Staging Your Home.

Did you know that staging your home is one of the best ways to maximize the selling price? By arranging your home in a few strategic ways, you can help potential buyers picture themselves in your space and increase the perceived value of your home exponentially. I know it can be a little overwhelming to know how to stage your home well, so I would love to offer a few tips to help you with the process!

First of all, not all rooms in your house need to receive the same amount of attention. Statistically, the living room, master bedroom, and kitchen will hold the most weight with potential homeowners, with the dining room and bathroom closely following. So just focus your energy on staging these five rooms! Here are a few simple ways to get each of these rooms looking their best before you open your doors for showings.

1. Living room. You will want your living room to look comfortable and spacious. One way you can encourage this is by arranging your furniture in clusters of three and allowing for some negative space in between. Another way to maximize the space in your living room is to place lighting or interest pieces in the corners of the room and strategically position mirrors to create dimension. Remove any personal items, such as family portraits, and add some greenery to make the room look alive and inviting!
2. Master bedroom. For the master bedroom, stick with neutral colors, simple lines, and comforting textures. You will want to avoid any specific “theme” in the bedroom, as it can make it more difficult for a potential buyer to picture themselves there. Make the bed up with a soft, neutral comforter and some textured throw pillows to make it look cozy. The best place to position the bed is opposite the door, as it can make the room appear more spacious. Once again, remove any clutter and personal items.
3. Kitchen. Though it’s been said before, the kitchen truly is the heart of the home. Staging your kitchen well can have a huge impact on the overall impression of your house. Clear all surfaces as much as possible and give those appliances a nice deep clean. Then, to finish it off, add a bowl of fresh fruits or a vase of flowers to give a bright final touch. Bonus points if you can have a batch of freshly baked cookies set out to cool!
4. Dining room. Dining rooms can tend to look overcrowded and cramped easily, as they are usually a smaller space in the home. You can avoid this by minimizing the amount of furniture you have in it. Keep the number of chairs around your table at a minimum (think 4 or 6, depending on the size of your table). You can set the table to make it look more inviting but keep it on the minimal side to avoid overwhelming the space. You won’t want to skip a classic rug under the table either – this adds the warmth that a future homeowner will be looking for!
5. Bathroom. As far as bathrooms go, fresh and clean is the name of the game. Make sure everything has been cleaned well and consider doing some quick touch-up painting over any stained or discolored areas. Removing any personal items, hanging a fresh white shower curtain, and putting out crisp new towels can go a long way for a bathroom. You also may want to light a candle before showing your home to give a fresh smell and atmosphere as well.

Ultimately, by de-personalizing and simplifying these rooms as much as possible, you are well on your way to getting your home ready to show. Don’t overthink staging – it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money or take a lot of time. Just a little bit of rearranging, decluttering, and thoughtful finishing touches is all you need to stage well. I would love to come help you personally! Give me a call or text at 309.229.8831 if you would like some staging tips of your own!