6 Simple Yet Effective Home Staging Ideas
You don’t have to be an avid HGTV viewer to recognize the value in sprucing up your home before putting it on the market. In fact, a survey found that staged homes - those deliberately decorated with an eye toward enticing buyers - tend to sell in half the time that non-staged properties do.
But hiring an expensive home staging service isn’t the only way to plant a “SOLD” sign in your front yard. Bearing a few key tips in mind, DIYers can primp and polish their homes into prime selling shape themselves—at a price that won’t break the budget. Ready to give it a go? Here are a few things you need to know.
Home Staging Hack #1: Roll Out a Welcome Mat
First impressions are everything when selling your home. Prospective buyers usually linger by the front door before the real estate agent opens a home for viewing - so an enticing entrance is key. A new welcome mat, convinces the buyer to see more. A little bit of green by the front door also goes a long way. Adding fresh plants to an entry area, will signal to the buyer that the home is well cared for.
Home Staging Hack #2: Mount Mirrors in Strategic Spots
Even the most handsome of homes have one: that dim hallway or small space where natural light goes to die. Your spruce-up solution: Hang a few mirrors. This adds extra light to rooms that look dark, and make rooms appear spacious. Mirrors placed next to - or directly across from a window will pull in more sun. But instead of simply slapping a big mirror on the wall, bring a real wow factor to a room by artfully arranging mini mirrors of all shapes and sizes. This can be very inexpensive to buy at home or discount stores.
Home Staging Hack #3: Set Tables and Serving Areas for Entertaining
Give potential buyers a sneak peek of life as a host in your home by setting the scene. Set the tables and bar areas. It shows the property is primed for entertaining. It doesn’t have to be a fancy setup: Simply lay out cloth napkins, wineglasses and solid plates in the dining room. As for a kitchen island or breakfast table, opt for matching mugs and bowls to inspire the feel of family meals.
Home Staging Hack #4: Replace Personal Pics with Artwork
Over the years, you’ve turned your house into a home by filling it with portraits and other family mementos. But remember that you want prospective buyers to envision themselves living in your home. That’s hard to do when pictures of you are everywhere. Swap personal pics on your walls out for canvas artwork. They show up well in listing photos, and create a focal point for your home. Swap family snaps for lush, aspirational travel images, which you can have professionally printed for pennies at your local drugstore. Travel prints display a lifestyle to the buyer without getting too personal.
Home Staging Hack #5: Outfit a Bathroom with Elegant White Linens
Your toiletries are scattered across the counter. Your tub sports a novelty shower curtain. And your mismatched towels look like they’ve been through the wash one too many times. If this sounds like the state of your bathroom, there is a quick staging fix: After clearing some of that clutter, spruce up your washroom with fresh, all-white linens. White towels, bath mats, and shower curtains can instantly update your bathroom and give the room the feel of a luxury spa without having to spend much. You can take it one step further by creating spa-like displays. Roll and stack bath towels on the tub, and hand towels near the sink. Adding an orchid, candles and special soaps can also amp up that spa feel.
Home Staging Hack #6: Arrange Decorative Vignettes
Decorative displays can lend a cozy, lived-in ambience to a house. Assemble a classy vignette of colorful vases, lanterns, books, plants, baskets, and other decorative items atop dressers, counters and even bookshelves. Start by adding items in odd numbers and varying their heights and shapes, while also keeping the pieces in the same color family. To cut costs, mix items you already own with ones you pick up at craft stores. When well-constructed, these displays can give your home that glossy, out-of-a-magazine feel that appeals to buyers.
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