of REALTORS® (SIBOR)

The Staten Island Board of REALTORS® (SIBOR) is the largest not-for-profit trade association in Staten Island, N.Y.

SIBOR exists to enhance the ability and opportunity of its members to conduct their business successfully and ethically; and to promote the preservation of the public’s right to own, transfer and use real property.

Comprised of over 1,600 members, SIBOR serves real estate agents, brokers and affiliated professionals throughout the borough and surrounding areas.

SIBOR is the provider of the Staten Island Multiple Listing Service Inc. (SIMLS), which works as a clearinghouse through which more than 250 local real estate firms exchange information on properties they have listed for sale. Together, its members participate in over 3,000 real estate transactions every year.

All SIBOR members belong to the New York State Association of REALTORS® (NYSAR) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

SIBOR may be reached at 718-979-0007 and viewed online at http://siborrealtors.com. SIBOR may also be visited on Facebook at “Staten Island Board of Realtors,” on Twitter via @SIBOR, and on YouTube at the Staten Island Board of Realtors and RelevantPR channels.

Media Contact: Barton Horowitz

Relevant Public Relations, LLC

Headquarters: 718 682 1509

Mobile: 917 715 8761

Email: Bhorowitz@RelevantPR.com