Staging: Update Your Curtains

When I help people stage their homes, I am always very focused on spending as little money as possible. However, there are a few items that I will suggest they drop some cash on. These include: towels, rugs, throw pillows, pillow cases, shower curtains, etc. Having clean, new, and trending accessories such as these, can really bring a house up to speed--and the added bonus is that the owner can take these items with them to decorate their new home with! (Or they can take the original items that they loved.)
In the case of this breakfast nook, the curtains were out of date stylistically, but also bringing down an otherwise bright and cheerful space with their dark color and busy pattern. We replaced them with inexpensive curtains from Wal-Mart (under $20) that showcase the color of the brick and brighten the room.
Removing all artwork from areas with little wall space also brightens a room and makes it look bigger. Remember: wall space is valuable real estate!

Staging: The Power of Paint

Never underestimate the power of $15 worth of paint to completely change the feel of a small room. The blue in this room made it dark and competed with the pattern in the wallpaper. Add the stained glass window and there was just too much going on. A neutral greige compliments the wallpaper, brightens and modernizes the space, and makes the window the star of the show. Toss in some white candles and towels for a spa like feel in any bathroom.

And as always: declutter, declutter, declutter!

Staging: Living Room

I did not take these photos. This is the home of one of my husband's colleagues who was recently transferred out of state. They lived in a neighborhood plagued by slow sales, houses often sat on the market for months. I was only able to visit once due to distance, but also did several remote consultations. The family put in a lot of sweat equity, and most importantly, they listened to my advice to demand a professional photographer. I would have made the trip back to do photos for them had their agent not complied with this request. Luckily, their agent found an amazing photographer.
I am pleased to report that the house had multiple offers the first week and sold above asking price. I cannot stress enough to anyone selling a home how important staging and professional photos are.
Staged homes sell 72% faster and for 17% more on average than the competition. 98% of buyers first see your house on the internet. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, so make those photos count!!!
This room started out feeling dark, crowded, and dated. Removing the curtains brought in light and made the space feel larger. Rearranging the furniture and putting two pieces in the garage made the room look even bigger and brighter. Finally, painting the wet bar a subtle green broke up all of the wood and made the paneling look like a beautiful feature. It also continued the home's "color story" from the kitchen into the living room, beautifully connecting the two spaces. Total cost was under $20 for chalk paint.