Stage Your Home Like a Pro

stage your home like a pro

According to Stone House Collective, a Milwaukee-based interior design firm, staging not only helps sellers to stand out from the competition, but it makes your property appear more move-in ready to buyers—especially in a housing market where buyers are ready to move in yesterday. Empty rooms appear much smaller than they actually are, so creating the visual fantasy of what the home could look like is paramount. This helps buyers to envision themselves in their dream home—not your house.

Ahead, a few tricks to help you stage and sell your home like a professional.

Stay on Neutral Ground

Staging a home is the conscious act of setting the stage for anyone to envision moving into your property. Play it safe and appeal to everyone with neutral paint and textile colors like sophisticated light grays, beiges and shades of white. Light neutral hues are perfect for reflecting light and making rooms appear more spacious. Which brings us to our next point…

Lighting is Everything

A picture is worth a thousand words—and even more with the right lighting. We all know the effect that proper lighting (or not enough) can have on a photo or video. This is why layering and mixing it up with different light sources like chandeliers, sconces and floor lamps is key. Showcase your home in the best light with these quick tips:

1. Add a chandelier in the foyer or open living space for wow factor and a touch of elegance.

Photo credit: Barry Goralnick

2. Position a floor lamp next to sofas, chairs and tight corners to evoke those curled-up-with-a-good-book moments.

Photo credit: Decorpad

3. Add a pair of sconces to the master bedroom suite, flanking both sides of the bed for a super luxe, boutique hotel feel.

Photo credit: Decoist

Pro tip: Getting the lighting right will pay dividends once it’s time to professionally photograph your home before listing!

Let the Sunshine in

Fernanda Bertrand, co-owner and founder of Upstaging Seattle, recommends careful placement of window treatments to let in maximum light. “People typically hang their curtains just above the window trim,” says Bertrand, “but you should hang them two inches from the ceiling instead.”

This is an important tip for sellers to follow because it creates the illusion of a bigger room with higher ceilings!

Photo credit: JC Licht

No Smoke, All Mirrors

Mirrors might just be the best-kept secret. This is especially true when it comes to designing smaller bedrooms and tight spaces that lack natural light. We’re not saying that you need to turn your property into a funhouse, but a well-placed mirror here and there can be truly transformational. Quick tips:

  • Go BIG with bathroom vanity mirrors!
  • Place large mirrors over credenzas and consoles to create a bright and airy atmosphere.
  • Place mirrors adjacent to windows to reflect even more light in small spaces.
  • Lean a floor mirror against the wall to make smaller rooms appear larger.

Photo credit: Architectural Digest

Photo credit: The Spruce

Photo credit: Getty Images

Photo credit: Decorated Life

Less is More

If you’re selling your home while you’re still living there, try to remove at least a third of your possessions BEFORE you begin www. This is when it’s really important to go for a minimalist aesthetic because buyers do not want to view the house as your home. Removing and storing things like bulky furniture, large toys and general clutter (especially on countertops and tables and in closets and drawers) will go a long way in maximizing space and ROI. Personal items like family photos and children’s artwork should also be tucked away.

If you’re renting furniture, go for smaller sofas and other pieces that literally leave more room for your prospective buyers’ imaginations. A well-staged home allows buyers to envision how their own belongings can fit into the property’s dimensions and can provide much needed design inspiration.

Pro tip: If you need to rent furniture to stage your home, Cort is a great budget-friendly option to consider!

Keep It Clean

After you’ve pared down your items and stored away the rest, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to do a deep cleaning of your home. You’ll want to keep your home sparkling—especially bathrooms and kitchen areas—from staging until the point of sale. Avoid harsh artificial scents and fragrances and use aromatherapy diffusers with essential oils instead! Lemon or lavender are neutral scents to help create a fresh, clean ambience.

Ready to list your home and want more staging advice? Call me at (936) 238-7122 to schedule a consultation and we’ll go from there!

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