Thinking of selling your home? Here's how to style it like a pro

If you’re thinking of selling your home, your first priority should be to maximise the selling price. You don’t need to undertake major renovations, but a little bit of styling here and there can make a huge difference to how much potential buyers are willing to pay. The goal is for buyers to imagine themselves living in your home (or renting it out if they are looking for an investment). 

Any sales agent worth their salt will list your property on multiple sites and include plenty of pictures to entice buyers – so if you have real estate for sale, here’s how to style your property so you get the best price when you sell. 

Declutter!

Most buyers won’t be interested in buying a house that’s full of clutter. Yes, that collection of vintage beer steins might mean a lot to you and Grannies crocheted doilies might be full of nostalgia for you too - but they don’t belong in a house you’re trying to sell. So, the first step is to remove the clutter. Hide them or throw them - just don’t let your potential buyers see them. Remember the rule of thumb for real estate for sale – if it doesn’t add value, take it away. That means removing your photos and other personal things too. You want the property to have enough of a blank canvas so your buyers can imagine what they would put in those little nooks and crannies. 

Set your budget

Now that you’re done with the free task of decluttering your house for sale, it’s time to set your budget. Every professional home stylist does this before starting to style a house so they know what they can do with the amount they have available to spend. But there’s no need to hire a professional when you can easily do it yourself and avoid those extra costs. List down all items you need to buy – this might be a few pieces of new furniture, some pictures or other decor, and of course, flowers (budget for regular change outs so your flowers are fresh for each open home). If your furniture is well and truly dated to the extent that just a few new pieces won’t help, don’t forget to check out rental options so you can add some modern furniture without having to pay through the roof. 

Begin styling

Here comes the fun part! Your property for sale is now clean of clutter and you’ve set your budget. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to begin styling it like a pro. Here’s how: 

◾️ Colour scheming 

Pick a colour scheme for each room of the house, beginning from the living room, then proceeding to the kitchen, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Colours create an instant bond to the buyers so choose them wisely. Generally accepted colour theory is that gentle hues of blue, lavender, or green are considered calm and serene. Rich jewel-toned hues help set the mood of coziness and comfort.

It definitely helps if you have neutral wall colours so your colours don’t clash - and sometimes adding a feature wall with a contrasting picture or sculpture can create a dramatic and inviting look. Add your colour hues to accentuate the environment, limiting it to two shades only so as not to overdo things. Whatever you choose, make sure it compliments everything in the room, such as cushions, curtains and furniture, etc.

◾️ Add greens and florals 

Greens and florals provide a welcoming effect for anyone, especially to someone who wants to see themselves living in that home. Keep your flowers fresh and place some pot plants with good foliage around the house for that relaxing and inviting feel.