I get asked this question all of the time especially from clients looking to sell their home. Just this week, in fact, I had to deal with some sellers who were confused (and a bit argumentative) that the terms home staging and home decor were the same thing – they are not!
Most people are very surprised to hear that they are almost the opposite of each other.
Preparing a home to sell is very different than preparing a home to live in.
So this image is a great looking living room BUT if this person was selling, we would highly recommend painting those walls in a more neutral and lighter tone. We would also suggest removing the personal photos from the side table.
Home Decor –
When you move into a home (and everyone does this, it’s totally normal) you want it to work for your lifestyle and reflect your personal tastes. You likely bought the home in the first place because it accommodated your lifestyle. Maybe you don’t need a kitchen nook but and office or a piano would be better for you, maybe you love bold and bright colours all over the walls, maybe you don’t have a dining set but a pool table instead – those are all your taste and lifestyle choices – that is home decorating.
Buyers are looking for light, clean and bright homes with neutral and quality finishes.
Home staging –
When it comes to selling your home, buyers will focus on the crazy colours, the choice and location of furniture even though they are just buying the home not the contents inside.
Visualization is so important. The buyers need to see themselves in the space and mentally move in. So keeping it clean, neutral and some furniture (in a simple set up) that can help buyers visualize their furniture in (hopefully) their new home. The furniture, art and accessories should compliment the home and not be the primary focus – what are you trying to sell ? the home, or the furniture?
If you are selling your home and want top dollar (who doesn’t) you must put some work into it – re-paint in a neutral tone, clean the house, place furniture in areas or in a formation that would work for most buyers – this is called home staging.
Neutralize and De-personalize-
Remove the personal touches from your house. That includes: bold paint colours and accent walls, personal family photos that are on display, religious items, collectibles and any unusual furniture arrangement (see the comment about an eat-in kitchen as an office). You need to make this house as appealing as possible and buyers will see it in photos first and those photos need to shine!
For selling your home (and staging your home) this dining space looks great! It’s light, neutral and minimal decor. The drapery is pulled back and letting the light in.
Going overboard with decor –
I also get sellers who want more and more furniture and art and accessories – every corner and every wall space covered or filled – again that’s not home staging. Yes, once the new owners move into any space they will fill it up with items and accessories of their choice but when a home is shown/viewed by potential buyers and there isn’t any wall space or any room to move – they feel cramped and overwhelmed.
No one ever says to their agent – “It’s cramped, dark, dirty and feels small – I love it!” If you follow your home stagers advice your home will be more sale-able – it will appeal to more buyers and you will get good offers.
This personalized family gallery wall is so cute but NOT for selling your home. You don’t want buyers to feel like they are visiting, you want them to imagine their life in the house. So personal decor like this gallery wall would have to be packed away. Instead replace it will landscapes or simple photography (not family images) – the gallery formation is fine and it’s still a popular look – just be aware of what’s on display.
Mass appeal –
I hear from sellers all of the time ‘well, this is how I would do it if I were living here’ – that’s great but you have decided not to live here anymore SO you need to move on and allow someone else in and live how they would live in the space.
A home stager is an impartial party who can help you place furniture (or just give you ideas) to create flow and mass appeal, they can also recommend paint colours for creating a calm and soothing space, they can also give you great ideas to create curb appeal.
How you live in a home and how you sell a house are very different….
