Category: Homeowner Tips

Create the illusion of space by rearranging the furniture. Try different combinations or remove and store pieces that make it feel crowded.

Arrange the furniture in living areas into intimate groupings that suggest entertaining and ideal conversational settings.

Consider rental furniture, especially when the pieces you have don’t match, are badly worn, or are in any state of disrepair.

Add decorative pillows and slipcovers in warm neutral tones to hide flaws and make pieces blend.

Eliminate clutter. Store or get rid of appliances, gadgets, newspapers, mail or anything that takes up space or distracts attention.

De-personalize your home so buyers can imagine living in it. Store pictures, awards, trophies, collectibles, and other personal keepsakes.

Paint walls in inviting neutral colors to cover flaws and freshen rooms.

Add small luxurious touches to bathrooms and bedrooms. Think plush towels, fresh flowers, high-end bed linens, and pretty bath soaps.

Eliminate unpleasant odors and smells that can kill a sale. Fragrant candles, plug-ins, and home sprays can help, but nothing smells better than clean.

Plants add an aura of softness and warmth to any room. Large or small, real or silk-they’re a favorite of professional stagers.

Avoid bright colors, fluorescent and neon shades, or colors that are very dark. The hottest trends in paint colors are soft creams, taupes, and pale buttery yellow tones.

Neutral colors have a universal appeal-both men and women give them favorable ratings.

Don’t be tempted to keep the wallpaper. Generally, buyers are put off by it. They view the removal process as another chore if they buy your home.

A room will appear larger when you paint it the same color as the room adjacent to it. It can give the illusion of one big open space.

Another favorite designer tip, to give the illusion of more space, is to paint the walls the same color as the drapes. It creates a seamless, contemporary look.