You may not have the opportunity to stage every room in your home. In that case, here are the four rooms on which you should concentrate your efforts.
Living Room
The living room is where families come together. Potential buyers need to see that there is enough room to fit their family comfortably in the space. They may also have concerns about entertaining guests or being able to place a television in a logical location. An empty space can be difficult to gauge visually while clutter can make a room feel cramped even if it isn’t. Focus staging on creating a suitable conversation area. Keep accessories to a minimum, but do include some. Instead of an empty coffee table, place a book and a small teapot with a cup, or put a small flower arrangement in a lovely vase. You also want to include multiple light sources, and leave them turned on during the showings to keep the space light and bright. Don’t forget to clean every surface thoroughly.
Kitchen
Since the kitchen isn’t usually thought of as having furniture, it doesn’t always come to mind as needing staging. However, the kitchen is a key factor in the sale of your home. That means you want to make sure it is presented in a way that makes it look functional and spacious. Declutter as much as possible, and try to leave no more than three key appliances on the countertop. You can keep related items nearby such as a ceramic canister marked “Coffee” next to a coffee maker, but make sure any excess is put away. You don’t want to overstuff your cabinets either, as potential buyers will likely open them. This could require relocating belongings during showings. Feel free to add an open, strategically-placed cookbook or add a bowl of fruit to the counter. You can also include fresh flowers to bring life into the space. If you have a breakfast bar you can add place settings to show the intended use.
Master Bedroom
The master bedroom needs to look like a restful retreat. This means decluttering and making sure all clothing items are properly hung or stored. Make the bed appear welcoming with freshly washed linens, comfortable throw pillows, and maybe an extra blanket near the foot. Turn on table lamps placed on nightstands, but limit other décor. Here’s another place where adding a book is perfectly acceptable. Make sure it is easy to walk through the space by removing any unnecessary furniture besides the bed, nightstands, and a dresser. However, if you have space for a separate seating area, feel free to highlight this with a well-chosen chair or two and possibly a small table.
Dining Room
A dining room is seen as a sophisticated space, but it also needs to be comfortable. Leaving the space empty can leave it feeling dark, especially if there are limited windows or it has a dark paint color on the walls. Staging the space can make it appear larger and more functional. Make sure the table is the right size for the room. If it is too big and you can remove a leaf, then do so. Too small? Then put in another leaf. Alternatively, you may be able to create a new tabletop for the base to make the table appear larger. You can choose to set the table with nice place settings, or create a focal point on the table with appropriate home décor items. Often, it is better to put something on the table than leave it empty as an empty table can seem uninviting, and that isn’t the feeling you want potential buyers to have when viewing your home.
