What is one overlooked aspect of home staging that you believe makes a significant difference? Can you share an example of how you implemented it in your home?

One overlooked aspect of home staging that sigmificantly impacts a space is creating a curated "local experience" atmosphere. In my Detroit Furnished Rentals, I go beyond traditional staging by incorporating elements that reflect the area's unique cultural vibe. For example, I use local artists' work and artifacts that tell a story about Detroit's history and industrial heritage. This approach transforms spaces into more than just a room-they become a destination that piques the interest of guests and potential buyers alike. I also emphasize the power of thematic elements that evoke a sense of nostalgia and playfulness. In a recent staging, I integrated vintage arcade games like Pac-Man alongside modern comforts. This quirky blend not only sets my properties apart but also adds layers of personality that resonate with those seeking spaces that offer unique, memorable experiences. These distinctive touches can make all the difference, especially in a competitive market where standing out is crucial.

More often, we notice homeowners putting all their energy into the interiors, forgetting that the exterior is what starts the conversation with potential buyers. One project that stands out involved a property with a simple, unassuming entryway. By repainting the front door in a warm, neutral tone and framing it with carefully placed greenery, the entire space felt more inviting. We added subtle lighting near the doorway, which transformed the atmosphere as daylight faded. A prospective buyer later mentioned how the glow made them imagine coming home after a long day, and that emotional connection played a key role in their decision. In another case, the pathway leading to the house was a patchy, uneven stretch that lacked character. We reshaped it using a natural stone finish, carefully aligning it with the home's style. Bordering it with understated plants created a seamless flow from the street to the doorstep. The feedback was instant; buyers appreciated how it felt cared for, yet not overly elaborate, giving them the sense of a manageable yet attractive outdoor space. These exterior touches often go unnoticed in discussions around staging, but they have a way of setting the tone. They create a sense of belonging, drawing buyers in before they even step through the door.

One often overlooked aspect of home staging that makes a significant difference is lighting. Ensuring each room is well-lit with a mix of natural and artificial light creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. Layering light-using overhead fixtures, table lamps, and accent lighting-highlights a room's best features and makes spaces appear larger and more appealing. Another critical detail is staging the home with furniture that aligns with its pricing. For a higher-end property, incorporating upscale furnishings and decor helps potential buyers envision the lifestyle that comes with the home. In one property, we used stylish yet affordable furniture to create a cohesive look that matched the home's market value. Pairing this with updated lighting transformed the ambiance and helped the property sell quickly at a competitive price.

One part of home staging that people tend to overlook is the importance of lighting in elevating your space. Because it's simple, some people look over it. However, in interior design, sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference. Think about it this way: if you are looking to buy a house, you walk inside, and everything is dark and dingey, you probably aren't going to have positive thoughts on first glance. On the flip side, if you walk into a bright room with multiple light sources creating a relaxed and warm feeling in the room, you will probably feel this mood seeping into you. When I was staging a more modern home that was up for sale, I saw that it had more cold overhead lighting in the kitchen - which was the center of the home. When one home has a room that is visible as the center focal point, you want to make sure it is eye-catching and appealing. To do this, I swapped out the hard lighting with soft LED bulbs and then created a layered lighting scheme with lamps and under-cabinet lighting to create a warm and inviting glow to the room. It's amazing how much of a difference it makes when lighting draws attention to a home's best assets. As I said, lighting might seem like a small change to make in a home, but it can make the difference between interested and disinterested buyers.

Hey there! I'm Angie. I love home staging. It can take a house from 'undesirable' and 'not selling' to a hot ticket that everyone can't get enough of. One of the ways I like to do this is with what interior designers call 'lifestyle vignettes'-which are essentially just ways to show buyers how they might use the space. What this entails is creating 'scenes' in the home that help potential buyers imagine how their lives might look in the space. Take, for example, the living room - here I would set up a side table with a throw, a pot and tea, and maybe a book. This will create a little book nook in the home that makes it feel more cozy and personalized. Creating small scenes like this in particular rooms will help prospective buyers imagine their lives there. In your own home, these little touches will be everywhere. One thing I like to do in my own home that I've started doing in stages is to put my fluffy towels in a basket and add some candles to a tray. This makes the bathroom feel fresh, modern, and personal. It brings it from 'plain' to 'like a spa', which people absolutely love!

Chad Harmer Co-Founder, Modern Organic Design Website: www.ModernOrganic.ca Instagram: @modernorganicdesignco One often overlooked yet incredibly impactful aspect of home staging is depersonalizing the space to connect with the largest possible audience. While it's natural for homeowners to showcase personal items and unique decor, these elements can unintentionally make it harder for potential buyers to envision the home as their own. By removing family photos, bold artwork, and overly specific decor choices, you create a neutral, welcoming canvas that appeals to a wide range of aesthetic tastes. In one recent staging project, we worked with homeowners who had a beautiful home filled with vibrant, eclectic pieces that reflected their personal style. While the decor was striking, it wasn't resonating with buyers during showings. We carefully depersonalized the space, opting for a more neutral palette and incorporating timeless, understated furnishings. This allowed us to highlight the home's architectural features, such as its open floor plan and abundant natural light. The result was immediate: the home attracted significantly more interest, and within the first week on the market, it received multiple offers, ultimately selling above asking price. This example underscores how depersonalizing isn't about stripping away character-it's about creating a universal appeal that allows buyers to see themselves in the space. For more tips and examples, feel free to connect with us through our website or Instagram.

When getting your house ready to sell, one important thing many people forget is making it feel welcoming and plain. This helps buyers picture themselves living there. Here's how I did it: I made sure the front of my home was clean by picking up trash and tidying the entrance before people came to look. This made a good first impression. Inside, I packed up personal items, hid kids toys and pet stuff during showings, and put out neutral decorations. This helped buyers imagine living there, and the home sold quickly for the price I wanted. The key is to make your house clean, plain, and welcoming! Greetings, James Collins Website: https://purehomegarden.com E-mail: contact@purehomegarden.com Headshot: https://purehomegarden.com/wp-content/uploads/James-Collins.jpg

One thing that people often overlook in home staging is the storage spaces. I'm not just talking about closets but also kitchen cabinets, shelves, and even the pantry. Buyers love to peek into these areas, so it's a great chance to show off how organised and functional the space can be. For example, I once staged a kitchen by neatly arranging dishes with dividers and using cute, matching containers in the pantry. It made everything look super tidy and gave buyers the feeling that the kitchen had tons of storage. The key to good home staging is keeping it simple and practical while still making the place look amazing. It's like a little visual trick to help buyers imagine themselves living there-without making it too obvious that you're trying to impress them.

One often-overlooked aspect of home staging is creating a welcoming outdoor space, even if it's small. Outdoor areas are extensions of the home and can make a significant impact on buyers by showcasing additional living areas. Thoughtfully staging a porch, patio, or small garden can evoke a sense of relaxation and functionality that resonates with potential buyers. For example, when preparing my own home for viewing, I focused on transforming a small backyard corner. I added a bistro set with neutral cushions, a potted lavender plant for a pop of color and fragrance, and a string of warm outdoor lights to make the space feel cozy and usable. This simple addition turned a previously overlooked area into a feature that buyers could easily picture themselves enjoying. It created an emotional connection and helped my home stand out.

Many people tend to overlook the impact that lighting can have on a space. When staging a home, it is crucial to ensure that all rooms are well-lit and have appropriate lighting fixtures. This not only helps to enhance the visual appeal of the space but also creates an inviting and welcoming atmosphere for potential buyers. One example of how I implemented this in my home was during a recent open house. The living room in the house had beautiful natural light coming in from large windows, but the lighting fixture was outdated and did not provide enough light in the evenings. I decided to replace it with a modern and brighter fixture, which instantly made the room feel more spacious and inviting. This small change made a significant difference in how potential buyers perceived the living room. Another aspect of proper lighting is creating different levels of lighting throughout a home. This includes using task lighting in areas such as kitchens or bathrooms, accent lighting to highlight specific features or artwork, and ambient lighting to create an overall warm and cozy atmosphere. By incorporating these different layers of lighting, we can create a well-balanced and visually appealing space that will leave a lasting impression on potential buyers.

I learned that proper lighting makes a huge difference when I was staging a dim Colonial home - simply adding strategic floor lamps and opening all blinds made the space feel twice as big. After that experience, I always tell my clients to add at least one light source to every dark corner and clean their windows thoroughly, which typically boosts showing feedback dramatically.

One often-overlooked aspect of home staging is the impact of a deep clean on the home's first impression. It's not just about cleaning the visible surfaces-it's about creating an environment that feels fresh, inviting, and cared for. A spotless home allows potential buyers to envision themselves living there, free from distractions like grimy windows or dusty corners. For instance, we once staged a home where the kitchen was the focal point, but years of cooking had left stubborn grease in hard-to-reach areas. We went beyond the usual wipe-down and deep-cleaned the range hood, grout, and cabinetry, restoring them to a like-new condition. We also polished every window until it sparkled, letting in more natural light. Afterward, the home didn't just look clean-it felt vibrant. That attention to detail helped the seller receive multiple offers above the asking price.

I think smell is something not enough people think about. We're so focused on the visual aspect - what furniture we're using, the lighting, the sense of space, getting rid of any personal items - but what do you first notice when you enter a home? The smell is a huge part of that first impression. I like to use scented candles in homey scents - cinnamon, cookies, anything baked. Sometimes, just running the oven for half an hour can create that warm atmosphere and welcoming smell.

As a Realtor, I can't stress enough the importance of how your home smells. It makes a big first impression on potential buyers, sometimes even subconsciously shaping their feelings about the place. So, what do I recommend? Keep it light and fresh! Opt for mild scents using candles, diffusers, or just good old fresh air by opening windows to clear out any stale smells. Simple steps like these make the home feel more inviting and well-cared for. In my house, I use lightly scented candles in the entrance and the living room. In the kitchen, I've got an oil diffuser running, and I always make sure the space is airy as it really sets the tone the moment someone steps through the door. I feel like these small touches really improve a home's appeal, which makes it appear more cherished and change buyers' perspective to be more positive. Trust me, focusing on the smell of your home is a small detail that can have a big change on how people perceive the space.

Proper lighting can truly transform a space and create an inviting atmosphere for potential buyers. It not only makes rooms appear larger and more welcoming but also allows viewers to see all the details of the home. One example of how I implemented this in a recent listing was by replacing outdated light fixtures with modern ones and adding additional lamps throughout the house. This simple change made such a difference in how the home felt and looked. Buyers could now see all the features of the home clearly, and it created a warm and inviting ambiance. Furthermore, I also made sure to open all window coverings during showings to let in as much natural light as possible. This made a significant impact on how spacious and bright the rooms appeared.

One often overlooked but powerful home staging technique is strategic mirror placement in smaller spaces. When I was preparing to sell my previous home, I installed a large, frameless mirror (72" x 36") on the wall opposite the entrance of my narrow hallway. This simple change created an immediate illusion of doubled space and significantly improved natural light distribution throughout the connected living areas. The impact was remarkable - during open houses, potential buyers consistently commented on how spacious the hallway felt, not realizing it was the mirror effect. This single change helped transform what was previously a cramped, dark corridor into an inviting entrance that made the entire home feel more open and welcoming. The key is to position mirrors where they reflect either natural light or your home's most attractive features, not just blank walls.

Incorporating various types of lighting, such as overhead lights, task lights, and accent lights, can also add depth and dimension to a room. For example, placing table lamps on either side of a bed can create a symmetrical and inviting look, while adding a pendant light above a dining table can make the space feel more formal and elegant. Another often overlooked aspect of home staging is incorporating scents. The sense of smell is closely linked to emotion and can greatly impact how potential buyers perceive a home. By using subtle and pleasant scents throughout the house, you can create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere that will leave a lasting impression on potential buyers. One example of how I implemented this in my own home was during an open house. I used lightly scented candles in each room, such as lavender in the bedroom and vanilla in the kitchen, to create a relaxing and inviting atmosphere. I also added fresh flowers in vases throughout the house to add a touch of natural fragrance. These small details may seem insignificant, but they can make a big difference in how potential buyers perceive and remember the home.

For me, the most overlooked aspect of staging a house is its exterior entryway or more specifically the front door. In one house I was about to sell, I painted the front door dark navy blue, fitted black hardware, and placed parallel planters stacked with vibrant flowers. These little fixes, which cost a fraction of $300, instantly improved the look of the house. At showings, a few interested parties repeatedly noted how comfortable the foyer was, and the home sold within two weeks for 7% more than the asking price. I think that the reason why this was so effective was because it established a very warm feel at first and this is how the entire trip was going to unfold. Buyers can make a judgement about a house within the first few seconds of sight, so that initial visual experience was key.

The often overlooked aspect of home staging is the strategic use of furniture placement to enhance spatial flow. Properly arranging furniture can create a sense of openness and make spaces feel larger than they are. In my staging efforts, I focused on ensuring that pathways were clear and each room had a defined purpose. I positioned the sofa in the living room to encourage conversation while leaving ample room for movement around it. In smaller areas, I opted for lighter, more streamlined furniture that didn't overpower the space, enhancing the feeling of openness. I also incorporated multifunctional pieces, like ottomans, that serve as seating and storage to show how versatile the space could be. I also arranged outdoor furniture to promote relaxation and social gatherings. I set up a cozy seating area on the patio with cushions and throws, making it feel like an extension of the indoor living space. Adding outdoor lighting, such as string lights or lanterns, created a warm glow for evening viewings, enhancing the ambiance. I highlighted any unique features, such as a fire pit or a view. These can improve the property's overall aesthetic, and potential buyers can envision themselves enjoying the outdoor space, making them a key selling point.

From my cleaning experience, I've noticed that spotless switch plates and outlet covers are often overlooked but make a massive subconscious impact - I recently deep-cleaned these in a client's home and the difference was stunning. When I wiped down all 42 switch plates in my own house, even my wife mentioned how much fresher everything looked, though she couldn't pinpoint exactly why.