People might say to never judge a book by its cover, but when it comes to real-estate, the stakes are entirely different. Truth is, looks do matter, so anyone who is looking to offload a property should make sure their space is stylish and enticing to potential buyers. (Believe it or not, one false or cringe-worthy feature can be a total turn-off for aspiring homeowners.) That’s exactly why it’s crucial to spruce up–or stage–your space with your target audience in mind.
“It can really make or break a listing,” says Dara Donovan, owner and founder of a staging company called Paloma Home Studio, which services Oakland and Los Angeles. “The best and most successful staging helps people imagine actually living in a space, and really highlights the best features of a property, while minimizing the shortfalls of a house.”
In fact, the National Association of Realtors found that a staged home can increase the dollar value offered and decrease the time a home spends on the market. (Again, looks matter.) You can hire a professional stager to spruce up your space on your behalf, but there are plenty of easy-yet-effective tweaks you can do all on your own.
To help, two staging experts break down their favorite DIY ideas to make your listing shine.
Repaint Your Walls a Practical Pigment
Never underestimate the power of a fresh coat of paint. In fact, Donovan says repainting your walls is the number-one thing you can do to “improve a space immediately.” But while you might appreciate a bold accent wall or trendy color-drenching moment, Donovan says to err on the side of caution.
“We’re huge fans of warm, soft whites,” she shares. “They can make a space feel so much brighter and larger.”
Have a penchant for pops of color? Los Angeles stager Francesca Grace says she starts with “warm, layered neutrals”–and then adds a little something extra. “I love adding rich, moody tones—deep greens, ochres, or dusty blues—to bring depth and intrigue,” she shares.
If you’re looking for the perfect shade of white, designers sayBenjamin Moore’s Simply White and Chantilly Lace are two great shades to start with.
Rework Your Layout
Once you have your color palette in place, Grace recommends thinking through the flow of each room. Sure, potential home buyers won’t be enjoying a multi-course meal in your dining room or a movie marathon from the comfort of your couch—well, not yet at least—but your home should have a welcoming vibe that will make guests tempted to kick back and relax.
“I like to ensure that every room has a defined purpose, even if it’s an open floor plan,” she explains. “Seating areas should encourage conversation, dining spaces should feel communal yet elegant, and bedrooms should exude comfort.”
As you switch up your space’s floor plan, Grace says you should never push all your furniture up against the walls. “It might seem like it makes a room feel bigger, but it actually does the opposite,” she explains. “It can make the space feel flat and uninviting.” Instead she recommends placing your pieces away from your walls to create some extra depth and definition.
“Even in smaller spaces, pulling furniture in just a few inches and incorporating a rug to anchor the layout can make a huge difference,” she adds. “It helps make [your room] feel more intentional and high-end.”
Put Away Personal Items
When a potential buyer enters a listing, the goal is to have visitors envision their very own lives playing out inside the property. In fact, pros say that no home hopeful wants to feel like they’re encroaching on someone else’s space. That’s exactly why the pros encourage you to transform your home into a beautiful, blank canvas.
“Get rid of all the personal items in your home,” Donovan says. “Eliminate most of the extra stuff in there, basically just leaving good art, furniture, and textiles.”
Since no stager wants a space to appear sterile or soulless, Grace recommends switching out that gallery wall of family photos for large-scale artwork or oversized mirror. “These elements create a high-impact look without cluttering the space, making a home feel polished and intentional,” she says. To keep this DIY project budget-friendly, look for affordable artwork and accessories at your local antique store.
Add a Thoughtful, Trio Touch
Want to give your home a pretty, polished look without spending a cent? Grace says it all boils down to how you style your home decor. After all, the devil does lie in those design details. For a virtually effortless styling trick that packs on the impact, she recommends following the rule of three. “Group objects in varied heights and textures to create a balanced, layered effect,” she says. “It’s a subtle detail, but it instantly makes a space feel curated and professionally styled.”
Not only is this trick surprisingly simple, but it can be applied to just about anything. A stack of books? Your grandmother’s old-school candle holders? Vases with greens that were freshly plucked from your garden? Check, check, and check.
Focus on Quality
Speaking of those small touches, you’ll want to audit your linen closet. Since the entire goal of staging your home is to have it fly off the market—preferably for a higher-than-asking price—you will want to show buyers that it’s worth every penny. Unfortunately, tattered or stained sheets and towels aren’t going to do your home any favors. “People want really well-designed spaces, and have really high standards for design these days, especially when purchasing a new home,” Donovan. “The homes that are staged well really stand out from the pack and create a strong emotional response from buyers.”
Refreshing your sheets, duvets, and towels may seem like a minor tweak, but Donovan insists that it “does so much to transform a space.” “It’s an easy DIY that anyone can achieve that’s fairly affordable,” she adds. Bonus points: You can use your new wares long after your home is sold and you move in somewhere new.
Related: Interior Designers Share 5 Remodel Mistakes That Instantly Devalue a Home
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