How to Brighten up a Room When Selling a House
Put your efforts towards learning how to brighten up a room when selling a house
When it comes to showcasing your home to potential buyers, we advise taking a methodical approach. Stay true to your unique style but focus on appealing to a wide audience. The first impression plays a significant role for future buyers. Even the first few seconds after they walk through the door will significantly shape their overall impression. The buyers try to imagine themselves moving there and living a happy and fulfilled life. They visualize the property as their own, so you have a lot of reasons to put time and effort into staging your house before trying to sell it.
You have a complex job of highlighting your home’s most impressive assets. In this article, we'll advise you on how to do it effectively, whether the idea of selling came to your mind recently or you have already been trying to sell it for some time. The time and money spent to brighten up a room when selling a house can increase its value and help sell it faster. If you do not need major renovations in the house, these few tips will do the trick.
Let there be light!
The key to brightening up rooms before selling your house is illumination. Brighten up the rooms by letting all possible lights shine in the house. Open the blinds on all of the windows. It will not only let more light in, but it will also make all rooms seem airier. You can double the amount of sunlight in your home by allowing it to bounce off reflective surfaces. Try hanging a large mirror directly across the largest window in your room to see this effect.
Get rid of heavy, dark curtains that absorb light, and keep translucent shades that allow sunshine to spread throughout the space. For light to reach your windows in the first place, make sure to trim any bushes or trees near them. Turn on all the lights in your house for showings. Using ambient lighting will give an appealing glow to your home, which is sure to score you some points.
Focus on the main areas
Rooms that have substantial potential to influence your buyers are the living room, master bedroom, and kitchen. Focus your effort primarily on these since other living areas, while important, are not crucial. Rearranging your furniture might be necessary, so don't be afraid to change things up. You need a wide, open, walkable space wherever possible. Rooms should both look and feel spacious.
The kitchen can often be a deal-breaker when selling a home. You’ll need to stage your kitchen by making it feel spacious and ensure that it is sparkling clean and well-lit. Do not forget to clear out your trash bin before showings to avoid any foul odors. Clear the counters of any unnecessary appliances, and organize the kitchen in a way that shows it has sufficient storage space. Adding track lights pointing at the main counter surface or LED strips under the wall cabinets are both a solid investment. These adjustments will help your kitchen look brighter, more modern, and enjoyable for cooking.
When staging a house for sale, every little detail counts, so be ready to invest your time and money.
Depersonalize the rooms
While a home should always have its style and charm, try to remove excessive personal items, such as photos, magnet souvenirs from the fridge, and other memorabilia. Those things hold great value to yourself, but the buyers usually don't care much for them. That is – unless they match the overall aesthetic. Keep your clothes stored away, out of sight. Clear the bathroom counters of personal items. Items related to your hobby or religion should also be moved. Remove any seasonal decorations. All those little tricks will help your buyers imagine themselves living there.
Declutter your home
Decluttering can often be essential for managing to brighten up a room when selling a house. Nobody wants clutter in their life and their home. Also, potential buyers wish to see only the basics, as it helps them visualize. You want your space to look bigger, more comfortable. You should not get rid of your important things forever. A smart decision would be to rent a specialized storage unit for some time while showing your house. Create a system of packing and storing items safely until you need them again. Store the seasonal clothes you don’t currently need, home décor that would get in the way, and anything else you do not need regularly.
The less clutter you have, the bigger the room looks. This also applies to closets and other storage areas such as the garage, attic, etc. All buyers find free space uncrowded with non-essentials appealing. You should also put pieces of unnecessary furniture in storage. Back to basics is an excellent approach to showcase your home to potential buyers. Always try to put yourself in their shoes to make decisions more easily and from an outside perspective.
Make it sparkle!
Deep cleaning of all surfaces is a necessary way to brighten up a room when selling a house. Every square inch needs to be clean, polished, and shiny. Missing a spot could translate to missing an opportunity to sell, so it's understandable if you want to hire a professional cleaner for this matter.
Maintenance
The purpose of repairs is not only to show potential buyers that you’ve put effort into regular property maintenance but also for making your home look nice and desirable. Get rid of all damaged items, evaluate if any old appliances need to be replaced or serviced, and make sure there is no leaking, creaking, whining, or other funny business going on. Finish what you can and call professionals for more substantial home repairs which you should not do alone.
Keep it neutral and fresh
You should keep a few healthy, well-placed plants and flowers to breathe life and freshness into the rooms. Position them in different living areas that we mentioned previously and they are sure to brighten up any room.
Put a vase with bright flowers on your kitchen table, and one or two potted plants in the living room. Another cool trick is to install a small scented plug-in in the main areas. Just make sure not to overdo it and produce the opposite effect. You want pleasant, but subtle fresh smells.
Lastly
Even though this might sound like a total cliché – nothing can brighten up a room when selling a house like the good mood of the person showing it. So, when your buyers arrive – don’t forget to smile.
