I’m a property stager and these tiny tweaks will add tens of thousands to the value of your home – and no costly extension or renovation is required
A real estate stager has shown how homeowners can add tens of thousands of dollars to the value of their homes without the need for costly renovations.
Liv Conlon, 25, originally from Glasgow but now living in Marbella, is the CEO of ThePropertyStagers, which stages more than 300 homes a year to make them more attractive to potential buyers.
Speaking to FEMAIL, she says her clients have often sold their homes for £30,000 more than the guide price.
As an experienced home stylist, Liv understands the importance of creating inviting and visually appealing spaces to maximize a home’s value by focusing on small but impactful changes.
Here she reveals the eight small tweaks that can make a big difference in showcasing your home at its best:
CREATE A FOCAL POINT
ADDED VALUE: £10,000
This room lacked a focal point, so Liv decided to add a console table, lamp and statement artwork
If your room doesn’t have a focal point, like a fireplace, buyers won’t know where to look or focus their attention. Bare or poorly decorated rooms create an uncomfortable and directionless viewing experience.
As a homeowner, you want to attract attention and create a sense of balance and harmony in your spaces. This will give the viewer the feeling that the home is attractive and they can imagine what it would be like to live there.
You should designate a focal point in each room. If you don’t have one (and don’t want to make structural changes), you can use a piece of art or a striking piece of furniture.
REMOVING FURNITURE FROM THE WALLS
ADDED VALUE: £2,000
This is an example of a large space with a centralized living and conversation area
Most people push their furniture against the walls, but this makes the room feel more like a hallway or gallery than a space where you can gather with your family.
Instead, you can also create cozy nooks by moving furniture away from the walls (especially if you live in a large space). If you live in a smaller room, you can place the central piece of furniture against the wall and center all the other furniture around it.
This arrangement provides better flow and makes the room feel more inviting and spacious.
UPDATING PAINT
ADDED VALUE: £5,000
Liv (pictured), 25, is the CEO of ThePropertyStagers, which stages more than 300 homes a year to make them more attractive to potential buyers.
Damaged walls from a chaotic family life can make a home look neglected and leave a trace of the owner’s home behind, making it harder for a viewer to feel like this could be their new home.
Touching up your walls can help hide minor blemishes, such as scuffs and scratches.
Afterwards, your home will look well maintained and cared for, instead of neglected and unloved.
It also creates a good first impression and can increase its value to buyers.
If you want to update the paint around your home before putting it on the market, you often use neutral colors. These colors can make the home more appealing to a wider group of buyers.
Neutral tones create a blank canvas on which potential buyers can visualize their own style for the space.
ADD RUGS TO WARM UP THE SPACE
ADDED VALUE: £2,000
“Use rugs to define separate areas in a room and add warmth and texture,” says Liv
Use rugs to create different zones in a room and add warmth and texture.
You can use this trick in larger rooms with multiple purposes, such as an open plan living room and kitchen area, or make ‘forgotten’ rooms in the house more inviting, such as a utility room or a corridor.
Carpets can enhance the design elements (especially (through color and texture) in a space while creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere.
They can also significantly reduce noise levels by absorbing sound. A quieter home is always more attractive to buyers.
And you can use them to protect your floor from wear and tear, which is an attractive feature for potential buyers looking for a well-maintained home.
INVEST IN WHITE BEDDING
ADDED VALUE: £2,000
“Hotels have white bedding for a reason, because it exudes luxury and cleanliness and it makes the viewer feel immediately at ease when visiting a space that is typically perceived as very personal,” says Liv
Hotels have white bed linen for a reason: it exudes luxury and cleanliness and makes visitors feel immediately at ease during a tour of a space that is usually experienced as very personal.
Patterned bedding adds too much personalization to a space and immediately looks more cluttered and uninviting.
Instead, invest in high-quality white linens that look crisp, exude a sense of cleanliness, and create a serene and inviting oasis that appeals to buyers looking for a peaceful retreat.
This versatility makes it easy for potential buyers to imagine their own decor in the space. You can add color with pillows and a textured throw.
REPLACE TIRED SOFT FURNITURE
ADDED VALUE: £2,000
“Limp, lumpy cushions do not exude luxury, but instead make a home look tired and unkempt,” the expert warned
Floppy, lumpy cushions do not exude luxury, but instead make a home look tired and unkempt.
Replace worn or worn soft furnishings such as decorative cushions, curtains and upholstery and breathe new life into your home.
Choose fabrics and textures that complement the overall aesthetic of the room and enhance its appeal.
The rule for soft furnishings is to use them in pairs of two or three and vary them in size.
Add synthetic feather inserts to achieve our signature cushion heel. When you want to add value to your home, it’s all about creating a luxurious atmosphere.
ADD MIRRORS
ADDED VALUE: £3,000
‘Place mirrors strategically on the walls of your home to bounce light and create the illusion of more space. This in turn creates a much more luxurious feel,’ adds Liv.
Place mirrors strategically on the walls of your home to reflect light and create the illusion of more space. This in turn creates a much more luxurious atmosphere.
Mirrors can brighten up dark corners, visually expand spaces and add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your home.
Particularly if a room is feeling tired, a metallic mirror (go for gold for luxury) will add an instant touch of glamour, and will show viewers that the home is loved and somewhere they would want to live.
This doesn’t have to be expensive. You can also group smaller mirrors together to add a ‘designer touch’.
CAREFULLY PICK UP ACCESSORIES
ADDED VALUE: £2,000
‘All coffee tables, console tables and kitchen countertops should be stylish and not cluttered with everyday items, especially when people come to view your home,’ the expert explains
If an item can be used, it should not be the surface. For example, all coffee tables, console tables and kitchen counters should be styled, not cluttered with everyday items, especially if people are coming to view your home.
Carefully choose and place accessories that enhance the style and atmosphere of your home.
Remove clutter and items that don’t look nice and focus on showcasing a carefully curated collection of decor pieces that complement the overall design.
Buy decorative storage that you can place around the room or stackable storage that you can place in a wardrobe, so that they remain organized but still accessible.