10 Décor and Staging Secrets to Sell Your Home

By Kathy Schmidt

Selling a home takes more than a sign on the front lawn. Buyers want to feel like they can move in tomorrow – and that means clearing the mess and freshening up outdated finishes.

We take décor and staging so seriously that have a professional interior designer who works with our clients to transform their home from ordinary to a buyer’s dream. While every home is different and can benefit from expert advice, there are some updates that never go out of style.

You only get one chance to make a first impression and these 10 décor and staging ideas will make sure buyers leave your house saying, “Wow!”

1. Give It Curb Appeal

Buyers start assessing a home before they enter the front door. Make sure your house is giving off the right impression by sprucing up the exterior. Replace weathered light fixtures, trim the hedges and clean the windows. Add mulch or remove snow, depending on the season. Make buyers excited to see what’s inside.

2. Cut the Clutter

This is a critically important step to prepare your home for sale. Start by clearing out cabinets and drawers. Then, move on to cleaning off countertops, shelves, and coffee tables. Once you’ve removed the mess, layer in some accessories that showcase the essence of your home. Maybe it’s some fresh flowers or original artwork. Whatever you do, don’t overdo it!

3. Rearrange or Remove Furniture

Consider removing or relocating furniture to make rooms look larger. Just because you bought that loveseat for the living room, doesn’t mean it won’t make for a great reading space in your office. Move furniture away from the walls and create conversational areas that look cozy and inviting.

4. Clean Out Your Closets

Storage space is always high on our buyer’s checklists. Remove one-third of the stuff from your closets and neatly organize everything that’s left. By clearing out the excess, you’ll create the illusion of more space and allow buyers to envision their clothes lining the walls.

5. Good Lighting Goes a Long Way

Good lighting can turn a dark and drab home into a warm, inviting space. To improve the light in your home, you can remove dark drapes, clean the windows, and increase the wattage in your lamps and fixtures. There are three types of lighting you should aim to include in each room: ambient (general or overhead), task (reading lamps or under-cabinet fixtures), and accent (table or wall). 

6. Hide Evidence of Your Pet

We know you love your pets, but they’re not doing you any favours when it comes to selling your home. From dog hair to litter boxes, it’s important to remove all evidence of animals when its time to show your home.

7. Make It Smell Like Home

We’ve talked a lot about things buyers can see, but scent is something that shouldn’t be overlooked. Freshly baked cookies or cinnamon rolls will make your buyer feel comfortable and at home. Or, you can try citrus scents to create a clean environment. All you need is a couple drops of essential oils in a diffuser and your house will be scented to sell!

8. Freshen Up Outdated Décor

You might think your robin’s egg blue bathtub and matching toilet are cute, but how will buyer’s feel? Updating key fixtures will transform your home and make it more appealing. New hardware, curtains, and colours can revive any space. Freshening up your home doesn’t have to mean big bucks. If you can’t afford new cabinets, consider adding new doors or drawer fronts and painting everything to match.

9. Keep It Neutral with a Pop of Colour

Add life to old walls with a fresh coat of paint. Don’t go for anything that’s too dark, stick with warm tans and soft blues to make spaces appear large and bright. Throw in a pop of colour with bright throw pillows, artwork, or accessories. Don’t forget to touch up exterior finishes – chipped window trim will give buyers a bad first impression.

10. Always Be Ready for a Buyer Visit

Serious sellers are always ready for a showing. You shouldn’t be scrambling to clean up when you get a call from your REALTOR® – that’s a good way to end up with cluttered closets and overflowing junk drawers. Maintain the space you’ve created. The more prepared you are for buyers the more money you’re likely to pocket on your sale!