Home Staging, not to be confused with interior design, is the arrangement of furnishings to set off the appealing features of your house to bring in a successful sale and potentially a higher price. You “stage” your home to accentuate the positive features of the house and to diminish the negative elements. For example, when you enter a room you want an unobstructed view that gives a sense of the space and light in the room. You want to be able to view the entire room without having to peek around the furnishings. The focal point of the room should be the first thing the eye is drawn to when viewing the room from the doorway. Examples of focal points: a fireplace, a built-in cabinet or bookcase, a beautiful view or a patio door.
The first step in staging a room is to remove all items smaller than a shoebox. Small items and collections distract the eye and make it more difficult to get an impression of the space, light and features of the room. A successful sale often depends on a positive first impression.
Step two is to remove extra furniture with the goal of creating an impression of spaciousness and to accommodate 3-5 people during home showings. Leave an open pathway through the room for walking space and also to provide the view from the doorway to the focal point and other positive features of the room (ie: hardwood floor, patio door, great view, etc.).
Step three is to leave a color scheme that includes two neutral tones and one accent color for the room. You could use a white for the walls, browns for furnishings and flooring (since is common in furniture and flooring) and an accent of blue, green or yellow judiciously used to bring interest to areas of the room you want to focus on. It’s best if the main color scheme is repeated throughout the home to give a cohesive feel and to reduce distraction which allows the features of the home to stand out to the potential buyer.
These are just a few suggestions for staging your home for a successful sale. Home staging has become a business in recent years, so hiring a home stager is an option. However, if you are a DIYer, these tips will help you to stage your home to appeal to a wide variety of potential buyers.
Call Scenic City Realty for more information and for a listing presentation involving home staging. We offer home staging tips when you list with Scenic City Realty. Office phone 507-627-1994. Website: d36.335.myftpupload.com and also find us on Facebook!