How to Style Your Property for the Market

Whether you’re selling or renting, every property is listed online these days. The great thing is you get instant access to thousands of buyers and renters across Australia. However, the online market creates a competitive environment so your property must be showcased in its best light to stand out from the crowd.

People buy into the lifestyle a property provides rather than the four walls that make it. Property styling (‘home staging’) empowers you to sell the ultimate lifestyle and inspire prospective buyers to believe your property is their dream home. Plus, it’s one of the most effective ways to maximise your profits and get the best price possible.

Deep clean, declutter, depersonalise

Before we get to the fun part of styling your property, we must start with the basics. Tidying up your property is essential to creating an attractive and inviting space. Follow our motto: deep clean, declutter, depersonalise.

Deep clean

Clean your home from head to toe, including areas that don’t make the cut for your regular cleaning routine. Wash the walls, scrub the grout, and dust all surfaces. If any fixtures and fittings need mending, now is the time to do so. Your aim is to give prospective buyers and tenants the impression that the property has been well cared for and is ready for them to move in.

Declutter

Sort through your belongings and discard of any excess. Use a minimalistic approach and maximise the space available in each room. For example, the kitchen should showcase ample bench room and enviable pantry space. Store excess appliances, such as kettles and toasters, and use on-trend storage solutions to keep the pantry organised. Decluttering your property will make it look and feel bigger, and having more space adds perceived value to your property.

Depersonalise

As prized as they may be, it is best practice to safely store your personal items away. This includes family photos, certificates of achievement, used calendars, children’s artwork, and other trinkets. By removing yourself from the property, potential buyers will be able to envision their lives in that space rather than feeling like a visitor in your home. The same applies to prospective tenants – aim to create an environment that allows them to visually move in.

Use colour and style for purpose

Home staging is an emerging trend in real estate that can add perceived value to your property and ultimately boost your sale price. Effective property styling can push your sale price by up to $20,000 on average relative to a similar unfurnished property. As for rental properties, styling your space can make a significant difference in the time it takes you to find a tenant.

Target your audience

Think about who would best suit your property and stage it accordingly. For instance, if you’re renting out a 1-bedroom unit that is perfect for a young professional, be sure to showcase a functional study nook or home office space.

Remember, people are captivated by the lifestyle a property provides. So, targeting your ideal buyer or tenant is an effective way to fast track your process and achieve the result you want.

Make the most of your space

One of the cleverest staging tricks is to open things up and make every room look bigger. You can maximise your space by using your furniture strategically – remove anything unnecessary and reposition items to optimise for space. As they say, sometimes less is more.

To make small rooms look bigger, consider downsizing furniture or using less bulky items. For example, let’s say you are staging a small bedroom. Downsize the bed from a queen to a double and use slimline open side tables instead of larger drawer units. This will open things up and create the perception that the room is bigger than it is.

Evoke emotion with colour

Choosing a place to call home is an emotional decision. When selecting a colour palette to style your space, it’s important to understand that certain hues can have an impact on the way you feel. For example, the kitchen is the heart of a home – it’s a space for happiness and sharing. Consider using pops of bright colours, like yellow or orange, to elicit such emotions. Oppositely, the bedroom is a place for rest, so you may opt for calming colours like soft blues, muted pinks, and lavender.

Painting is often named as the best return on investment you can make when it comes to improving the look of your home. As a rule of thumb, we suggest painting your home in a warm, neutral colour palette to maximise buyer appeal. Then add a tasteful splash of colour using homewares and décor to make your house feel like a home. While we highly recommend giving your property a fresh coat of paint, you can also style your space effectively using tasteful homewares and decor, such as display items, trinkets, and wall art.

Wrapping it up

Great presentation makes a property easier to sell. Take a step back and put yourself in your ideal buyer or tenant’s shoes. What would define their dream home? Bringing that dream to life will fast track your process and help you achieve the best price for your home.