Top Home Staging Tips to Sell Faster in 2025

Looking to sell a property faster and for top dollar? These eight essential home staging tips will show you how to present your listings in their best light. Learn to transform any space into a buyer's dream by decluttering, optimizing furniture, using neutral colors, and more. Effective home staging helps buyers envision themselves living in the property, leading to quicker sales and potentially higher offers. These home staging tips will make your property stand out from the competition.

1. Declutter and Depersonalize

Decluttering and depersonalizing are foundational home staging tips and arguably the most crucial step in preparing your house for sale. This process involves removing excess belongings, personal items, and clutter to create a neutral and inviting space. By transforming your home into a blank canvas, potential buyers can easily envision themselves living there, rather than feeling like they're intruding in someone else's space. This also has the added benefit of making rooms appear larger and more appealing. It's about showcasing the house itself, not your personal life.

Think of a crowded family room filled with oversized furniture, family photos, and personal knick-knacks. Now, imagine that same room transformed into a spacious, airy area with minimal, neutral decor. That's the power of decluttering and depersonalizing. This approach allows the architectural features of the home to shine, drawing the buyer's eye to the property's potential rather than the seller's belongings. This home staging tip is essential for creating a welcoming and marketable property.

Examples of Successful Implementation:

• From Cluttered to Calm: A busy family room overflowing with furniture and personal photos becomes a clean, open space showcasing the room's size and natural light. Only key furniture pieces remain, arranged to maximize flow and highlight the room's best features.
• Serene Sanctuary: A master bedroom piled with clothes, personal items, and mismatched decor transforms into a tranquil retreat. Decluttering and depersonalizing create a sense of calm and spaciousness, appealing to buyers looking for a relaxing primary suite.

Actionable Tips for Decluttering and Depersonalizing:

• Closets: Remove at least one-third of your belongings from closets. This creates the illusion of ample storage space, a major selling point for many buyers.
• Personal Items: Pack away family photos, personal mementos, and anything that strongly reflects your individual taste. This allows potential buyers to visualize their own belongings in the space.
• Surfaces: Clear countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms of small appliances, toiletries, and other clutter. Clean, clear surfaces make a big difference in how buyers perceive a space.
• Storage Solutions: Consider renting a storage unit or utilizing off-site storage for excess furniture and belongings. This investment can significantly improve the presentation of your home.
• Prioritize Flat Surfaces: Focus on clearing flat surfaces like tables, countertops, and shelves first. These areas tend to accumulate clutter quickly and are highly visible to potential buyers.

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

• Cost-Effective: Decluttering and depersonalizing costs nothing but your time.
• Space Enhancement: Makes rooms appear larger and more inviting.
• Buyer Visualization: Helps potential buyers envision themselves living in the home.
• Highlights Architecture: Allows the home's architectural features to stand out.

Cons:

• Emotionally Challenging: It can be difficult to detach from personal belongings and memories associated with the home.
• Storage Needs: Requires finding storage solutions for removed items.
• Time Commitment: Can be a time-consuming process, especially for larger homes or those with a lot of belongings.

This first step in home staging is crucial because it sets the stage for all other enhancements. A decluttered and depersonalized home presents a more attractive and marketable property, ultimately leading to a faster and potentially more profitable sale. Popularized by real estate moguls like Barbara Corcoran, HGTV's staging shows, and design icons like Joanna Gaines, the power of decluttering and depersonalizing is undeniable. This home staging tip is invaluable for real estate agents, home staging companies, and homeowners alike.

2. Deep Clean Everything

Among the most crucial home staging tips is deep cleaning. This goes beyond your regular cleaning routine and involves a meticulous, floor-to-ceiling scrub of every nook and cranny. Deep cleaning creates the impression of a well-maintained property, free from neglect, and sets the stage for potential buyers to envision themselves living there. It addresses not only the obvious dirt and grime but also those often-forgotten spaces that buyers will notice during a thorough walk-through, contributing significantly to their overall impression of the home. This step is essential for maximizing your home's appeal and achieving a successful sale.

This method involves a comprehensive approach, tackling everything from window and light fixture cleaning to odor elimination and meticulous attention to detail. Think sparkling clean appliances, gleaming countertops, spotless bathrooms, and polished floors. The impact of a deep clean is undeniable, transforming even a dated space into one that feels fresh and inviting. For example, a dated bathroom that sparkles with cleanliness can still attract buyers despite not having undergone recent renovations. Similarly, a kitchen with spotless appliances and gleaming countertops creates a fresh, welcoming atmosphere that buyers will love. This is why deep cleaning deserves its place on this list of home staging tips.

Actionable Tips for a Deep Clean:

• Inside and Out: Clean inside appliances that buyers might inspect, such as ovens, refrigerators, and dishwashers. Wash windows inside and out to maximize natural light.
• Fabric Refresh: Steam clean carpets and upholstery to remove dirt, stains, and odors.
• Odor Elimination: Address any pet odors with enzymatic cleaners designed specifically for this purpose. Lingering smells can be a major turn-off for potential buyers.
• Detail-Oriented Cleaning: Don't forget often-missed areas like baseboards, ceiling fans, light switch plates, and door handles. These small details make a big difference.
• Grout Cleaning: Clean the grout between tiles with specialized cleaners to brighten the appearance of bathrooms and kitchens.

Pros of Deep Cleaning:

• Cost-Effective: Deep cleaning is a relatively low-cost, high-impact improvement compared to other staging methods.
• Positive First Impression: Creates an immediate positive impression on potential buyers.
• Implies Maintenance: Suggests that the home has been well-maintained, which can alleviate buyer concerns.
• Eliminates Distractions: Eliminates distractions from the home's key features, allowing buyers to focus on the positives.

Cons of Deep Cleaning:

• Labor Intensive: Can be a labor-intensive process, requiring significant time and effort.
• Professional Help: May require professional help for the best results, particularly for challenging tasks like carpet cleaning.
• Maintenance: Difficult to maintain the pristine level of cleanliness during the showing period, especially with pets or children.

When preparing your home for sale, deep cleaning is a must. This home staging tip, popularized by experts like real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, cleaning expert Melissa Maker of Clean My Space, and influenced by Marie Kondo's minimalist aesthetic, sets the foundation for a successful showing. By investing time and effort into a deep clean, you're creating a welcoming and attractive environment that allows potential buyers to truly envision themselves calling your property "home."

3. Optimize Furniture Arrangement

One of the most impactful home staging tips is optimizing your furniture arrangement. This technique involves strategically placing furniture to create a sense of flow, highlight room functionality, and make spaces appear larger. The goal is to showcase the home's potential and allow easy movement throughout, enticing potential buyers to envision themselves living there. This is crucial for real estate agents, realtors, and home staging companies looking to present a property in its best light.

Optimizing furniture arrangement works by creating defined spaces within a room, emphasizing focal points, and improving traffic flow. Instead of simply filling a room with furniture, consider how each piece interacts with the others and the overall space. For instance, a living room might be rearranged to create a conversation area around a fireplace, drawing attention to this architectural feature and creating a warm, inviting atmosphere, rather than focusing on the TV. In a bedroom, positioning the bed to showcase a beautiful view instantly elevates the room's appeal. This approach is especially useful in open floor plans, where strategically placed furniture can define distinct living areas without the need for walls. This is a key home staging tip for real estate companies and inmobiliarias aiming to maximize the perceived value of a property.

Actionable Tips for Optimizing Furniture Arrangement:

• Float furniture away from walls: This creates more intimate spaces and can make a room feel larger.
• Create conversation areas: Arrange furniture so that people naturally face each other, fostering a sense of connection.
• Ensure clear pathways: Maintain clear pathways of at least 30-36 inches wide for easy navigation.
• Remove oversized pieces: Oversized furniture can make rooms feel cramped. Opt for appropriately scaled furniture for each room.
• Position the largest piece first: Start with the largest piece of furniture, such as a sofa or bed, and then arrange other pieces around it.
• Focal Point Emphasis: Draw attention to key features like fireplaces or windows by arranging furniture to face them.

This technique has been popularized by staging experts like Meridith Baer, founder of Meridith Baer Home staging company, and interior designer Kelly Wearstler, along with shows like HGTV's 'Designed to Sell'. They've demonstrated the transformative power of furniture placement in countless projects.

By implementing these home staging tips, realtors and real estate agents can significantly enhance a property's appeal and attract potential buyers.

Learn more about Optimize Furniture Arrangement

4. Neutral Color Palette

One of the most effective home staging tips is to embrace a neutral color palette. This involves using neutral colors for walls, large furniture pieces, and major decor elements. This creates a universally appealing backdrop that attracts the widest range of potential buyers. Neutral doesn't have to mean boring! Think of it as creating a sophisticated, blank canvas that buyers can easily envision themselves personalizing. It allows the architectural features of the home to shine and sets the stage for a move-in ready impression.

This approach works because it removes personal color preferences that might not resonate with everyone. Light and airy neutrals maximize the perceived space, making rooms feel larger and brighter. A cohesive color story flowing through the home also creates a sense of harmony and flow, which is especially important in open-concept layouts. Imagine a formerly dark-painted den, now transformed with light greige walls and neutral furniture accented with colorful throw pillows and artwork. The room instantly feels larger, brighter, and more inviting. Another example would be an open-concept main floor with varying shades of the same neutral family, such as cream in the living room, a slightly deeper beige in the dining area, and a warm taupe in the kitchen. This creates a sense of visual continuity.

Tips for Implementing a Neutral Color Palette:

• Choose the right neutrals: Opt for warm neutrals like beige, greige, or soft white rather than stark white or cool grays, which can feel cold and uninviting.
• Add pops of color strategically: Introduce color through accessories like throw pillows, rugs, artwork, and vases. These are easily changeable and allow potential buyers to see the possibilities for personalization.
• Fresh Trim is Key: Ensure trim is freshly painted in a complementary white or off-white for a crisp and clean look.
• Neutralize existing furniture: Consider neutral slipcovers for boldly colored furniture to create a more unified look.
• Cohesion is King: Use the same neutral family throughout the home for a sense of flow and continuity.
• Wall Finish Matters: Choose satin or eggshell finishes for walls to help hide imperfections and reflect light.

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

• Broad Appeal: Appeals to the widest range of buyers.
• Enhanced Space: Makes spaces appear larger and brighter.
• Cohesive Flow: Creates a sense of harmony throughout the home.
• Highlights Architecture: Allows architectural details to stand out.

Cons:

• May Require Repainting: If your walls are currently vibrant colors, repainting may be necessary.
• Can Feel Impersonal: Some sellers may find a neutral palette impersonal. However, the goal is to appeal to buyers, not necessarily reflect the current owner's style.
• Requires Restraint: Homeowners need to restrain their personal color preferences for the staging process.

This neutral palette approach has been popularized by color experts like Maria Killam and reflected in best-selling neutral paint collections from brands like Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore. Even popular home designers like Joanna Gaines have built their signature style around the power of a neutral palette.

5. Maximize Natural Light

One of the most impactful home staging tips is to maximize natural light. Light quite literally brightens a space, and this brightness creates an immediate positive emotional response in potential buyers. Well-lit homes feel more spacious, welcoming, and well-maintained, making light maximization a priority for effective staging and a crucial element for achieving a successful sale. This is why it deserves a prominent place in any list of effective home staging tips.

This technique works by capitalizing on the power of natural light to enhance a property's best features. It leverages several key components: optimizing window treatments, strategic mirror placement, the use of light-reflecting surfaces, and supplementing with strategic artificial lighting when necessary. By implementing these features, you can dramatically transform the feel of a space, making it more appealing to buyers.

Why Maximize Natural Light?

Natural light plays a significant role in how buyers perceive a home. A bright, airy space feels inviting and uplifting, while a dark, dim room can feel cramped and uninviting. Maximizing natural light helps to:

• Create an immediate positive impression: The moment a potential buyer steps inside, abundant natural light creates a feeling of openness and warmth.
• Make spaces appear larger: Light bounces off surfaces, creating an illusion of spaciousness, especially beneficial for smaller rooms or homes.
• Highlight architectural features: Natural light can accentuate attractive architectural details like moldings, high ceilings, and interesting window designs.
• Elevate mood during showings: A bright and cheerful environment fosters positive emotions, making buyers more likely to connect with the property.

Actionable Tips for Realtors and Home Stagers:

• Window Treatment Optimization: Remove heavy drapes and replace them with light, flowing curtains or blinds that allow natural light to filter through. Learn more about Maximize Natural Light
• Clean Windows Thoroughly: Clean windows, inside and out, allow maximum light penetration. This simple step can make a surprising difference.
• Strategic Mirror Placement: Position mirrors opposite windows to reflect light deeper into the room. This creates the illusion of more windows and amplifies the available natural light.
• Trim Outdoor Foliage: Overgrown trees and shrubs can block valuable sunlight. Trim back any foliage that obstructs windows.
• Strategic Artificial Lighting: In areas with limited natural light, supplement with strategically placed artificial lighting. Use higher wattage bulbs (within fixture specifications) and layer lighting with ambient, task, and accent sources.
• Warm White LED Bulbs: Use warm white LED bulbs (2700-3000K) for the most appealing and inviting light.

Examples of Successful Implementation:

• Imagine a dark basement, often perceived as damp and uninviting. By applying lighter paint colors, strategically placing mirrors to reflect available light, and updating heavy window treatments with sheer curtains or blinds, even limited natural light can be maximized, transforming the basement into a usable and appealing space.
• A north-facing room, notorious for its lack of direct sunlight, can be brightened with the clever use of warm-temperature LED lighting and light-reflecting surfaces like light-colored furniture and glossy paint finishes.

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

• Creates an immediate positive impression
• Makes spaces appear larger
• Highlights architectural features
• Elevates mood during showings

Cons:

• May highlight flaws or dirt (so ensure thorough cleaning!)
• Can be challenging in naturally dark spaces
• May require window treatment investments

This approach is particularly useful when preparing a home for sale as it enhances the property's perceived value and appeal to a broader range of potential buyers. Popularized by home staging experts like Barb Schwarz, founder of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, design psychologist Sally Augustin, and even the Property Brothers, Jonathan and Drew Scott, maximizing natural light is a proven technique for successful home staging.

6. Create Lifestyle Vignettes

One of the most effective home staging tips is creating lifestyle vignettes. This technique involves setting up small, curated scenes within a room to help potential buyers envision themselves living in the space. Rather than simply showcasing a room's features, vignettes tell a story about how the space can be used and enjoyed. This helps buyers connect emotionally with the property, a key factor in making a purchase decision. Learn more about Create Lifestyle Vignettes

This approach goes beyond simply arranging furniture; it's about creating an aspirational yet attainable lifestyle. Think of it as setting the stage for the buyer's own story. By demonstrating the purpose and potential of each space, you move beyond highlighting square footage and move towards showcasing experience. This is particularly helpful for real estate agents, realtors, and home staging companies looking to make a strong impression on potential buyers.

How Lifestyle Vignettes Work:

Lifestyle vignettes rely on purposeful room definition, creating emotional connection points, and incorporating aspirational lifestyle elements. They demonstrate the functionality of a space in a way that resonates with buyers. For example, an empty corner can be transformed into a cozy reading nook, instantly adding value and appeal to the room.

Examples of Successful Implementation:

• Reading Nook: A bay window transformed into a reading nook with a comfortable chair, a small side table with a lamp, and a stack of curated books.
• Outdoor Entertaining: A patio staged with an outdoor dining set, lanterns, and place settings, instantly suggesting the potential for enjoyable outdoor gatherings.
• Home Office: A small, unused alcove transformed into a functional and stylish home office space, appealing to today's work-from-home trends.

Actionable Tips for Creating Vignettes:

• Cozy Reading Corner: Place a comfortable armchair, a soft throw, and a reading lamp in a corner of the master bedroom.
• Dining Room: Set the dining table with attractive, yet simple place settings to suggest a welcoming atmosphere.
• Home Office: Even in a small nook, a desk, chair, and a few well-chosen accessories can create a functional and appealing workspace.
• Entertaining Space: Place a serving tray with glasses and a decanter on an ottoman to create a sense of effortless entertaining.
• Spa-Like Bathroom: Folded towels, minimal toiletries, and a scented candle can create a spa-like atmosphere in the bathroom.
• Family Room: A game or chessboard placed on a coffee table suggests a space for family fun and connection.
• Bonus Room: A yoga mat and a few weights can transform a bonus space into a potential home gym.

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

• Helps buyers emotionally connect with the property.
• Demonstrates purpose for awkward or unused spaces.
• Showcases the home's potential.
• Creates a memorable impression.

Cons:

• Requires some design skill and additional accessories.
• May require an investment in new items.
• Must be maintained throughout the showing period.

In the competitive real estate market, creating an emotional connection with buyers is crucial. Lifestyle vignettes are a powerful tool for achieving this, making them a must-have strategy for real estate agents, realtors, home staging companies, and anyone looking to sell their property quickly and for top dollar. This technique, popularized by industry leaders like Meridith Baer and showcased on programs like HGTV's "Fixer Upper," has proven its effectiveness in transforming houses into homes that buyers can envision themselves living in.

7. Strategic Use of Accessories

Accessories are the secret weapon of home staging, offering a powerful way to elevate a space from bland to beautiful. This home staging tip focuses on using carefully chosen items to add personality, color, and texture, creating a finished, magazine-worthy look that resonates with potential buyers. While furniture provides the foundation, accessories are the finishing touches that truly bring a staged room to life, making it feel inviting and complete.

How it Works:

Strategic use of accessories involves thoughtfully selecting and placing decorative items to enhance the overall aesthetic of a room. This isn't about randomly scattering knick-knacks; it's about creating a cohesive and stylish look that appeals to a broad range of buyers. By incorporating elements like throw pillows, blankets, artwork, vases, and decorative bowls, you can inject personality and warmth without making the space feel overly personal or cluttered. The goal is to create a sense of style and sophistication that allows potential buyers to envision themselves living in the home.

Examples of Successful Implementation:

• Neutral Living Room: Imagine a beige living room brought to life with strategically placed sapphire blue accent pillows, a coordinating throw draped artfully over the sofa, and complementary artwork and accessories in shades of blue and white. This simple addition of color creates a focal point and adds visual interest to an otherwise neutral palette.
• Monochromatic Bedroom: A bedroom decorated in various shades of gray can feel flat. However, by incorporating different textures within that color scheme – a chunky knit throw, a sleek velvet pillow, a woven rug – you add depth and dimension, making the space more visually appealing.

Actionable Tips for Realtors and Home Stagers:

• The Rule of Three: Group accessories in odd numbers, particularly threes, to create visual balance and harmony.
• The 60-30-10 Color Rule: Use this classic design principle to create a balanced color palette: 60% dominant color (usually the wall color), 30% secondary color (furniture), and 10% accent color (accessories).
• Texture is Key: Introduce texture through throw pillows, blankets, rugs, and natural elements like woven baskets or wooden bowls.
• Greenery Adds Life: Incorporate plants or fresh flowers in key areas like the entryway, living room, and kitchen.
• Artful Choices: Select artwork that complements the space without being too controversial or personal.
• Varying Heights: Choose accessories with varying heights to create visual interest and prevent a monotonous look.
• Declutter and Breathe: Keep surfaces at least 50% clear to avoid a cluttered appearance.

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

• Cost-Effective: Accessories are a relatively inexpensive way to update and refresh a space.
• Versatile: Easily changed or repositioned to create different looks.
• Impersonal yet Inviting: Adds personality without being overly personal, allowing buyers to envision themselves in the home.
• Polished Look: Creates a finished, professionally designed appearance.

Cons:

• Design Knowledge: Requires some design knowledge to achieve the best results.
• Clutter Risk: Can look cluttered if overdone.
• Maintenance: Needs ongoing maintenance during the showing period to ensure everything stays in place and looks its best.

Strategic use of accessories is an essential home staging tip because it's a cost-effective and impactful way to elevate a space. By focusing on the details, you can create a cohesive and inviting atmosphere that appeals to potential buyers, ultimately increasing the chances of a quick and profitable sale. This tip, popularized by design experts like Emily Henderson, and reflected in the curated collections of retailers like Target, and the styling approaches of Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, has proven to be a cornerstone of successful home staging.

8. Focus on High-Value Rooms

When staging a home, focusing on high-value rooms is one of the most effective home staging tips you can implement. This strategy prioritizes the spaces that have the biggest influence on a buyer's decision-making process, allowing you to maximize the impact of your staging budget. These rooms are typically the kitchen, master bedroom, living room, and bathrooms—the very heart of a home's functionality and appeal. This approach recognizes that buyers assign different levels of importance to various areas of a home, so concentrating your staging efforts on these key spaces provides the highest return on investment.

How it Works:

This method is all about optimizing your staging budget by prioritizing. Instead of spreading your resources thinly across the entire house, you concentrate on creating a "wow" factor in the rooms that truly matter to buyers. This might mean forgoing extensive staging in secondary bedrooms or a home office in favor of ensuring the kitchen is impeccably styled and the master suite feels like a luxurious retreat.

Examples of Successful Implementation:

• Kitchen Refresh: A dated kitchen can be transformed without a full renovation. Decluttering countertops, updating cabinet hardware, adding a few stylish accessories, and deep cleaning can make a significant impact on a buyer's perception.
• Spa-Like Bathroom: Even with outdated fixtures, a master bathroom can be made to feel luxurious by removing all personal items, adding fluffy white towels, and incorporating spa-like accessories.

Actionable Tips for Home Staging:

• Prioritize Key Areas: Focus first on the entryway, living room, kitchen, and master bedroom/bathroom.
• Budget Allocation: For limited budgets, fully stage these key areas before addressing secondary spaces.
• Kitchen Enhancement: Clear countertops, organize cabinets, and add minimal stylish accessories.
• Master Suite Retreat: Make the master bedroom feel like a relaxing sanctuary with high-quality bedding and minimal furniture.
• Bathroom Perfection: Ensure bathrooms are immaculately clean, with fresh towels and minimal toiletries.
• Welcoming Entryway: Create a positive first impression with a console table and simple decor.
• Curb Appeal is Key: Don't neglect outdoor curb appeal, as it creates the very first impression.

When and Why to Use This Approach:

This strategy is especially beneficial when:

• Working with a limited budget: Focusing on high-value rooms ensures the most impactful use of available funds.
• Staging a dated property: Strategic staging in key areas can divert attention from outdated features elsewhere.
• Targeting specific buyer demographics: Emphasizing certain rooms can appeal to specific lifestyles (e.g., a luxurious master suite for professionals, a spacious kitchen for families).

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

• Maximizes impact of staging budget
• Addresses spaces most scrutinized by buyers
• Creates memorable impressions in key areas
• Most efficient use of staging resources

Cons:

• Secondary spaces may appear neglected by comparison.
• May create an inconsistent impression if the contrast between staged and unstaged areas is too stark.
• Requires prioritization decisions.

Focusing on high-value rooms is a cornerstone of effective home staging. It's a practical and budget-conscious approach that delivers maximum impact by targeting the areas that most influence buyers' decisions. This strategy, popularized by real estate experts like Barbara Corcoran and home stagers like Audra Slinkey, founder of Home Staging Resource, aligns with The Real Estate Staging Association's research on buyer psychology. By prioritizing these crucial spaces, you can effectively enhance a property's appeal and increase its perceived value, ultimately leading to a quicker and more profitable sale.

Top 8 Home Staging Tips Comparison

Transform Your Property into a Buyer's Dream

By implementing these home staging tips—decluttering, depersonalizing, deep cleaning, optimizing furniture, neutralizing the color palette, maximizing natural light, creating lifestyle vignettes, using accessories strategically, and focusing on high-value rooms—you can significantly enhance your property's appeal. These aren't just superficial changes; they are key steps in crafting a narrative that resonates with buyers, allowing them to envision themselves living in the space. Mastering these home staging tips is crucial for standing out in a competitive market. Remember, a well-staged home doesn't just look better; it sells better, often faster and for a higher price.

Looking for a seamless way to manage your staged properties and streamline client communication? Pedra is a powerful all-in-one platform designed for real estate professionals to efficiently handle their projects and marketing. Visit Pedra today to explore how it can elevate your home staging efforts.