Room Transformations That Show the Power of Staging

About 80% of buyer’s agents say staging helps their clients better visualize living in a home. A third say it can even increase the home’s value between 1% and 10% when compared to similar homes that aren’t staged, according to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2023 Profile of Home Staging.

Staging can transform blank walls and floors into a warm and welcoming home that buyers can relate to. The right staging can inspire buyers to realize just how valuable your home really is, and see the potential of their life in that home unfolding with every room they explore

Studies show that staging the living room was found to be very important for buyers (46 percent), followed by staging the master bedroom (43 percent), and staging the kitchen (35 percent).

Staged homes show better in photographs.

Homes that are prepared for market and look good on the Internet, usually sell the quickest. Time is money and less time on the market means less stress and frustration for the seller.

While some homes may require more work than others, the following represents our top staging "do’s" that are essential in getting your property ready for sale.

1. Focus on curb appeal


Make the best first impression by sprucing up the lawn and landscape.

Remove dead or overgrown shrubs.

Touch up any peeling paint, and power wash the outside if needed.

Repair any cracks in the driveway and walkway and also power wash steps and railings if necessary.

Look at the outdoor lighting. Is it time to repair or replace?

Add welcoming touches to the front door including seasonal plants and a fresh welcome mat.

Ensure that you have a prominent, working doorbell and that the front door is freshly painted.

2. Declutter and neutralize

Removing the carpet to reveal hardwood floors, adding a coat of neutral paint, and updating lighting, window treatments and accessories gives a fresh, bright and updated look to the room

Remove anything that will distract buyers from seeing your property, including personal collections (yes, that sports memorabilia room has to go!), a wall of family photos, newspapers, books and magazines, etc.

Consider donating outdated furniture and household accessories to a local nonprofit.

3. Refresh walls, rugs and windows treatments


When was the last time you painted? Are their imperfections or scratches on the walls? Is the current paint color dated? If so, consider adding a fresh coat of neutral paint. The same applies to area rugs and carpeting. Be sure to have them professionally cleaned and, if dated, consider replacing. If you have hardwood floors under the carpeting, you’ll find it worthwhile to remove and refinish the floors so you can then use the hardwoods as a selling-point. As for window treatments, replace any outdated or specific styles. Or if you have great windows -- make sure they stand out by removing all of the window treatments.

4. Brighten and add warmth

It’s important that the home feels light and bright. Open the curtains wide (or replace as indicated above) and let in as much natural light as possible. Also, replace any light fixtures that are outdated and make sure all existing lights are working.

5. Make it shine

Clean, dust, vacuum, and deodorize. Think: aggressive spring cleaning!

Have a professional service clean the property from top to bottom -- including the walls, ceilings, and baseboards. Dirt eats equity. The more your home shines, the better for prospective buyers. Windows and mirrors should be free of fingerprints, and hardwood floors should shine.

Scrub bathrooms and kitchens so they sparkle. Don’t forget to dust lampshades and curtains too.

These photos show what transformations are possible in key areas of a home, including painted white interiors, decluttering while opening layouts and incorporating a few decorative accessories.

Primary Bedroom

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Living Room

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Room 1

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Dining Room

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Room 2

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Kitchen

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Content by Realtor magazine