Staging your home
Staging helps your home to stand out from the other homes in the market which may be otherwise comparable.
Buying a new house is a huge decision. You walk into these homes and need to try to imagine how you would live in that space. While some are able to visualize in their minds eye, for many, seeing a well thought out space takes the guess work out of this!
The purpose of staging your home when selling is to make the property look as appealing as possible to as many people as possible. This is based on the real estate market, not on individual clients. You want your home to be staged in such a way that it stands out from other homes on the market.
So what is my job when it comes to home staging?
I will do a walk through and point out things that need to be changed (i.e.. paint, areas that need to be decluttered)
I will work with you to find how to do the minimum work required for the best result (no big renovations)
Either use the furniture you currently own, or furniture rentals (additional cost)
Placing light and art to show the home well
I’m sharing some tricks of the trade that I learned from The Interior Design Institute’s Home Staging
Things to consider:
Lighting:
let in as much natural light as possible
use mirrors to bounce light around
use various levels of brightness: task, accent, ambient
Balance: size, texture, and colour when choosing furniture and other decor
Important points when staging your own home:
remove personal items (ie. photos, memorabilia)
do not try to hide any problems with the house
highlight strengths (ie. great view, large yard, lots of natural light)
downplay shortcomings (ie. close to busy streets)
So how do you approach different areas of the house? What are some important points to consider?
For all areas, simplicity is key
Make sure that clutter is removed
Try to encourage flow from room to room
Living Room
if there is one, make the fireplace the focal point
style for the target market (ie. young families)
style bookshelves neutrally
highlight spaciousness and furniture placement
Master Bedroom
create a feeling of serenity and quiet
simple and uncomplicated; dress the bed with nice bedding and throw pillows
stage gender neutral
avoid TVs in regular sized master bedrooms
Other Bedrooms
Arrange to see the foot of the bed when you walk in, making it the focal point
if possible, put a mirror opposite the windows to reflect light
paint walls a neutral color
create a “story” by placing a game in progress in kids rooms
Kitchen/ Dining
heart of the home
style it to look spacious
style with jars of candy, vases or potted herbs
set the table if applicable - stage an eating area of space allows
allow natural light in
keep counters free of appliances
Bathrooms
bright, clean, luxurious
gender neutral
brightest lights possible
style with towels, shower curtains
earth tones as accents
Exterior
The outside of your home sets the tone for the inside. Think about landscaping, driveway, roofing and sheds.
tidy up the inside of the garage
clean up flower beds
top up bark mulch/ rocks
keep grass well maintained while the house is on the market
make sure that all walkways are clear of debris/ branches and shrubs
easy to see and well placed house numbers
tidy welcome mats
potted colourful plants