The living room is the hub of entertainment and social interaction in the house, making it one of the most important rooms buyers look at when inspecting a home. When home staging your living room, the goal is to accent its features and reflect an atmosphere of relaxation that anyone can imagine themselves spending time in.
Before you start home staging, make sure to check our decluttering and organising guide. Once you’ve got that out of the way, it’s time to start styling your living room!
Pare down furniture.
A lot of people make the mistake of putting too much furniture in a room. Professional stagers will tell you that this actually makes the room look smaller, giving it a cramped feel. Replace any big items you have with smaller ones to help show off the space. You want buyers to walk in and have freedom to move around, with easy access in and out.
Although it might make the room seem larger, pushing furniture against the walls makes it look like you’re struggling for room and don’t have enough space.
A great way to maximise your space in a small room is with mirrors. One big mirror hanging as the focal point of the room can add depth and give a more open feeling. If you’ve got a dark room, well placed mirrors can help bring in natural light.
Keeping a neutral colour palette is essential when it comes to attracting more buyers.
Walls and furniture should typically be white or light greys, and a fresh coat of paint always goes a long way in improving the condition. Neutral colours look cleaner and tie the room together, while avoiding bright colours means you’re appealing to most people. Add pops of colour to the room by putting throw cushions on the lounge or a nice area rug on the floor. This is also a great way to add patterns and textures if the room is looking a bit bland.
Keep the décor simple and elegant.
You want people who walk in the front door to be able to imagine themselves living there. If they’re looking at knick-knacks and art, it can distract them from seeing the features of the room that you’re trying to accentuate.
This doesn’t mean leaving your room bare, and there are a few easy ways you can create visual interest.
Hang some art on the walls. You want simplicity, so It’s better to have a few big pieces that fill your walls with lots of little frames. House plants are another great way to improve the atmosphere and create a vibrant look in your living room. If you’ve got a coffee table, a few neatly stacked books next to a vase of fresh flowers can look great and make the room smell wonderful too!
