Stage To Sell..Or Not

All too often we think of staging our home only when we are ready to sell it. But honestly, if you feel a room isn't working, why not read these tips to re-work it, whether you are selling...or not.

1. Staging With Furniture That Is Too Large for the Space. For everyday living, a large sectional is nice for relaxing. However, is the sectional too large for the room? Or too dark? The above photo shows how you can make a sectional fit into a smaller space without overpowering the room. Try to think about how much visual space each piece will take up by considering both size and color. Unless you’re staging a dining room or small bedroom, try and make sure one piece does not dominate the space.

2. Eye-Catching & Calm Bed Linens. Yes, bed linens can make or break the look of a bedroom, especially if you're preparing to sell. Invest in an inexpensive coverlet & pillowcases or if you're staging your home to stay, definitely invest in new bed linens to freshen the look of a room.

3. Try An Accent Wall. The days of a bold red accent wall are past us, however, the wallpaper is bringing a fun twist to an ordinary room that needs a little personality. If you want to try your hand at accent walls, think contrast. Dark greys, bright, energizing colors like Pantone’s Color of the Year Ultraviolet, or even removable wallpaper or graphics can go a long way to adding personality to your listing. Need some accent wall inspiration? Check out the top ideas on Pinterest here.

4. Update Window Treatments. Old, outdated, too dark, or dirty window treatments drag the feel of a room down a few notches. Freshen up rooms with window treatments that add an element of design. With such a great assortment of curtains available now, you can easily make a big change for a small investment. If you are selling, stay with neutral color curtains and avoid bold patterns. If you plan to stay, invest in roller shades bordered by sheer curtains to compliment. Roller Shades have come a long way since the day of plain white. They are now available in subtle patterns, a wide variety of colors and natural woven looks.

5. Add Pillows to a Plain Couch Or Chair. Pillows are the THING now, but too many or too bold can be distracting if you're staging to sell. They’re very personal. Not everyone will respond to your taste. However, if you're not selling - have fun with playing with seasonal pillows!

6. Add Greenery. If you've got the green thumb, go for live plants in a unique but neutral planter. If the green thumb has not been bestowed upon you, there are so many "faux" succulents and plants available that you can place & leave them be. Don't go overboard, a few placed strategically in each room goes a long way, and be sure to avoid large plants in a small area and vice versa. For example, a small potted succulent works perfectly on the bathroom vanity.

7. Update Wall Hangings. You've had the family wall gallery hanging in the living room for 10 years now, we all love those nostalgic photos but consider refreshing the wall with either new frames, or moving the gallery to another wall in another room and hang a print in place of the gallery. If you are selling, it is always recommended to pack away the family photos until you unpack them in your new home.

8. Stage With Table and Floor Lamps. There are two excellent reasons to add lamps to a room. 1) Table lamps give off warm light exactly where you want it and 2) both table lamps and floor lamps can make a boring room look dramatic in the evening. Not only that, but lamps are also usually one of the primary focal points of a room when they’re lit. Lamps help make a house feel like a home.

9. Don't Push All The Furniture Against The Wall. Doing this makes a living room look dull and boxy. In large rooms, if you push everything against the wall it makes it feel empty and a smaller room looks more cluttered. It may seem the most obvious way to arrange furniture but move things around, think small space & cozy sitting, or put a longer couch at an angle. If you're staging to sell, remove a few pieces in a small space to make it feel more open.

10. Add Area Rugs. Staging to sell means adding neutral rugs to define specific spaces. Area rugs can also bring texture and interest to a normally drab room, especially if it is a large room with stone or wood floors. Rug tip: make sure it is large enough to extend under furniture. For a table; the rug should be large enough for the chairs as well as the table. A good rule to follow is that the chairs should be on the rug, even when they're pulled out from the table.

Tip: Pinterest and Houzz are perfect starting points for inspiration.