5 Things to Focus On When Staging Your Home

When listing a new home, staging can make a significant impact on potential buyers. It highlights the home’s best features, helps buyers visualize living there, and can even lead to higher offers. Here are the most valuable staging efforts to focus on:

1. Declutter and Depersonalize

Clearing out clutter and personal items is crucial. A clean, minimalist space allows buyers to imagine their own belongings in the home, rather than being distracted by the seller’s personal style. Remove family photos, knick-knacks, and excessive furniture. We always tell our clients that if you are going to pack everything up eventually, might as well start before listing.

2. Enhance Curb Appeal

First impressions matter, and the exterior is the first thing buyers see. Simple tasks like mowing the lawn, adding potted plants, cleaning the porch, and painting the front door can transform the home’s curb appeal and make it more inviting.

3. Focus on Key Rooms

Staging the most important rooms—the living room, kitchen, and primary bedroom—can make the biggest impact. These spaces are often deal-makers (or breakers), so ensure they look spacious, modern, and comfortable.

4. Maximize Lighting

Bright spaces feel more welcoming. Open curtains to let in natural light and add lamps where necessary. Use neutral, soft-colored walls and light furniture to reflect light and create a warm ambiance. And one of our personal musts when advising on lighting: use the same tint of light bulbs each room! Soft white light bulbs looks best in living rooms, bedrooms, and dining rooms, while bright white bulbs look great in kitchens, bathrooms, and garages.

5. Create a Neutral Palette

A neutral color scheme appeals to a wide audience. Light, neutral tones make the space feel bigger and help buyers envision how their own furnishings would fit.

By focusing on these key staging efforts, sellers can help make their home more attractive to buyers, leading to faster sales and potentially higher offers.