Staging a home is a great way to increase curb appeal and help potential buyers picture themselves living in the space. There are many financial benefits to taking the time to stage a home. You can do this as well without breaking the bank. Let’s share 54 cheap home staging ideas to increase sales and get your property sold.
The Benefits Of Home Staging
Home Staging Reduces Time On The Market
Less time on the market means collecting sales faster and moving quickly on to the next property. 31% of home sellers reported that staging a home drastically reduced the time the property spent on the market.
Staging Increases Sale Price
Staging allows you to highlight the positives of homes and draw focus away from any potential negatives to increase the sale price. The average sale price of a staged home increased by 1-5% and 18% of sellers reported staging increased the final price by 6-10%.
Staging Help Buyers Picture Themselves In The Home
Creating a picture of domestic comfort in a home is imperative to buyer appeal. Staging allows to create whatever vibe fits target buyers and helps them picture themselves living happily and comfortably in the home.
54 Cheap Home Staging Ideas For 2022
So, staging a home reduces the amount of time a home is on the market, increases the home’s value and helps buyers commit. Now that we’ve covered the “why”, let’s talk about the “how”, starting with…
My Favorite Home Staging Ideas
These first few are some of my personal favorite home staging ideas, and most of them can be done for virtually no money!
1. Focus On Highly Used Spaces
Highly used spaces are the focus points for buyers If the budget is tight, focus on staging the living room, kitchen, and bedroom above all.
2. Accentuate The Positives
Take some notes on the property’s selling points. If there are gorgeous hardwood floors, don’t cover them with rugs, and use neutral tones to help bring out the warmth of the wood.
3. Avoid The Negatives
Home staging helps to draw focus away from any potential negatives in the property. If a bedroom is quite small, you can use staging elements to create the illusion of more space.
4. Use Accents As Focal Points
Focal points are key to accent certain parts of the home. Using art or funky pillows draws the eye towards positives and away from negatives.
5. Depersonalize The Home
Depersonalizing the home is staging 101. Remove memorabilia and family portraits before showing. This works against buyers picturing themselves living there.
6. Clean and Organize
A messy or dirty space is extremely unattractive to buyers and may scare money potential buyers away. Deep clean the house and organize every room, closet, shelf, and cupboard.
7. Use Staging To Make Small Spaces Seem Larger
Small spaces tend to deter buyers, especially if they have children or plan to have children. Move things around until it creates the illusion of more space.
Home Staging Tips To Help Your First Impression
This next batch of home staging tips is designed to help you make a good first impression with potential buyers. Most of these home staging ideas are basic upkeep… Low-cost options that can be accomplished in a day or two.
8. Swap Out Old Or Dim Light Bulbs
Poor lighting takes away the warmth and lightness of a home. Check all lightbulbs and replace them with nice bright light.
9. Touch Up The Garden and Yard
Often when sellers stage homes, the outside is neglected. Run the mower, rake leaves, and clean up tools or toys that may be lying around.
10. Spruce Up The Curb Appeal
You want buyers to be wowed from the moment they pull up. Consider replacing or repainting the mailbox and cleaning the porch to create stunning curb appeal.
11. Stage A Welcoming Entry Foyer
The foyer or entryway is the first thing potential buyers see when entering a home. Make sure it is welcoming and clean. Put away coat racks and key hangers to make the space feel like a canvas for their dream home.
12. Think Like A Guest
Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and imagine yourself walking up to the house. Does it look clean? Is it too warm or cold? Does it smell? Think about potential buyers’ first impressions and adjust accordingly.
Home Staging Ideas For Your Clients To Consider
These home staging ideas are a bit more elaborate and may require your current residents to make some lifestyle changes. Consider your clients’ needs when suggesting these home staging tips.
13. Avoid Cooking With Strong Odors Before Showing
Keep current homeowners in the loop about when you will be showing the house. It helps to let them know so they don’t cook a potent meal like fish or curry before a showing.
14. Add Odor-Removing Devices
Odor-removing devices like plug-ins or diffusers are great for keeping the house smelling fresh and clean. You don’t want the first impression of buyers to be an odor.
15. Swap Colorful Walls For Neutral Paints
Many sellers find neutral-colored walls help sell homes. It creates a blank canvas and leaves color ideas up to the buyer.
16. Bring Color With Furniture
Use furniture to add a pop of color for a focal point. This way if a buyer isn’t a fan of the color, they only have to swap the couch rather than paint the whole room.
Home Staging Tips That Focus On Presentation
Presentation is everything when you’re showing a home – These home staging tips will help you perfect yours.
17. Provide Beneficial Lighting
Lighting is key to making spaces look open and clean rather than dark and dingy. Make sure there is adequate lighting in each room and add floor lamps to rooms that seem too dark.
18. Use Mirrors To Create The Illusion Of Space
Mirrors are a trick of the trade for interior design. They help create the illusion of space in a small bedroom or bathroom.
19. Incorporate Small Accents To Set The Stage
Small accents go a long way but it’s important not to go overboard. Consider adding some flowers or candles to bathrooms to set the stage for a welcoming home.
20. Decorate Based On Your Target Buyer
Consider your customer base and stage accordingly. Knowing the desires of the people who would be most interested in purchasing the home will help you stage it to fit their needs.
21. Focus On The Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the biggest selling points. Many people spend a lot of time in the kitchen so making it look good is key.
22. Increase The Appeal With Local Guides and Information
Consider printing out a local guide to restaurants, things to do, and schools to help potential buyers get acquainted.
23. Hire A Professional Cleaner
Professional cleaners will do a stellar job at making a house look fresh and open. Let the professionals take care of the cleaning so you can focus on staging rooms.
Home Staging Ideas For Better Flow
Space and flow are very important when showing a home, which is why these home staging tips are all about opening up a room.
24. Pack Up Each Room To Create Space
Pack all non-essentials to create space in rooms. Clutter makes space look smaller and this is a drawback to buyers.
25. Rearrange Furniture To Improve Flow
You don’t have to buy new furniture to stage a house. Rearranging existing furniture improves the flow of the room and creates a more inviting space.
26. Rent Storage To Hide Unnecessary Items
If the current owners have a lot of stuff, consider renting a storage unit to clear up space in the house. Too much stuff is unappealing to potential buyers and may scare them off.
27. Clean All Light Fixtures and Fans
Light fixtures and fans often get missed in routine cleanings. Make sure to check fan blades, lampshades, and other fixtures and give them a good dusting.
28. Swap Out Old Shower Curtains and Liners
Shower curtains and liners tend to get dingy over time. Make sure to replace them before showing homes.
29. Consider Pet Odors
If the current owners have pets, odors can be a huge turn-off. Deep clean carpets and replace soiled areas. Make sure furniture doesn’t smell like pets.
Easy-To-Implement Home Staging Tips
Not all home staging ideas need to be difficult and time-consuming – These next few are quick and easy home staging tips that will have a big impact on your next showing.
30. Check Blinds and Curtains
Blinds and curtains tie a room together. If they are broken or don’t fit the rest of the decor, it makes a home look less appealing.
31. Set The Dinner Table
Setting the table helps buyers picture themselves sitting down and enjoying a meal with their family.
32. Keep Dining Room Simple and Remove Clutter
Decluttering the dining room helps to keep it looking open and inviting. Too much stuff makes it considerably less inviting.
33. Clean Carpets and Replace Damaged Pieces
Make sure the carpets get a fresh facelift with a cleaner and replace all damaged parts. Dirty and damaged carpets make homes feel dirty and unkempt.
34. Refinish Wood Floors
Wood floors are a huge selling point for many buyers. They also make a great focal point and refinishing them can bring them back to life.
35. Give Cabinets A Facelift With A Fresh Coat
Cabinets get a lot of use in the kitchen and bathroom. Fresh paint revitalizes the cabinets without having to replace anything.
36. Remove All Non-Daily Linens and Clothing From Closets
Cramped closets look small. Take out anything unnecessary to make them look larger.
Home Staging Ideas That Leave An Impact
Lastly, let’s go over some bigger home staging tips that will help you leave a lasting impact. These home staging ideas are great to do before taking listing photos or holding an open house!
37. Rent Furniture For Vacant Homes
If existing furniture is in rough shape, you can save money by renting to stage homes. This way you can create an ideal feel for the target buyers.
38. Repaint Floorboards, Doorways, and Window Panes
Trimwork gets dingy over time. Wiping it down and applying a fresh coat of paint makes a room pop.
39. Deep Clean Windows Inside and Outside
Windows let lots of appealing natural light in. Make sure both the inside and outside of the glass are crystal clear.
40. Repaint Walls Near Entryway
The entryway is frequently used and it takes a toll on the paint. Repaint to give a fresh feel to a foyer or entryway.
41. Clean Walls or Consider Repainting
Walls collect marks and scuffs over time. Cleaning and repainting will bring new life into the home.
42. Put Out Flowers and Candles
Flowers and candles bring a luxurious and cozy feeling to any home. They are inexpensive and help bring staging to the next level.
43. Neutralize Heavily Themed Rooms
Kids’ rooms and dens tend to be full of themed items. Take these out to allow buyers to envision how they would use the room.
44. Clear Kitchen Counters
Put away all appliances and spice or whatever else may be on the counter. It makes kitchens look messy and uninviting.
45. Showcase Natural Light
Keep blinds and curtains open to showcase natural light. This makes the space feel open and fresh.
46. Use Slipcovers On Old Furniture
Save money and use existing furniture by investing in slipcovers to change the room up a bit.
47. Give The Front Door A Fresh Coat Of Paint
A new coat of paint on the front door makes it look more inviting and spruces up the curb appeal.
48. Hire A Landscaper
If the yard or garden is particularly unruly, hire a landscaper to make it look more put together. It is the first thing buyers will see so make sure it looks good.
49. Consider Seasonal Decorating
Seasonal decorating helps appeal to potential buyers. Using some accents or color palettes based on certain seasons creates a homey feel.
50. Spruce Up The Bathrooms With White Linens
Stage white linens and fluffy towels to create a spa-like atmosphere in bathrooms.
51. Replace Old Hardware
Instead of replacing an entire set of drawers and cabinets, replace the hardware. This is often enough to increase the elegance of older components.
52. Tuck Away Exposed Cables
Exposed cables from TVs and phones make a space look messy. Make a room look sleek and tidy by tucking away all exposed cords.
53. Consider Consignment Shops and Thrift Stores
Buying second-hand is a great way to save money and find unique pieces to stage the home. Check here before buying things at a retail price.
54. Don’t Forget The Small Details
Take a good look at the home before staging and make sure you didn’t miss anything obvious. Did you dust everything? Is there old food in the fridge? These little details make a big difference to buyers.
Looking for a quick refresher? Check out this video with our 10 favorite staging ideas for 2022!