15 Clever Tips for Staging Your House Like a Professional

Selling a house is a complicated and time-consuming process. While real estate agents will do their best to paint a pretty picture for potential buyers, it’s the house itself that will be the ultimate deciding factor.

So, to get the best deal it’s imperative for your house to be in its prime condition.

The visual appeal of a house can be divided into two parts, the curb appeal and the interior appeal. This post will focus on enhancing your home’s interior appeal.

Home staging is a process of decorating a house to highlight its best features. It should also spark an emotional response from visitors and help them visualise themselves living there.

Home staging has a significant impact on buyers’ final decision and adds to the value of a home. Whether your property has been on the market for too long or you’re just preparing it for sale, these cost-effective tips will help you sell it faster and at a better price.

1) Time to declutter

What time is it? It’s purge-o’clock. You need to get rid of most of the clutter you’ve accumulated over the years. Potential buyers’ are interested in looking at the space, and they won’t be able to do that with your belongings covering every inch of it.

It’s time to pack up the overflowing shoe racks, scattered toys, extra pouffes and other miscellaneous items. Only keep the necessary things to maintain a minimalist vibe.

2) Get to cleaning

Prepare your house just like you prepare yourself for a job interview. You want your house to be spotless and gleaming. So get to work! Deep clean every single floor, surface and window. Thoroughly clean under carpets, behind furniture and under sinks.

This is one of the easiest ways to positively showcase your home. If don’t have the skills or time to deep clean, there is no harm in getting professional cleaners involved.

3) De-personalise the space

You want your house to appear as a home but not your home. The prospective buyers’ should be able to envision themselves living there instead of feeling like they’re trespassing.

You need to depersonalise your house in order to create a blank canvas for better visualisation. Start by removing all the personal photographs, any religious items and other personal things such as toothbrushes. This will help visitors connect with your property.

4) Light it up

Dark and dingy rooms feel uninviting. Make sure there is plenty of light in your house, which will also make it seem airy and bigger.

Relocate any heavy furniture or drapes blocking natural light. If your house doesn’t get enough natural light, you can smartly use lighting to accentuate it.

However, try to maintain a balance rather than lighting it up like an overexposed car showroom. Use a mixture of recessed lights, hanging lights and accent lighting.

Place decorative lamps to illuminate gloomy corners. Head over to Tiffany Lighting for unique handmade lamps.

5) Fresh Touches

Decorating with fresh flowers and plants is an instant way to infuse delight into any dull rooms. Place a bunch of flowers on the kitchen counter, dining table and coffee table. As far as plants are concerned, you can get realistic-looking fake plants that are easy to keep alive.

Your home should look fresh and smell fresh. You don’t want a pungent odour to influence buyers’ impression. So take out all the rubbish bins and place a couple of aroma diffusers throughout the house.

6) Replace old drapes

Drapes and blinds can completely transform the look of a room. Replace your dull, heavy drapes with something light and breezy.

7) Redecorate the entrance

Your entrance is the focal point of the house, it’s the first thing a visitor sees. Power wash your patio and entrance and remove any unseasonal decorations. Throw out the old doormat and get a new one. You can even place a few potted plants on either side of the door.

8) Add mirrors

Adding decorative mirrors is a foolproof way to glam up a room. A mirror can make even a small space appear to be bigger and brighter than it is. It isn’t necessary to purchase brand new mirrors. You can easily find vintage and ornamental mirrors in charity shops at discounted prices.

9) Keep it neutral

You should stage your home in a manner that adds to the buyers’ imagination rather than being overwhelming. The colour palette of your home has a major impact on its sale value.

This is why you should stay away from bright colours and stick to neutral tones. Cover up any bold colours and gaudy wallpapers with whites, greys and taupes.

10) Decorate countertops

Clear off the majority of the utensils and appliances from your kitchen countertops. Aesthetically decorate them with a couple of newer appliances, potted herbs and maybe even a bowl of fresh fruits! This is a way to keep it tidy while also emphasising on its functionality.

11) Style your dining table

A bare dining table adds nothing to your house. But if you style your dining table it will leave a lovely impression. But beware of setting it up too formally. It should seem homely and casual and not like a crockery exhibition.

12) Reorganise bookshelves

A fully packed bookshelf is no doubt a bibliophile’s dream, but it can be distractive. Remove some books and reorganise the bookshelves to create more space.

13) Rearrange the furniture

The prospective buyers should be able to easily walk around and navigate your home. To achieve this get rid of any bulky furniture and rearrange everything symmetrically.

14) Tidy your closet

Buyers always take into consideration closet and storage space. Make sure you tidy up your closets and take out bulky coats. Space is what sells. Therefore, you should flaunt as much space as you can.

15) Touch up and repair

Simple patch and repair work can make a dramatic difference. Start by touching up areas with faded or chipped paint, tightening loose doorknobs and window handles and plastering any wall damage.

These are some effective yet inexpensive home staging tips that will help sell your house quickly and fetch a great price. Remember your house should strike a balance between clean and lived-in. Good luck!