Have you ever walked into the home of a friend or acquaintance and found yourself so charmed by the decor that you wanted to move in? Whether on purpose or not, that person was skilled in the art of “staging” — or using room decor, lighting, and aesthetic tips to make their space look as inviting as possible.
Real estate agents — and of course, all the experts on HGTV — are well-informed about the psychological effects of proper staging. If you want to sell your house, read on for some helpful hints.
The Best Room Decor for a House Sale
Naturally, it’s not practical to completely redecorate your home when you put it on the market, but there are a few guidelines to follow. These can help make your house as appealing as possible, and greatly enhance the likelihood of receiving an offer.
Keep It Simple, Seller!
First things first. Put away all that clutter. Even if you don’t want to deal with it now, at least put it into storage bins and stick it out of sight. No one wants to see piles of your kids’ homework, your extra winter boots, or the other details of your daily life. Remember, your potential buyers must be able to easily envision themselves in the home.
Streamline Your Furniture
Sure, those living-room TV tables make Netflix nights more comfortable but stash away any furniture that seems to be taking up excess room. This also goes for fiddly hallway tables and that armchair you can’t seem to part with, despite its cat-scratched arms.
Leave only your nicest pieces out, and don’t be afraid to rearrange them for a more streamlined appearance.
Protip: anything that has to be maneuvered around or pushed out of the way needs to go into storage.
Think Neutral
Furry purple throw pillows and teal tapestry curtains might show off your style, but ask yourself, “Will this help sell my house?”
If the honest answer is no, replace those items.
This particular tip goes double for paint colors; brightly hued walls can be off-putting. Choose room decor in shades of off-white, beige, honey, gray, or even a very light blue-green — nothing brighter.
Make It Impersonal
Your house should look less like a home, and more like a hotel when you’re trying to sell.
Remove your photographs, souvenir spoon collection, and lumpy Mother’s Day pottery presents. Replace them with tasteful, simple objects and inviting room decor — use the rule of threes for things like throw pillows or coffee table conversation pieces.
Little Changes Mean A Lot
A few coats of paint can do wonders to freshen up your home — and increase its appeal. Similarly, consider updating smaller room decor elements like lighting fixtures, cabinet fronts, drawer pulls, or curtain rods.
This is the time to be honest with yourself about what items in your home 1997 would want back if it could call and ask you.
Conclusion
You’ll never be able to choose room decor that will appeal to all potential buyers, so don’t try. The goal here is to turn your house into a relatively blank slate, onto which those buyers can project their own lives.
Need help staging or selling your home? Don’t be afraid to call in the experts if you get in over your head!
