Making your house sellable is an emotional process, reinforced by what may feel like the erasure of special times spent there. If you are happy to move on but not very practiced in interior design, attracting buyers for your house by decorating your soon-to-be ex-home can be both exciting and confusing. If nostalgia sets in every time you imagine a “sold” sign, decorating it to impress buyers can be painful, especially when doing so often involves painting over marks you see as memories but which realtors would see as flaws.

Focus on High-Traffic Areas

(Left) Image from @cleanspacefengshui on Instagram and (Right) Image from @paynesgrayhome on Instagram

Making your house sellable is an emotional process, reinforced by what may feel like the erasure of special times spent there. If you are happy to move on but not very practiced in interior design, attracting buyers for your house by decorating your soon-to-be ex-home can be both exciting and confusing. If nostalgia sets in every time you imagine a “sold” sign, decorating it to impress buyers can be painful, especially when doing so often involves painting over marks you see as memories but which realtors would see as flaws.

Remove Tchotchkes and Trinkets

4201 W Pine Blvd #101-, Saint Louis, MO 63108, Images from Zillow

Getting rid of clutter and personal items in homes for sale by the owner will allow the buyer to imagine the space as their own. A no-mess space will project a clean, zen home to potential buyers (who might not be so tidy themselves) seeking a fresh start or to mark an exciting new chapter in their lives. Home-buying should be realistic, especially when it comes to finances, but it should also be aspirational.

Remove personal items that might interfere with the potential buyer’s ability to transplant their vision for the home over what is already there. Clear kitchen counters of small appliances like microwaves and toaster ovens and get rid of any items that do not highlight a design element. Replace any used items kept in a space for this purpose (e.g. pots and pans placed on an above-island ceiling-mount pot rack) with either brand new or vintage designer pieces in order to create a lived-in but luxury feel. Remove any decor pieces that are unflattering to or age the home such as doilies, lace, fraying quilts, or chipped china.

Keep it Light

(Left) Image from @pvhomestaging on Instagram and (Right) Image from @charlestonmodernfarmhouse

Add a bit of personality with subtle prints in neutral hues that best accent the space; add interest by choosing intriguing textures like leather, suede, and open-weave linens but be sure each element matches the current season. Avoid heavy curtains over windows, especially smaller ones, as they visually shorten the height of the room, pull light away from the windows, and make a room feel crowded. Place curtain rods above the windows to vault the ceilings and hang breezy, pale-colored curtains if you plan to use them. Try to avoid curtains in small rooms where possible and keep curtains you do have open at all times. 

Bounce light around each room wherever and however you can, but avoid overly decorative fixtures like crystal chandeliers and whimsical table lamps. Play up any bright, lightly reflective surfaces by polishing them before viewers arrive. Keep countertops sleek and sparkly with soft, warm lights overhead and zone any open floor plans with an array of task and display lighting. Place glass coffee and dining tables in small living rooms and breakfast nooks to allow the light to pass through the furniture and expand the space. 

Feng Shui Each Space

(Left) Image from @loveitstaged on Instagram and (Right) Image from @clearspacefengshui

There are many reasons why designers, decorators, and homeowners alike swear by orienting a home by the principles of Feng Shui, but one of the most commonly expressed is the pure functionality of the philosophy. Feng Shui emphasizes cutting out clutter, making spaces optimally usable, and reducing stress. One of the best ways to start is by curating furniture accordingly; the most important piece of furniture (the couch in a living room, the bed in a bedroom, or the desk in the office) should be afforded the “commanding position.”

The commanding position places users of the primary furnishing in a diagonal line with the entryway so the user is always facing the door and is never surprised if someone enters. This reduces stress and makes residents and visitors feel more at ease. Furniture orientation in Feng Shui also emphasizes open walkways, unobstructed entryways, and clearly defined spaces, all of which work together to a feeling of general openness in a room and an attitude of calm and peace for visitors and residents. 

Add Personality with Accessories and Special Furnishings

(Left) Antique settee with a living plant, Image from @carlieb_design on Instagram and (Right) Staged living room, Image from @tonyzapienphoto

Liven up your home with specially chosen linens, upholstery, rugs, and artwork spread throughout. Consider either representing your own personality, reinforcing the architect’s intent, or referring back to the surrounding environment. If your home is historic in any way, mix-period-appropriate antique pieces with modern ones for a fresh take. Avoid overdoing a theme, which can quickly become kitschy, by outnumbering themed pieces with minimalist, contemporary furnishings and finishings.