Selling your home can feel overwhelming, but there’s one strategy that consistently helps properties sell faster and for more money, and that’s home staging. According to industry experts, staged homes sell 73% faster, and sellers can see a return of $5-15 for every dollar spent on staging.
The good news? You don’t need to hire a professional to get results. With the right approach and strategic effort, you can transform your space into a buyer magnet that stands out in today’s competitive market.
Whether you’re working with a tight budget or simply prefer the hands-on approach, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about DIY home staging.
The Benefits of Staging Your Home
Before diving into the how-to, it’s worth understanding why staging works so effectively. When done right, home staging offers several powerful advantages:
Faster Sales: Staged homes statistically move on the market faster. Buyers can immediately envision themselves living in a well-presented space, which speeds up their decision-making process.
Higher Sale Prices: A professionally presented home creates the impression of being well-maintained and move-in ready. This perception often translates to higher offers from motivated buyers.
Broader Appeal: Staging helps neutralize personal preferences, making your home appealing to a wider range of potential buyers. This increased interest can lead to multiple offers and bidding wars.
Enhanced Online Presence: Since most buyers begin their search online, staging ensures your listing photos are visually compelling and scroll-stopping on real estate websites and social media.
Competitive Edge: In markets with abundant inventory, a staged home stands out from the competition and creates memorable impressions during showings.
What Are We Trying to Accomplish by Staging Our House?
Understanding the psychology behind home staging will guide your decisions throughout the process. The primary goals include:
Creating Emotional Connections: Buyers need to feel an emotional pull toward your property. Staging helps create warm, inviting spaces that feel like “home” rather than just empty rooms.
Maximizing Perceived Value: A Strategic presentation makes your home appear more valuable and well-maintained, justifying your asking price in buyers’ minds.
Highlighting Your Home’s Best Features: Every property has unique selling points. Staging draws attention to architectural details, natural light, spaciousness, and functional layouts, enhancing the overall appeal of a space.
Minimizing Flaws: While staging can’t hide major issues, it can downplay minor imperfections and redirect focus to your home’s strengths.
Demonstrating Functionality: Proper furniture placement and room setup can show buyers how to use each space effectively, especially important for homes with unique layouts or smaller rooms.
Steps to DIY Your Home Staging
Step 1: Declutter and Depersonalize
Start with the most impactful (and free) staging step! Remove excess belongings and personal items.
Pack away family photos, personal collections, religious items, and anything with your name or initials. Buyers need to envision their own lives in the space, not feel like they’re touring someone else’s home.
Clear countertops, tabletops, and surfaces of all but the most essential items. Aim for closets and storage areas that appear 75% full or less. Buyers want to see ample storage space.
For each room, designate a basket or box where you can quickly toss personal items before showings. Store these containers in closets or the garage during viewings.
If you need help moving furniture out temporarily, consider a moving and storage company for assistance!
Step 2: Deep Clean Everything
A spotless home is non-negotiable when staging. Go beyond your regular cleaning routine:
Focus on Details: Clean grout, wash windows inside and out, polish fixtures, and steam clean carpets. Pay special attention to kitchens and bathrooms where cleanliness is paramount.
Address Odors: Eliminate pet odors, cooking smells, and mustiness. Use enzyme cleaners for persistent odors and ensure proper ventilation throughout your home.
Don’t Over-Scent: Avoid strong air fresheners or candles that might overwhelm buyers. Light, natural scents, such as fresh flowers or subtle vanilla, work best.
Step 3: Neutralize Your Color Palette
Bold, personal color choices can alienate potential buyers. Create broad appeal with neutral tones.
Focus on rooms with bold or dark colors. Choose warm neutrals like soft grays, beiges, or off-whites. These colors make spaces feel larger and brighter while providing a blank canvas for buyers’ imaginations.
Replace colorful shower curtains, bold artwork, and bright accessories with neutral alternatives. These small changes can have a significant impact.
Step 4: Optimize Lighting
Proper lighting makes spaces feel warm, welcoming, and spacious. Open all blinds and curtains during showings. Clean windows to ensure maximum light penetration. Trim any outdoor vegetation blocking windows.
Use a combination of overhead lighting, table lamps, and floor lamps to create a warm, inviting ambiance. Replace burned-out bulbs and consider upgrading to brighter LED bulbs.
Place lamps in dark corners and use under-cabinet lighting in kitchens to showcase countertops and backsplashes.
Step 5: Arrange Furniture for Flow and Function
Thoughtful furniture arrangement can make rooms feel larger and more functional.
Create Conversation Areas: In living rooms, arrange seating to face each other rather than just pointing toward the TV. This setup feels more welcoming and sociable.
Show Room Purpose: Ensure each room has a clear function. If you’ve been using your dining room as an office, restore it to its intended purpose for showings.
Maximize Space: Remove oversized furniture that makes rooms feel cramped. Store extra pieces temporarily or consider renting smaller-scale furniture if needed.
Define Spaces: In open floor plans, use area rugs and furniture placement to define different functional areas clearly.
Step 6: Focus on Key Rooms
Concentrate your staging efforts on the spaces that matter most to buyers.
Kitchen: Clear countertops completely, hide small appliances, and add simple touches like a bowl of fresh fruit or a small plant. Ensure all appliances are spotless and in working order.
Primary Bedroom: Create a hotel-like retreat with fresh, neutral bedding, minimal nightstand styling, and adequate lighting. Remove work-related items and exercise equipment.
Living Room: This space should feel welcoming and comfortable. Add throw pillows, a cozy blanket, and perhaps a few coffee table books to create warmth without clutter.
Bathrooms: Replace personal toiletries with hotel-style amenities, add fresh towels, and include small touches like a plant or decorative soap dispenser.
Step 7: Enhance Curb Appeal
Your home’s exterior creates crucial first impressions.
Trim hedges, plant seasonal flowers, and ensure the lawn is well-maintained. Remove any dead plants or overgrown vegetation.
Clean and paint the front door if needed. Add a new welcome mat and consider flanking the entrance with potted plants or flowers.
Ensure the exterior looks well-maintained with clean windows, functioning outdoor lighting, and any necessary touch-up painting.
Step 8: Add Finishing Touches
Small details can elevate your staging from good to exceptional. Add life to key spaces with fresh flowers or healthy plants. These elements suggest the home is well-cared for and loved.
Place vanilla-scented candles (unlit) in bathrooms or simmer cinnamon sticks in water for a subtle, welcoming aroma. Use matching accessories sparingly. A coordinated set of throw pillows or a few well-placed books can add warmth without creating clutter.
Make Your Home Irresistible to Buyers
DIY home staging requires effort, but the payoff can be substantial. By following these systematic steps, you’re creating an environment where buyers can envision their future lives unfolding.
Remember that staging is about creating a lifestyle aspiration, not just showcasing a house. Every choice you make should support the narrative that your home is the perfect place for buyers to create their own memories and call home.
Choose Crescent Moving and Storage for Your Next Move or Staging!
When you choose Crescent Moving, you will get a team of professional movers who are licensed and insured, bonded, and certified by the Canadian Association of Movers. Our certified moving agents guarantee the best door-to-door service. Get a FREE, no-obligation quote: https://crescentmovingandstorage.com/moving-quote/