Want to take advantage of good house markets.... try these tips to make your house look inviting and pretty at the same time. Here are 8 tips from an interior designer to make your house look and smell amazing and while not spending a ton of money doing it. These simple ideas give you a boost on your competition.
1. DeClutter- just take it out. Less is more. Take down personal photos and anything of value before pictures or an open house. Don't throw all of your items in the closet, try to declutter before the move so when it's time to leave you are ready to pack only what you want and need.
Check this list for bathrooms and bedrooms:
Take out small bathroom rugs (buyers want to see the flooring materials.)
Take all the things off the countertops (toothbrushes, personal items, soaps in shower).
Make it clean as if no one lives there, so essentially people can see their items in your home.
Before After
2. Turn on ALL the lights. Open the blinds, let all of the light in. Turning on all the lights helps brighten up your photos. Make sure you have white bright light, no yellow= makes everything darker. So if you have dark lamp shades take them out of the room for the picture. Anything that wont enhance it - take it out. Check out these LED light bulbs that give you extra white lumens to brighten up your space and also dimmable too.
3. Make your bed like a pro. For the bedroom make sure to fluff all the pillows and fit all the sheets tight so you don't see them on the edges. Make your duvet at the end of the bed super fluffy. My trick is using this amazing duvet cover from amazon and place it under your comforter for an extra lift without showing. Declutter all of the side table junk and vacuum the floors. This will help make every bedroom an enticing place to stay.
4. Paint- making sure you have lighter more neutral wall will make for an easier sell. With lots of bright colors in each room it can sometimes distracts future home buyers. That's one more thing they cant envision when thinking about their furniture and style. If you have the money and time invest, paint a couple of rooms that are the most important. (don't forget trim or baseboards too that maybe scuffed up.)
Couple of my favorite lighter white color paints from Sherwin Williams:
Alabaster - SW7008
White Flour- SW7102
Marshmallow- SW7001
White Sail-SW9622
5. Get a photo lightening app. If you are selling the house yourself make sure to crop the pictures and lighten/brighten them up so people can see your best features. I recommend this free lightroom app and maybe upgrade for a couple of filters to make it look even better. If you want to go the extra mile hire a professional photographer. In the long run it will help someone visualize all of the amazing bones and assets your house has.
6. Make your home smell nice. Of course most people will say flowers, which I am a huge fan of but here are more practical ideas.
A diffuser is a great way for the entryway to be welcoming with a comforting aroma all while you are away. I linked to my favorite scents from The Westin and The Ritz hotels! We are huge fans of having a signature scent in our home, just like when you go into a hotel or store you remember that scent. Or you could try a reed diffuser which consist of fragrance oil and reed sticks. The reed absorbs the oil and releases the scent into the room. I linked one of my favorite ones from Joe Malone you can get on amazon, but are available in store if you want to try other scents.
Think of selling your house home as being an experience and it will change the way you think. Let it be memorable and not overwhelming. The best part is this is something you can take with you into your new home.
7. Window Treatments Drab or Fab? Remove heavy or dated window treatments and replace them with simple, neutral options that let in natural light. Remember don't replace anything you want to take with you without putting that into the contract. It's better to take them down and not have anything blocking the light.
8. Maximize your space- Rearrange furniture to make rooms appear more spacious. Consider removing unnecessary furniture to create an open and airy feel. If you want to go above and beyone hire us and we can help stage your space with items you may already own or you can rent that may go well with your space if you have to move out and take all of your items. It is better to take photos of a styled home than an empty one. Staging can make your home appear more valuable and justify a higher asking price.
Most know from realtors to clean your home and to make sure to have curb appeal but I hope you got some great tips on how to make it pretty as well and not spending a fortune to do it.
If you are looking for staging of your home- please contact us for hourly advice that can be done virtual or in person. Or if you want to get advice on how to style your new home but not sure how to achieve your overall ambiance we can set up a consultation for design services.
Happy Selling !
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