A Short Guide to “Adultifying” Your Bedroom

Matt Chan • May 6, 2016

We all arrive here at different times;

…the transition from young adulthood to adulthood; from “growing up” to “grown up”. Perhaps you’ve just moved from a university dorm into your first apartment; or perhaps you’ve just purchased your first home. Either way, it’s at this point that you should be embracing your newfound role someone who gets up before 10AM, drinks coffee or tea, goes to work, and sleeps in exclusively on Saturdays (and sometimes Sundays).

Part of this process includes transitioning the decor of your bedroom in order to reflect your newly established path. So, without further adieu, the following is a short guide to transforming your slightly juvenile bedroom into into one fit for a full grown adult! Because there really should be a difference between the look of your bedroom and that of your teenagers room!

Throw Pillows/The Duvet Effect

Nothing says “I’m an adult” like buying pillows for the express purpose of showcasing your bed; as opposed to buying them for one of their more “practical” uses, I.E- using them as padding while you sleep.

But seriously, throw pillows give any bedroom a touch of maturity. And at the end of the day, these showpieces are indeed useful for adding that extra bit of softness and comfort to any bed or couch. They’re also useful for pegging your spouse or children as they walk past your open bedroom door. Just don’t expect them to take it lying down; that is, unless the pillows that you’ve tossed are really comfortable!

Additionally, get rid of that old grimey bed cover, and replace it with a duvet; it’s ultra comfortable, and it says, “I may have lots to learn about being an adult, but at least I’m not sleeping with the blankets that I used in middle school”.

Matching Furniture

Never underestimate the power of a matching bed/night stand combination. This simple touch can pull together a living space like nobody’s business. Colors are obviously important here, but style is something to consider as well. If you can, work to make sure both of these factors are taken into consideration.

Neutral Colors

Bright, edgy colors exude boldness. They’re out there, and in small doses, they’re perfect. But too much bold is just that; too much. Sure, go ahead and accent your space with a splash of color (again, throw pillows work well, here); but be careful not to let your living space be taken over by a garbled rainbow of colors. Pick a scheme and stick with it.

Art in Moderation

There comes a time in every person’s life when he or she must take stock of that which is on display, on their bedroom walls. Certainly there was a time when more was better. When style or sequence didn’t matter; when, if you liked it (even a little) it went up there for everyone to see.

It’s time to rethink that strategy.

Again, accent your walls with a small selection of tasteful art; art that matches the newly established maturity of a person who has left childhood behind while embracing the joy of driving, voting, having a nice glass of wine, and having a family.

The Book Nook

As we age, it’s important for us to keep our minds sharp. Reading is obviously a great way to stay mentally nimble, and books are a great way to decorate any living space. Build or buy a small shelf, find a cozy chair, add a plush throw rug and away you go! By the way, no comics or picture books here, stay classy, novels only. Besides, if you collect comics, you probably already have an entire room dedicated to them, which is completely acceptable.

Honorable Mention: Keeping it all clean!

All of this is for not if you can’t keep your bedroom space clean. Take the time to do it right. For all you messy people out there, buy a hamper, use the hamper and (every now and again) empty the hamper into the washing machine. You’ll find that a clean living space is a much more desirable living space, both for you and for your guests.

Now, if you are looking to buy your first place, or you need to find a property more suited to your current situation (with a bedroom you can adultify), please contact us anytime , we can help you with a plan!

 

This article originally appeared in the DLC Newsletter for May 2016.

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Start Smart: Get Pre-Approved for Your Mortgage

By Matthew Chan • October 1, 2025
Thinking of Buying a Home? Here’s Why Getting Pre-Approved Is Key If you’re ready to buy a home but aren’t sure where to begin, the answer is simple: start with a pre-approval. It’s one of the most important first steps in your home-buying journey—and here's why. Why a Pre-Approval is Crucial Imagine walking into a restaurant, hungry and excited to order, but unsure if your credit card will cover the bill. It’s the same situation with buying a home. You can browse listings online all day, but until you know how much you can afford, you’re just window shopping. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is like finding out the price range you can comfortably shop within before you start looking at homes with a real estate agent. It sets you up for success and saves you from wasting time on properties that might be out of reach. What Exactly is a Pre-Approval? A pre-approval isn’t a guarantee. It’s not a promise that a lender will give you a mortgage no matter what happens with your finances. It’s more like a preview of your financial health, giving you a clear idea of how much you can borrow, based on the information you provide at the time. Think of it as a roadmap. After going through the pre-approval process, you’ll have a much clearer picture of what you can afford and what you need to do to make the final approval process smoother. What Happens During the Pre-Approval Process? When you apply for a pre-approval, lenders will look at a few key areas: Your income Your credit history Your assets and liabilities The property you’re interested in This comprehensive review will uncover any potential hurdles that could prevent you from securing financing later on. The earlier you identify these challenges, the better. Potential Issues a Pre-Approval Can Reveal Even if you feel confident that your finances are in good shape, a pre-approval might uncover issues you didn’t expect: Recent job changes or probation periods An income that’s heavily commission-based or reliant on extra shifts Errors or collections on your credit report Lack of a well-established credit history Insufficient funds saved for a down payment Existing debt reducing your qualification amount Any other financial blind spots you might not be aware of By addressing these issues early, you give yourself the best chance of securing the mortgage you need. A pre-approval makes sure there are no surprises along the way. Pre-Approval vs. Pre-Qualification: What’s the Difference? It’s important to understand that a pre-approval is more than just a quick online estimate. Unlike pre-qualification—which can sometimes be based on limited information and calculations—a pre-approval involves a thorough review of your finances. This includes looking at your credit report, providing detailed documents, and having a conversation with a mortgage professional about your options. Why Get Pre-Approved Now? The best time to secure a pre-approval is as soon as possible. The process is free and carries no risk—it just gives you a clear path forward. It’s never too early to start, and by doing so, you’ll be in a much stronger position when you're ready to make an offer on your dream home. Let’s Make Your Home Buying Journey Smooth A well-planned mortgage process can make all the difference in securing your home. If you’re ready to get pre-approved or just want to chat about your options, I’d love to help. Let’s make your home-buying experience a smooth and successful one!

Don’t Let Collections Derail Your Mortgage Application

By Matthew Chan • September 24, 2025
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Bank of Canada Rate Announcement Sept 17th, 2025

By Matthew Chan • September 17, 2025
Bank of Canada lowers policy rate to 2½%.  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Relations Ottawa, Ontario September 17, 2025 The Bank of Canada today reduced its target for the overnight rate by 25 basis points to 2.5%, with the Bank Rate at 2.75% and the deposit rate at 2.45%. After remaining resilient to sharply higher US tariffs and ongoing uncertainty, global economic growth is showing signs of slowing. In the United States, business investment has been strong but consumers are cautious and employment gains have slowed. US inflation has picked up in recent months as businesses appear to be passing on some tariff costs to consumer prices. Growth in the euro area has moderated as US tariffs affect trade. China’s economy held up in the first half of the year but growth appears to be softening as investment weakens. Global oil prices are close to their levels assumed in the July Monetary Policy Report (MPR). Financial conditions have eased further, with higher equity prices and lower bond yields. Canada’s exchange rate has been stable relative to the US dollar. Canada’s GDP declined by about 1½% in the second quarter, as expected, with tariffs and trade uncertainty weighing heavily on economic activity. Exports fell by 27% in the second quarter, a sharp reversal from first-quarter gains when companies were rushing orders to get ahead of tariffs. Business investment also declined in the second quarter. Consumption and housing activity both grew at a healthy pace. In the months ahead, slow population growth and the weakness in the labour market will likely weigh on household spending. Employment has declined in the past two months since the Bank’s July MPR was published. Job losses have largely been concentrated in trade-sensitive sectors, while employment growth in the rest of the economy has slowed, reflecting weak hiring intentions. The unemployment rate has moved up since March, hitting 7.1% in August, and wage growth has continued to ease. CPI inflation was 1.9% in August, the same as at the time of the July MPR. Excluding taxes, inflation was 2.4%. Preferred measures of core inflation have been around 3% in recent months, but on a monthly basis the upward momentum seen earlier this year has dissipated. A broader range of indicators, including alternative measures of core inflation and the distribution of price changes across CPI components, continue to suggest underlying inflation is running around 2½%. The federal government’s recent decision to remove most retaliatory tariffs on imported goods from the US will mean less upward pressure on the prices of these goods going forward. With a weaker economy and less upside risk to inflation, Governing Council judged that a reduction in the policy rate was appropriate to better balance the risks. Looking ahead, the disruptive effects of shifts in trade will continue to add costs even as they weigh on economic activity. Governing Council is proceeding carefully, with particular attention to the risks and uncertainties. Governing Council will be assessing how exports evolve in the face of US tariffs and changing trade relationships; how much this spills over into business investment, employment, and household spending; how the cost effects of trade disruptions and reconfigured supply chains are passed on to consumer prices; and how inflation expectations evolve. The Bank is focused on ensuring that Canadians continue to have confidence in price stability through this period of global upheaval. We will support economic growth while ensuring inflation remains well controlled. Information note The next scheduled date for announcing the overnight rate target is October 29, 2025. The Bank’s October Monetary Policy Report will be released at the same time.