Home Staging…Decorate to Sell
Home staging is about decorating your house so that it will sell quickly. A house that has been staged helps a potential buyer focus on the details of the house and not on the décor. The combination of furniture and/or accessory placement, color and light are used to highlight the homes best features while downplaying any negative ones. The end result is an inviting home the buyer wants to make their own.
The first step is to de-personalize the house and to get rid of all clutter. This includes removing family photos and collectibles, especially anything that suggests political or religious beliefs. It is a good idea to remove un-necessary furniture so that the rooms appear as large as possible. Keep in mind the furnishings should be arranged to allow easy entry into each room.
Next clean everything, the walls, windows, floors, furniture. Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. You may have to re-grout the tile, replace appliances or put a fresh coat of paint on the walls. These improvements will help you sell your house quickly and get your asking price.
Not everyone loves animals; many people suffer from allergies and may not want to buy a house that had a pet living in it. The idea is to eliminate any objections a potential buyer may have; so before you show the house remove all signs of having a pet. This includes making sure there are no tell tale odors.
The staging process begins with the front of the house. Trim hedges and trees to make the house easy to see from the street. Plant seasonal flowers or put a floral wreath on the door for a punch of color. Make sure the doorbell works and the numbers on the house are easy to read. The potential buyer is likely to linger here while waiting for you to answer the door and you want the first impression to be a good one.
The focal point in each room should highlight an architectural feature whenever possible. This could include a beautiful staircase, fireplace, decorative moldings, picturesque view, stain glass window, chair rail or beautiful floors. One way to draw attention to the feature is with lighting. Each room should have a minimum of three lights and it is a good idea to have them at varied levels. In the foyer for instance, if the size of the foyer permits, you could place a plant on the floor near the stairs with an up light shinning through the plant bringing awareness to a beautiful staircase and banister. Put a small lamp on top of an armoire drawing attention to high ceilings, or place a lamp on a table in front of a window highlighting the window moldings. Of course a window or wall mirror also can be a source of light. You should have more than just one ceiling fixture in each room.
Another way to make special features stand out is to add a contrasting color. Decorative moldings, a fireplace or chair rail should be a different color then the wall. Our eye goes to color change, so putting a bouquet of colorful flowers in the window can bring attention to a beautiful view. Use brightly colored pillows or table runners to attract attention.
Set up interesting vignettes that encourage the buyer to imagine what it could be like to live in the house. Create an inviting setting by placing an open book on a comfortable chair with a cup of tea on a nearby table; or set the dining room table with your good china and a beautiful centerpiece suggesting and elegant evening with family and friends.
Sometimes it is necessary to play-down certain features, for instance if your house has an air conditioner in the wall than you might consider hanging a tapestry over it when it is not being used. If the wall to wall carpeting has a traffic pattern worn into it then try re-arranging the furniture to change the focus. If the closets are small then remove enough clothes so that they do not look crowded.
When you are showing the house let the buyers enter each room while you stand in the doorway, this can prevent the room from feeling too crowded.
Home staging is a sensible way to differentiate your house from other houses on the market. As a Home Stager I offer several services to help clients sell their house starting with a detailed report of changes that should be made to the house. Suggestions could include placement/removal of furniture, better use of lighting and color, ways to get the buyer to focus on special details in the house, ways to make small spaces appear larger. I also provide colored brochures with photos to help market the house and have accessories that can be rented to stage the house.
About the Author
Rose Duffy is an Interior Decorator/Home Stager, she began her bussiness in 1990 in New York City. In addition to providing decorating and staging services for her New York clients you can visit her web sit www.roseinteriors.com to find products for staging your house to sell.