The Second Rule of Home Staging: Keep It Fresh
Updates don’t have to break the bank, and they will give your home more buyer appeal
Neila Deen
October 23, 2016
The overall goal of home staging is to make your home shine. After paring down to just the essentials, the next staging step is to give your home a light makeover to make it look — and feel — neat, fresh and pleasant.
Buyers don’t expect everything to be new, but they don’t want to be turned off by worn items or unpleasant odors. A good rule of thumb to go by: If it looks old, worn or dirty, then clean or replace it. A clean, fresh-smelling, attractive home tends to sell. Read on for some budget-friendly ways to refresh each room in your home.
Buyers don’t expect everything to be new, but they don’t want to be turned off by worn items or unpleasant odors. A good rule of thumb to go by: If it looks old, worn or dirty, then clean or replace it. A clean, fresh-smelling, attractive home tends to sell. Read on for some budget-friendly ways to refresh each room in your home.
Start With the Living Room
As one of the most frequently used rooms, the living room can get a worn, lived-in look pretty fast. Fortunately, it’s also one of the simplest rooms to improve.
First, give your living room a fresh coat of paint — and while you’re at it, paint every room in the home. In the living room, go for a color that is somewhat neutral, like a gray or a bone, that works with your pared-down decor.
As one of the most frequently used rooms, the living room can get a worn, lived-in look pretty fast. Fortunately, it’s also one of the simplest rooms to improve.
First, give your living room a fresh coat of paint — and while you’re at it, paint every room in the home. In the living room, go for a color that is somewhat neutral, like a gray or a bone, that works with your pared-down decor.
Second, consider buying new throw pillows to jazz up that worn sofa. Go for a refreshing, trendy color or something with texture, such as a metallic linen, to bring subtle style to the room.
Next, turn a critical eye to your rug. If it looks dirty or faded, think about replacing it with an inexpensive and neutral jute or sisal rug. The simplicity and texture of these natural fibers always make a room feel cleaner and more serene. Jute and sisal are go-tos for most home stagers because they don’t cost a fortune and do hold up well under heavy foot traffic from an open house.
Next, turn a critical eye to your rug. If it looks dirty or faded, think about replacing it with an inexpensive and neutral jute or sisal rug. The simplicity and texture of these natural fibers always make a room feel cleaner and more serene. Jute and sisal are go-tos for most home stagers because they don’t cost a fortune and do hold up well under heavy foot traffic from an open house.
Also, see if you can find a spot for a mirror, a classic trick for adding a light, bright element to any room. Although they may not scream personality, mirrors give a room an expansive, luminous quality that can appeal to a buyer.
Another rule that applies to almost every room is replacing any outdated light fixtures. Look to swap them with simple, neutral and stylish options that can handle high-wattage bulbs.
Finally, replace your knickknacks and accessories with a vase of fresh flowers. Use a medium or small vase so as not to distract from the rest of the room. Simple arrangements like a vase of white tulips or a cluster of peonies make a room fresh and lovely.
Another rule that applies to almost every room is replacing any outdated light fixtures. Look to swap them with simple, neutral and stylish options that can handle high-wattage bulbs.
Finally, replace your knickknacks and accessories with a vase of fresh flowers. Use a medium or small vase so as not to distract from the rest of the room. Simple arrangements like a vase of white tulips or a cluster of peonies make a room fresh and lovely.
Move On to the Kitchen
Kitchens and bathrooms are crucial to the sale — specifically, the sale price — of a home. The more buyers feel they will need to spend on a kitchen renovation, the less they will want to offer for your house. That equation doesn’t mean that you should renovate your entire kitchen. You can make updates that cost far less than a total overhaul.
First, scrutinize your kitchen cabinets. Do they seem dirty or shabby? If so, instead of replacing them, consider the less expensive alternative of painting them. Whether you have them painted white, gray or navy, the new look can give your kitchen renewed life.
Next, whether or not you repaint your cabinets, inspect their hardware. You may want to replace these pieces with more modern or on-trend alternatives. Polished chrome, industrial iron and brushed brass are just some of the stylish options available today.
Kitchens and bathrooms are crucial to the sale — specifically, the sale price — of a home. The more buyers feel they will need to spend on a kitchen renovation, the less they will want to offer for your house. That equation doesn’t mean that you should renovate your entire kitchen. You can make updates that cost far less than a total overhaul.
First, scrutinize your kitchen cabinets. Do they seem dirty or shabby? If so, instead of replacing them, consider the less expensive alternative of painting them. Whether you have them painted white, gray or navy, the new look can give your kitchen renewed life.
Next, whether or not you repaint your cabinets, inspect their hardware. You may want to replace these pieces with more modern or on-trend alternatives. Polished chrome, industrial iron and brushed brass are just some of the stylish options available today.
As in the other rooms of the house, give walls a fresh coat of paint and replace any dirty, broken or dated light fixtures with clean, updated versions.
Freshen Up the Bathroom
As in the kitchen, you may want to replace any dated or worn fixtures in your bathroom — whether faucets or drawer pulls. Polished chrome is a good choice because it always looks sparkling and new. Brushed brass brings a trendy, elegant look.
Next, go shopping for fluffy white towels to put on your shiny new towel bar. Even if your existing towels are nice and white, purchase new ones for staging. Your towels, though probably lovely, are nonetheless used, and will continue to be used as your house is shown. Buyers don’t want to see anything personal.
Also look to replace a chipped mirror or older medicine cabinet. A newer option will go a long way to giving your bathroom a fresh clean look.
Just as in the rest of the house, give any painted walls a fresh coat. If your bathroom cabinets are a bit shabby, consider painting those as well. A dark navy, for example, could look stellar next to the crisp whites of your towels and tub.
As in the kitchen, you may want to replace any dated or worn fixtures in your bathroom — whether faucets or drawer pulls. Polished chrome is a good choice because it always looks sparkling and new. Brushed brass brings a trendy, elegant look.
Next, go shopping for fluffy white towels to put on your shiny new towel bar. Even if your existing towels are nice and white, purchase new ones for staging. Your towels, though probably lovely, are nonetheless used, and will continue to be used as your house is shown. Buyers don’t want to see anything personal.
Also look to replace a chipped mirror or older medicine cabinet. A newer option will go a long way to giving your bathroom a fresh clean look.
Just as in the rest of the house, give any painted walls a fresh coat. If your bathroom cabinets are a bit shabby, consider painting those as well. A dark navy, for example, could look stellar next to the crisp whites of your towels and tub.
Speaking of the tub and shower, instead of replacing the tub, go for the much more cost-efficient option of having it professionally reglazed. This is essentially repainting the tub, making it look and feel new. Similarly, have the tile regrouted or pressure-washed. Your bathtub and shower will shine.
Finally, place something in your bathroom that smells fresh. Whether it’s a new bar of soap, a vase of fresh flowers or a reed diffuser, use something that will have a lingering pleasant scent.
Finally, place something in your bathroom that smells fresh. Whether it’s a new bar of soap, a vase of fresh flowers or a reed diffuser, use something that will have a lingering pleasant scent.
Make Your Bedroom Oh So Calm
The bedroom is one of the most personal spaces in the house. But for selling, we don’t want it to feel so personal. An overall guide to staging your bedroom is to think of it as a stylish and serene hotel room that anyone would feel comfortable in. When your potential buyers walk into your bedroom, you don’t want them to think of you, smell anything personal about you or see your personal items left behind.
A good first step in depersonalizing your room is to replace your bedding with crisp white linens. If all white isn’t possible, look for neutrals that give the same effect. You want your bed to look inviting, fresh and comfortable. Opt for a decorative throw pillow to give a hint of color.
The bedroom is one of the most personal spaces in the house. But for selling, we don’t want it to feel so personal. An overall guide to staging your bedroom is to think of it as a stylish and serene hotel room that anyone would feel comfortable in. When your potential buyers walk into your bedroom, you don’t want them to think of you, smell anything personal about you or see your personal items left behind.
A good first step in depersonalizing your room is to replace your bedding with crisp white linens. If all white isn’t possible, look for neutrals that give the same effect. You want your bed to look inviting, fresh and comfortable. Opt for a decorative throw pillow to give a hint of color.
If you have outdated furniture, just as in the kitchen and bathroom, try replacing the drawer pulls with something more modern and with simple lines. Similarly, if you have lampshades that are worn, yellowed or broken, replace them too.
When possible, hang a mirror above the bed or at some other focal point of the room, such as the wall facing the bed. This can help open up the room and reflect whatever natural light you have.
Follow the same steps in the bedroom as in the living room when it comes to the rug: If your bedroom rug looks worn or dated, replace it with sisal or jute. If your bedroom carpeting needs covering up, try placing a thin dhurrie or knit rug atop it. A rug pad can help these types of rugs stay put on top of carpet.
Finally, add a small vase of flowers to a bedside table. This little touch will contribute a pleasant detail to your hotel-like oasis.
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The First Rule of Home Staging: Less Is Always More
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When possible, hang a mirror above the bed or at some other focal point of the room, such as the wall facing the bed. This can help open up the room and reflect whatever natural light you have.
Follow the same steps in the bedroom as in the living room when it comes to the rug: If your bedroom rug looks worn or dated, replace it with sisal or jute. If your bedroom carpeting needs covering up, try placing a thin dhurrie or knit rug atop it. A rug pad can help these types of rugs stay put on top of carpet.
Finally, add a small vase of flowers to a bedside table. This little touch will contribute a pleasant detail to your hotel-like oasis.
More
The First Rule of Home Staging: Less Is Always More
Browse more stories on selling your house
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Regarding the initial comment of "keeping it fresh", if a home has a bay or box window, a great way to easily decorate to the season and the style of the home is to install a bromm bay window trellis. It's pretty amazing how much a bromm enhances a room!
I am amazed in reading all these article about smells, and staging a home for sale, not one mention of cleaning the WINDOWS. There is something about being able to see out of a clean window and letting the light in that makes a room shine. All of the ideas above are great. I would just add this one more thing to the list.