Home Staging: A Room-by-Room Guide

Every room in a home plays a different role for buyers. Some sell the lifestyle, some reassure on practicality and some simply need to look clean and spacious. Working through the property one room at a time keeps staging focused and avoids spending money where it will not make a difference.

Entrance and hallway

Clear away shoes, coats and post. Add a slim console with a lamp or a mirror, and a clean doormat. Good lighting and a fresh scent make the first step inside feel welcoming.

Living room

Arrange furniture to create a clear conversation area and an obvious walkway through the room. Float the sofa away from the wall if space allows, and use a rug to anchor the seating. Remove excess furniture so the room looks larger. Add a few cushions, a throw and a large plant, and make sure every corner is well lit.

Kitchen

Clear almost everything from the worktops, leaving perhaps a board, a bowl of fruit and a plant. Clean appliances, cabinet fronts and the hob thoroughly. Update tired cabinet handles if needed; it is a small cost with a noticeable effect. Make sure the dining area, if there is one, has a table set simply for everyday use.

Bedrooms

Bedrooms should feel calm and restful. Use crisp, neutral bedding with layered pillows and a throw, matching bedside tables and lamps on both sides of the bed. Clear the tops of chests of drawers and tidy wardrobes, since buyers often look inside. Present a spare room as a bedroom or study rather than storage.

Bathrooms

Clean until everything shines, including grout, glass and taps. Remove personal toiletries and add fresh white towels, a new bath mat and a small plant. Replace a worn shower curtain or toilet seat if needed.

Outdoor spaces

Mow the lawn, weed beds and sweep paths and terraces. Set out a small table and chairs to show how the space can be used, and add a couple of planters near the door. On a balcony, a bistro set and a few plants show buyers the potential.

Tip: If the home is empty, stage at least the living room, main bedroom and dining area. Empty rooms can be hard to judge for scale, and buyers often struggle to picture how furniture will fit.

The final check

Before photography and each viewing, open the curtains, switch on the lights, plump cushions, empty bins and air the rooms.

For the key principles, read our home staging tips. Our home staging for property sale service can plan and style the property for you.