Interior Design Styles to Avoid When Staging a Home to Sell

If you are staging your home to sell, there are a few interior design styles you should avoid. While you may like the look of your home, you should not over-stage it. Staging a home that is too perfect will prevent potential buyers from envisioning themselves living in it. Instead, focus on the living room, kitchen, and home office. By keeping these areas clean and uncluttered, you will create a blank canvas appeal that will appeal to buyers.

Decluttering is a crucial part of staging a home for sale. If you have too many items piled up in a room, buyers will feel rushed and unwelcoming. A clean, well-kept home is a welcoming and fresh place to live. Buyers can picture themselves living in the home and envision how they would decorate it. Avoid over-the-top theme rooms that will turn off buyers.

While staging a home for sale should be centered around the interior of the home, it is vital to pay attention to the exterior as well. Prospective buyers often drive by your home before setting up a showing, so don’t underestimate the power of curb appeal. Your home’s curb appeal will make or break your sale. A well-kempt lawn, clean sidewalks, and rake leaves can increase your home’s value.

The two main differences between staging a home to sell and designing to live in are the purpose of staging and the nature of the home’s use. Homeowners often make the mistake of using too many small objects. Too-petite throw pillows, bookshelves that have too many books, and coffee tables that are overstuffed with small items are just two examples of this common mistake. Choosing fewer big things will make the room look bigger and more sophisticated. A large vase with greenery will create an elegant look than a collection of small vases.

Another mistake to avoid when staging a home is choosing the wrong type of art. Although art is a great accent piece, mistakes in the selection of art are obvious. Some interior designers choose the wrong size and scale. Too-small artwork will look ridiculous, while too-grand art can create a room’s focal point. When choosing artwork, experiment with scale and placement. Keep in mind that art is best when it’s at eye-level.

While home staging and interior design have some similarities, they are far different. While interior design is the primary aim, home staging is the secondary objective. It’s all about evoking positive feelings in your audience. Avoid using too many colorful or distracting accents. You also want to use neutral colors and neutral furnishings. The color palette will make smaller rooms appear larger. This means you can use accent pieces to enhance the appearance of smaller rooms.