Decorating Tips to Wow Buyers and Sell Your Home Quicker

When you’re trying to sell your home, you should do everything you can to make it more attractive to buyers. That way, you’ll be able to sell it faster and hopefully get a higher price.

But what type of decorating is pleasing to buyers? Read on for everything you need to know about what to do (and what NOT to do) to wow buyers and sell your home quicker.

Do: Remove Personal Items

Declutter every room, cabinet and closet to make your home look bigger and more organized. While you’re at it, pack up your wedding pictures, Star Wars collection, baby photos, religious decor, and anything else a buyer may not relate to.

Don’t Do: Decorate to Your Taste

While you may think pink walls and a stiletto lamp is awesome, these choices might get in the way of buyers being able to picture themselves living in your space. Choose neutral colors and decor that will appeal to a larger audience.

Do: Use Light to Your Advantage

Light, bright rooms look larger and more inviting. Persuade your buyers that they can’t live without your home by cleaning all your windows and decorating them with floor-length, neutral window treatments. For those evening showings, make sure all your light bulbs are working and that there are plenty of lamps and overhead lighting in every room.

Don’t Do: Forget About Curb Appeal

Tidying and updating your home’s interior is a smart move to sell your house faster, but you also need to spruce up the outside. After all, a bad first impression is hard to overcome. Clean up your yard and keep it neatly mowed. Weed your flower beds and plant some flowers in the ground and in pots. Hang some new house numbers and put out a welcome mat.

Do: Replace the Small Stuff

Even if your budget won’t allow you to make big updates, visit your local hardware store and buy new cabinet hardware and light switch plates. These are small items that can pack a big punch to your home’s overall look.

Don’t Do: Decorate with Faux Plants and Food

Ditch the wax fruit and fake greenery, as it doesn’t fool anyone and does little to improve a room’s atmosphere. Instead, add some lemons or oranges to a large glass bowl and some ripe red apples to a basket. Purchase a couple of houseplants to add dimension to your space, too.

Do: Add a Fresh Coat of Paint

Nothing is easier or more cost-effective at freshening up a space than painting. Add a coat or two of neutral color to your living room, kitchen, and bedroom walls, and you’ll see an instant improvement. Once you’re finished, carefully consider the wall art you hang back up. Keep it to a minimum to keep the space from looking small in the photographs your real estate agent will put online.

Don’t Do: Ignore Pet and Other Smells

Nothing turns a buyer off quicker than walking into a home and smelling… something unpleasant. If you have pets, cook aromatic food, or smoke inside your home, address these scents before the open house. Getting the carpets cleaned and keeping up with your litter box will go a long way toward attracting buyers.

Do: Stage the Main Bedroom

One of the biggest selling points of most homes, or the reason buyers move on, is the master bedroom. Add a warm comforter, inviting pillows, and arrange the furniture to showcase the space. The room should be an oasis that the buyer would look forward to coming home to.

Don’t Do: Assume Buyers Won’t Snoop

If your plan is to stash all your stuff in a hall closet or kitchen cabinet, think of another solution. Buyers will undoubtedly want to know what’s behind every door in your home. If they come across overflowing closets and cabinets, they will be concerned that the home lacks adequate storage space.

Do: Strategically Add Mirrors

While you shouldn’t go overboard with this design tip, using mirrors as part of your decor can add light to your space and make it seem larger. Try to position them opposite to a window to create the biggest positive effect.

Using a few, or all, of these decorating tips — and avoiding the don’ts — can help your home appeal to more buyers and sell faster than you thought possible.