Creating Empty Space When Selling

When it comes to staging a home, new furniture, cleaning and organizing seem to be the hot topics. There is however, an important dynamic in staging that is not often addressed which is what I call "empty space". This tends to come into play more so for homeowners living in their home while selling.

Empty space is important because it offers the perception of having an abundance of space(square footage). The buyer gets the impression that there is more than enough livable space. The balancing act comes into play through strategic staging tactics that still demonstrate how the home is used without "over-decorating" the space.

Here are some helpful tips for opening up the space without losing ambiance.

Move furniture away from the wall. Like this...

via The Evergirl, see the house tour here.

I call it "furniture arrest", where all of the furniture is up against the wall. Moving furniture away from the wall and placing a sofa table behind, or perhaps nothing, just gives the room an airy feeling. 

There are very few cases where a chair should be square up against a wall.

Remove layered drapes and hang them high.

Window treatments warrant their own post for later, however for creating space, removing heavy swags and layered panels is a good start. This will open up the space, let the light in and make the room feel bigger. Solid colored panels are always a good bet. Drapes should be hung high, not at window height.

Clear the countertops.

Clearing the countertops can help open up the kitchen space however, creating purposeful decor is important. Too much empty space can call attention to any defects and also lose the emotional impact needed to connect with buyers.

Use white hotel bedding.

via Williams Sonoma Home

Hotel striped bedding is a great way to calm the visual space in the bedroom and create the perception of more room. Live plants in the room are also great. 

IKEA has fiddle leaf fig trees for $12.99 right now! Such a great deal.

Keep surfaces clear of clutter.

Via Wisteria

Dressers, tables and shelving should stay clear of personal belongings. Candles should be new and flowers should be real or look real. (no dried flowers) Accessories can be grouped into 3's (like above) to make a visual impact. Spreading things out makes the space look more cluttered.

Try some of these tricks at home and see what you think! 

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Selling a Home in the Fall

Here comes Fall!

Nothing beats New England in the Fall and if you're selling your home, it's a prime time to take advantage of the gorgeous colors, the outdoor spaces, and the ambiance of the coming holidays.

HOWEVER...

Selling a home and decorating for the holidays is always a balancing act.

No matter how gorgeous we believe our homes are decorated, statistics tell us that buyers want to see the home, not the decorations. Still not a believer? Think your home is the exception? 

(remember the "Deadly Bonus Sin" of the Stage it Yourself-er")

Halloween is my favorite holiday! 

But when selling your home, holidays should be a whisper, not a yell.

Do buyers want to see cemetery headstones in the yard of their new home?

Do buyers want to see bloody hands in the windows on the porch?

What if your buyer doesn't celebrate Christmas? Or Hanukkah? Or whatever? 

Will they be able to see themselves in the space?

Too much clutter and decorating signals to buyers that you are NOT in a hurry to move. If you have children and you think they will be devastated if  you do not decorate, you are mistaken. It's all in the delivery. Children react to how you deliver the message.

Tell your kids:

"Let's think about how we'll decorate our new house and keep our things packed and ready!"

"Remember we are moving soon so let's bake some fun treats together instead!"

The best plan for transitioning to Fall is to keep it simple, un-cluttered, with neutral colors.

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