Living Rooms: How to Leave an Impression on Buyers
When potential buyers walk into a home, the living area is usually the first and the last room they see so we are here to help ensure that they remember yours for all the right reasons.
First impressions are incredibly important, especially when it comes to selling your home, and the living room is a critical space serving many purposes within a home.
Here are five professional tips to stage this important space so it sells.
- Consider your layout
- Select a focal point
- Accessorize your space
- Add an area rug
- Look at your lighting
Consider your layout
Most people overlook this, but it’s critical, particularly if you’re selling your home. Focusing on the layout can also be an easy way to fix too much or improperly scaled furniture in a living room because the pieces you select and the way you place your furniture can help create a more open and inviting space. When you are arranging your furniture, try to keep a flowing layout for foot traffic, functionality, and major focal points. There should be enough room for you or your guests to walk comfortably through the room. A recommended amount of clear space is at least 24 inches, providing a comfortable space between furniture and décor.
PRO TIP: Make sure to plan out your space before you start moving things around. This will prevent a lot of unnecessary lifting and stress. It’s always nice to know where everything is going to go before you begin. If you’re working with a Realtor® who offer professional home staging as part of their complimentary services package, they should be providing you with a detailed list of steps to take.
Select a focal point
This is the area that will set you apart from the rest. Setting main focal points in your living space is what will make it unique and stylish. A focal point is a feature that draws your attention and there should be one in every room of the house, especially if you are designing it for resale. If you have a room with an awkward angle or other less desirable feature, a bold focal point will help draw potential buyers’ eyes toward more desirable attributes of the home. Remember to try to stick to only one or possibly two focal points for an oversized space. If you have too many focal points, it will take away from the “wow” factor of the room.
We love how this living room used their windows as the focal point of not only the room but the house because this gorgeous view is clearly the star of the show. The best window treatment here is to have none at all.
The focal point in this room is not only the view but this charming window seat. I don’t think any potential buyer can walk into this room without imagining themselves curled up there with a good book.
PRO TIP: Identify how many focal points your space can accommodate after you’ve planned out the traffic flow. Most rooms will only allow for one focal point and larger spaces should have no more than two.
Accessorize your space
Accenting with accessories will help add warmth, style and visual interest. If you are decorating your home for yourself, your imagination is the only limit to adding personal touches, but if you are selling your home, it is best to depersonalize your décor as much as possible. The key is to create a space that will allow potential buyers to imagine themselves in; having personalized or too many items in the living area can diminish the buyer’s ability to do this. Neutral colours pair perfectly with colourful accent pieces.
This room is an example of accessorizing done right; it’s a neutral space with pops of colour inspired by the blue stripe in the slipper chair with matching candles and pillows. Textured and patterned neutral accent pillows also elegance and interest to the space.
PRO TIP: Try to select accessories that complement one another but aren’t too “matchy-matchy.” And remember, less is more when accessorizing bookcases and mantles.
Add an area rug
An area rug helps to make a room feel complete. Use an area rug that matches your chosen colour palette and make sure to centre the rug under a grouping of furniture. If you have the room for it, use two area rugs to help distinguish two separate areas. This is particularly useful if you have an open-concept floor plan and are trying to achieve separate spaces.
PRO TIP: Measure your space and make sure to find the right size of rug for the living area; selecting a rug that’s too big can actually make your space look smaller. A good rule of thumb is to have a rug big enough for all of the legs of the furniture to be on, with one or two feet of floor showing between the rug and the wall.
Look at your lighting
Lighting is important in any space of the home, but especially the living area. Natural light is almost always the most preferred type of lighting because it brightens while infusing a room with warmth. Focus your attention on this natural light with the appropriate window treatments. To get as much natural light in a room as possible, use light-weight, airy drapes. If you prefer a darker tone in your curtains, then make sure to pull them back away from the window to allow the light to come in and act as a frame to a picturesque view. Artificial lighting is also key in the living area. This lighting helps create a comfortable setting. Lighting can also play a role in helping draw the eye to your focal points. A rule of thumb would be to have at least 100 watts per 50 square feet. Installing modern light fixtures is a little thing that will go a long way! Make sure your lamps are on for showings, are dusted and have working light bulbs installed.
PRO TIP: If you have a large bay window with a magnificent view, avoid using drapes at all. This will let in the maximum amount of natural light in and help emphasize the extraordinary view. It also makes a room seem much more open, but don’t forget to keep your windows sparkling clean!
