There’s no doubt about it – one of the most important rooms to stage when you’re selling is the living room. The living room is where family and friends gather and where you unwind after a long day. A great living room will often be at the top of the list for potential buyers, so you want to make it look comfortable and inviting. Here are some of our top tips for staging your living room to sell.
De-clutter and de-personalize
If you do nothing else when selling your home, then make sure you at least de-clutter and de-personalize. Potential buyers will be imagining themselves living in your home. If you have too many personal items taking up visual space, it will be more difficult for them to visualize their belongings in the space. Remove all family photos and personal mementos. Clear off shelves and edit the furniture. Store any pieces that are large and bulky. Remember – the fewer items you have in the room, the larger it will appear.
Don’t go overboard
On the flipside, don’t take de-cluttering to the extreme by removing everything. An empty room can turn off potential buyers. It is more difficult to imagine how furniture and other items will fit in the room if there is no frame of reference. Some buyers may be concerned that their favorite couch won’t fit in the room, and may decide not to put in an offer.
Make repairs
As with any other room, you need to make necessary repairs in the living room before listing it. This includes patching holes in the walls, making sure doors close properly, and ensuring all the lights work. Change out bulbs that have burned out and have the carpets cleaned, especially if there are any stains or odors.
Paint
The next order of business when staging a living room is to paint. This is especially true if your walls are anything other than a neutral color such as beige or light gray. These colors will make your living room feel clean, bright, and more spacious. And a fresh coat of paint can really energize a room so don’t skip this step!
Arrange the seating
Now that you’ve de-cluttered, made repairs and painted, it is time to bring your larger pieces of furniture back in. When you’re staging a living room, you want to create a space for conversation. Most likely, this will include a couch, coffee table, and one or two chairs. Add lighting with table or floor lamps to make the space feel more intimate. And if you have a focal point, such as a fireplace or a great view, arrange the seating to face it. Make sure there is enough space for traffic to flow from one room to another.
Let in the light
Windows in the living room can be a big selling point, especially if they let in lots of natural light. Ditch the heavy curtains and opt instead for window treatments that allow light to pass through. When you’re showing the house, make sure the curtains are open and the windows are sparkling clean. If possible, hang a mirror opposite a window to reflect even more natural light into the room.
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