Room by Room Home Staging Tips

by Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES 08/22/2021

There is a lot that goes in to home staging beyond just tidying up. Interior designers and real estate experts have found specific ways to make the absolute best of any home by knowing how to make the best of every room. General staging tips like cleaning and going for neutral colors apply everywhere, but here are some tips and tricks for staging every room of the house:

Living Room

Create Symmetry - If you’re stumped about how to arrange your furniture or decorative items in your living room, go for symmetry. Placing smaller pieces like throw pillows, table lamps and end tables evenly is pleasing to the eye and will let buyers focus on the room itself.
Highlight Important Features - Does your living room have a particular selling point like a working fireplace or a bay window? Make sure you give special attention to these features in cleaning and decorating.
Remove Some Furniture - One secret to making a room look larger is removing at least one piece of furniture. Even in tiny spaces you can create the illusion of more space by removing what is least essential. Things like bookcases, sideboard tables and extra seating are examples of things to stow away.

Kitchen

Pack Away (Almost) All Dishes - Leaving a single set of (ideally matching) dishware in your cabinets will help the kitchen feel lived in while making it appear more spacious. Removing clutter is important, but keeping a small amount of dishes and flatware keeps the space from feeling too sterile.
Clean Your Fridge - If your fridge is covered in magnets and reminders it’s time to stash those away. This hides personal touches that could distract buyers and also keeps the focus on the appliance itself. Don’t forget the inside, too: scrub all the drawers and shelves in your fridge until they look brand new.
Empty & Hide the Trash - While emptying the trash might seem like enough, take it a step further and remove the trash bins entirely. If they’re usually located under the sink, hide them somewhere else and leave that space empty instead. This is an instant way to create more storage space in the eyes of a potential buyer.

Bathrooms

Hide All Personal Products - Any and all personal products should be removed from the bathroom. Don’t settle for tossing everything in a drawer, either: clear out all the storage space to create a clean slate.
Add White Towels - Fluffy white towels instantly turn any bathroom into a luxurious spa retreat. Even if you have nice towels of another color, consider swapping them out for white ones. This makes the bathroom look bright and clean while creating a calm, clean environment.
Don’t Forget the Toilet - Like it or not, the toilet is one of the most important appliances in your home. Make sure you scrub it clean and fix any nagging issues like leaks or running water. For an extra boost, replace your toilet seats with new ones.

Bedrooms

Stay Neutral - While you’re probably sticking to neutral colors and decor in the rest of the house, it’s especially important in the bedrooms. Avoid anything gendered or aimed at specific interests or hobbies. You can still use color and minor decorative touches but the more neutral the better.
Stow Your Valuables - Any jewelry, heirlooms or treasured memorabilia should be safely stowed away. This not only reduces clutter but keeps your valuables safe from any chance of damage or theft.
Show Off the Closet - Take extra time to clean and organize your bedroom closets, as they are a huge selling point in any home. For a quick staging hack: pack up all but 3 outfits’ worth of clothing and accessories to make your closet look more spacious.

These are just some tips for home staging beyond the obvious deep clean. Working with a real estate agent or home staging professional can also help you make your home look like the absolute best on the market.

About the Author

Ann Marie Damashek, GRI, CBR, SRES

Ann Marie Damashek has always been a natural at helping people prepare their homes for sale. She started out with a successful business selling goods for people on eBay. "Nine times out of ten they were hiring me because they were down-sizing,” Ann Marie says. "So I decided to get my license. I said, ‘Might as well sell their house too.’” The transition was a smooth one and for nine years she’s had a thriving full-time real estate business that allows her to marry her entrepreneurial spirit with her passion for helping others. With an office in Larchmont, New York, she serves all of Lower Westchester County, with her primary market in the Sound Shore region. The majority of her business is "sphere of influence” with former clients referring her to friends and family. A gifted communicator, Ann Marie quickly builds trust and rapport with her clients by being both thoughtful and responsive; she understands that during the purchase or sale of a home, a quick response time is crucial. "I am very accessible,” Ann Marie says. "I always make time for my clients. They can call me, text me, email me up until 10 o’clock at night and I will respond. I’m available on weekends. I get back to people very promptly. I’m very customer service-oriented.” Her clients appreciate her professionalism, passion and enthusiasm and as a result her repeat and referral rate continues to grow each year. While selling real estate is serious business, Ann Marie knows that at times humor and a moment of levity can be a relief to clients. While she has a laidback and easygoing personality, she can be assertive when needed on her clients’ behalf. She loves being of service to them, and the continually changing nature of the work keeps her engaged and fulfilled. "It’s never boring,” Ann Marie enthuses. "Every day is different. That’s probably what I like most about it. But I also enjoy helping people sell or buy and educating them about the process. I love helping them achieve their goals.” This ethic of service has resulted in well-deserved recognition. Ann Marie has received the Westchester Magazine Five Star Real Estate Agent Rating four years running, in 2015 and 2016 she was the #1 agent in her office, and she’s a Zillow 5-Star Premier Agent. To keep in touch with former clients, Ann Marie sends cards to mark special occasions or reaches out via email. To market her listings, Ann Marie uses Multiple Listing Services (MLS), as well as Listingbook.com, a service that allows both agents and their clients access to MLS data. She also uses a Facebook business page and ads to boost new listings or promote upcoming open houses. "That drives a tremendous amount of traffic,” Ann Marie says. She also uses the most popular real estate websites such as Zillow and Trulia. A strong believer in giving back, Ann Marie sits on the Board of Trustees of her church and is involved in a variety of social justice projects. She’s affiliated with Furniture Sharehouse, a furniture bank for Westchester County, which collects and distributes gently used furniture free of charge to those in need. "I love it on so many levels because as a realtor, it’s helps my sellers downsize through charitable donations. I like the environmental aspect of it as well. And it helps people who truly need things.” She’s also involved in Impact 100, a women’s philanthropic giving organization. In her free time, Ann Marie enjoys gardening, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. For the future, Ann Marie wants to continue expanding her business and developing her brand, and she someday hopes to grow a strong team. But her main goal is to stay in the real estate business, helping her clients to achieve their dreams.