17 Staging Tips for Selling Your Home

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Staging a home for sale differs significantly from personal living design. It should appeal to a broad range of buyers, photograph beautifully, and be free of personal touches like family photos. Sellers who master this approach often secure quicker and more profitable sales. According to HomeLight's nationwide report, staged homes can sell for up to 13% more than unstaged ones, potentially adding $52,000 to a $400,000 home, depending on the market.

Here are 17 expert tips to style your home for sale:

Style for the Buyer, Not Yourself: Tailor your design to the tastes of your target demographic, not your own preferences. Consult your agent for guidance on what will appeal to buyers.
Highlight Architectural Features: Use complementary furniture, but avoid creating a themed space that feels too staged. An eclectic mix works best.
Avoid Fake Props: Don’t use artificial food, flowers, or fake furniture. Real features of your home should stand out, not distractions.
Skip Wall Art: Excessive wall decor can make rooms look smaller in photos. Keep walls clear to emphasize the space.
Use Light, Floor-Length Curtains: Choose neutral-colored, light curtains to make rooms appear larger and brighter.
Organize Books: Remove dust jackets from books and organize them by color for a clean, calming look.
Repeat Objects on Shelves: Use the same type of decor across shelves for harmony and visual interest.
Decorate to Scale: Follow the two-thirds rule when accessorizing shelves to maintain balance.
Stack Books with a Topper: Create neat book stacks with small decorative objects like figurines on top for added flair.
Style a Trifecta: Place three similar objects at varying heights on display tables for an aesthetically pleasing look.
Set the Dining Table: Instead of a formal dinner setup, leave plates and glasses in a casual grouping to maintain a relaxed vibe.
Include Toys for Kids: Staging with toys can keep children entertained during showings, allowing parents to focus on the home.
Modernize Lighting: Swap outdated fixtures for modern designs, which can update the home’s look without a huge investment.
Use Floor Lamps Instead of Side Tables: Swap side tables with floor lamps to create a more spacious and well-lit room.
Match Light Bulbs: Ensure all bulbs are the same color tone for a cohesive look. Soft, warm light bulbs work well in most settings.
Replace Furniture with a Reading Nook: If possible, replace bulky furniture with a cozy reading corner to open up the space.
Style Masculine and Feminine Nightstands: Balance nightstand decor with both soft, delicate items and heavier, darker pieces to appeal to different tastes.

These tips can help you present your home in the best light and attract more buyers.

Beth Dickerson

Boston, MA

Primary phone
(617) 510-8565
Email
[email protected]
Address
277 Dartmouth St. , 2nd Floor,
Boston, MA 02116

About The Author

One of Boston’s most reputable real estate brokers, Beth Dickerson has achieved more than $2 billion in sales and thousands of successful real estate transactions over her nearly thirty-year tenure. Beth has received national acclaim from the real estate industry and represents some of the most prestigious residents and properties across Massachusetts. Her enduring record as a top producer comes from the intuitive gift of sensing her clients’ needs. She has built a business that is referral-based at its core—a testament to her relationship-driven approach and penchant for exceeding expectations. It is this nuanced expertise that Beth leverages to guide many of her clients-turned-friends through some of the greatest milestones of their lives.

Beth was the proprietor of her own real estate company before joining the residential division of R. M. Bradley in 1993, where she was a top producer for more than a decade. In 2003, she founded her own boutique real estate firm, Dickerson Real Estate, before merging with Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty in 2007. Today, Beth attributes her success to her comprehensive marketing and advertising strategies, exclusive contact network, and unparalleled insight into neighborhoods like Back Bay, Beacon Hill, the South End and Waterfront. With an understanding that no two clients are alike, she works with clients in all phases of life—from first-time buyers to luxury developers, seasoned sellers and beyond. Beth offers clients the resources to aggressively market their property locally, nationally and globally, and her attention to detail, drive and enthusiasm are unmatched.

Beth has appeared in prestigious media outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Mansion Global, The Boston Globe, and Boston magazine, and was prominently featured as Greater Boston’s real estate expert on WCVB Chronicle in 2020. She has had the honor of serving as President of the Downtown Council of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board. For over ten years, she has been a Co-Chair and Committee Member for the Massachusetts General Pediatric Hospital for Children’s Storybook Ball. She serves as a Board Member of the Community Music Center of Boston and a member for the Perkins School for the Blind, Emerald Necklace Park Conservancy, Justine Liff Luncheon, Youth Villages and the Boys & Girls Club of Boston, among dozens of other organizations throughout the Boston area.

A long-time resident of Boston’s Back Bay, Beth was an active member of the community as she raised her two children: she served as treasurer of the Clarendon Street Playground and was an avid supporter of the Hill House Community Center.