Every once in awhile we like to have guest posts sharing all things interior design. Today, we welcome Tali from Zillow to share a few tips on home staging! We look forward to our new partnership with Zillow!
5 Tips for Successful
Home Staging
By Tali Wee
Homeowners preparing to list their houses on the market want
to yield the highest returns on their investments. Therefore, they need to
display their homes in the best light possible to attract the most buyers. Vast
appeal equates to numerous offers and potentially competitive bidding wars that
benefit sellers.
One way sellers can entice buyers is to stage their homes. Whether
sellers choose to hire professional designers
to fully stage their spaces or opt for a one-time consultation, they should
begin with these five staging guidelines.
1. Simplicity
Start by eliminating clutter and cleaning. Nothing is more
off-putting to a house hunter than cramped, cluttered, disorganized spaces.
Buyers want to visualize their lifestyles within the walls of their future
homes, and chaos is distracting. Rent a storage unit to clear out excessive
furniture and accessories. Keep only the basics so shoppers can imagine their
own furnishings within the spaces. When homes are clean and tidy, the
architecture of the home truly stands out.
2. Neutrality
Along with simplicity, sellers should neutralize the space for
broad appeal. Avoid highly-personalized pieces such as family photos or
style-specific furnishings. Aim for warm, neutral hues including white, beige,
honey, gray or pale taupe. Noncommittal tones allow buyers to imagine their belongings
within properties, where bold hues might offend or disrupt the process.
Stay consistent when repainting; homes appear more spacious
when the paint color is the same throughout, especially in adjoining rooms. Even
though funky paint colors and eccentric accessories are not ideal for staging,
sellers can still include statement furniture and colorful, fresh flowers to
living rooms.
3. Functionality
Each room and nook should have a designated purpose. When
buyers walk up a stairwell to a well-lit landing with a reading chair, they see
a use for the area. Meanwhile, a home office paired with a treadmill, craft
table and dog bed becomes confusing and unappealing to shoppers. Avoid bare
spaces as well as hodgepodge rooms. Additionally, snug space should have small-scaled
furniture and vice versa.
4. Style
Keep staging style on trend to entice the majority of buyers searching for homes.
Incorporate eco-friendly materials and other contemporary
features such as textured throw pillows and brass accessories. Opt for odd-numbered
styling instead of perfect symmetry. Float furniture away from the walls to
create the illusion of spaciousness and group seating to simulate a social
setting.
5. Luminescence
Sellers should amplify lighting in each room since most
spaces are under-lit. Opt for overhead, pendant and task lighting, floor and
table lamps, wall sconces and ample natural light. Be sure to balance all of
these methods, paying special attention to lighting the walls which visually
enhance the size of rooms.
A clean, practical and tasteful home is ideal for house
hunters, and simple for sellers.
