Getting your apartment in top shape for viewings needn’t be a daunting task.
You know your own property better than anyone else, so think twice before relying on professional home staging services.
It’s just a case of styling the apartment in a manner that has buyer or renter appeal, and we can help you with that.
And if it’s your first time selling up, you’re in luck, because all of these apartment staging tips are beginner-friendly.
So without further ado, check out these super easy home staging ideas, implement them, and then watch your apartment move off the market in record time.
1. Bookend the couch
We all love the openness of open-plan apartments, but it’s harder for buyers to visualize themselves using each space when it’s all lumped together.
They shouldn’t be able to make their mind up about your apartment by standing in the middle of the room and doing a 360-degree turn.
Just like how tourists experience the different exhibits in museums and zoos, you want browsers to go from one attraction to the next.
Bookending the couch with tall decor such as floor lamps, coat stands and floor plants is a really easy way to zone it off without affecting that feeling of open space.
2. Get the sense of scale right
If furniture is laid out the wrong way, buyers will just blame it on the property instead of your styling skills, losing you an offer as a result.
Indeed, it’s worth repeating that every styling mistake will be blamed on your apartment. No pressure, then!
A common mistake is putting two bulky pieces of furniture next to each other, which immediately throws the room off balance.
If you have a big beautiful cabinet, give it as much breathing space as it requires, and decorate it with much smaller pieces to create a pleasing sense of scale.
3. Set the table
Successful home staging is all about making buyers feel as though they’re already living in the property, because that’s how you establish a personal connection to it.
This means conjuring images of home life.
Setting the table is perhaps the best the way to tap into the core of home life, as it’s typically where the whole family comes together to eat, but also where they come to celebrate.
And besides, the table is too big a surface to leave undecorated and it will detract from the viewing experience.
4. Be strategic with mirrors
Mirrors are famed for their ability to make spaces look bigger and brighter, but don’t just place any type of mirror in any location and say “job done”.
Consider that full length mirrors can be mistaken for doorways if you place them in spots where the image they reflect offers a sneak peak into another room.
Better yet, you can really mess with people’s perception of the space by leaning a mirror against the wall to capture reflections that flat mirrors can’t.
5. Throw in some houseplants
A neutral color palette does wonders for opening up the space, which is why neutrals reign supreme in apartment staging.
More importantly, it provides a blank canvas for bolder colors to punctuate. But where should these striking pops of color come from?
We always recommend decorating your home with houseplants even if it’s not listed for sale, not just because of their lush green tones, but it demonstrates to buyers that if plants can thrive here, they can too.
6. Leave doors open
Make the viewing experience as seamless as possible by removing unnecessary actions like opening and closing doors.
It creates an inviting atmosphere and signals to buyers that they can wander freely, and that you’re not hiding anything.
Obviously we don’t mean every door – you can leave your kitchen cabinets shut! We mean doorways and doors that lead to spaces which are part of the architecture e.g. pantries and built-in closets.
7. Use books as risers
Nobody viewing your apartment has time to read books, which is fine because you can use them for aesthetic purposes instead.
Gather a few hardbacks and stack them to provide a solid yet decorative base for those diminutive items such as table lamps and vases.
When you mix decor together like this, not only does it create an eye-catching display, it helps you keep a tight reign on clutter, which is a real threat if every piece of decor is given its own space to shine.
8. Don’t overdo it with signage
There’s no point bombarding buyers with loud signs that tell them how tall the ceiling is or how many windows there are, unless you want to come across as desperate…
They’ve already read through the online listing with a critical eye and are there to see for themselves whether your property lives up to reality.
Keep it natural, so that your messages serve to remind buyers about your apartment’s key selling points without creating a jarring viewing experience.
It could be as simple as a cute little note that blends in with the decor.
9. Get in the habit of layering
We often touch on the business of layering when talking about how to display art, whether it’s art above the bed or art above the couch.
It involves placing something in front of something else, often by leaning it, to create a layered look. If you don’t have artwork, you can perform this layering trick with cutting boards, bringing sophistication to your kitchen.
Will layering your decor tempt buyers into making offers? Not in and of itself. But it will get them excited about the possibilities of home decor, which in turn puts them in the right mood as they browse your apartment.
10. Accessorize with throws
An apartment staged with throw blankets is an apartment that oozes warmth and comfort.
Clearly this addition is an absolute must if you are selling up in the winter months, but we can promise you a good-looking throw will bring style to the scheme all year round.
The question remains: where should you put your throw and how should you put it there?
Throw blankets work best when they’re casually draped over seating furniture – you can learn more about this topic by checking out this guide on how to style a couch with a throw.
11. Fill in a bulletin board
A soon as the buyer signs the dotted line, you’re getting the hell out of there, but in the mean time, you have to give off the impression of a lifelong home.
So, think twice before wiping the bulletin board clean. In fact, add stuff to it, even if it’s fictional, such as a list of chores (definitely not fictional!), and that doctor’s appointment you have scheduled for next week.
If you can’t afford large framed wall art, you’ll find that a bulletin board is a much cheaper option for styling your walls.
12. Hide an unsightly view
Unfortunately, home staging only gets your interior red-carpet ready – what the outside world looks like is out of everyone’s control.
If you have a window view that isn’t much of a view at all, the trick is to replace it with an even better view.
And because you’ve followed these amazing DIY home staging tips, the inside of your apartment is the best alternative.
In other words, display a mirror on the windowsill.
13. Minimize the black TV screen
It’s not uncommon to put a slideshow on the TV showing pictures of the apartment and other facilities the complex has to offer.
But it’s not really necessary since potential buyers are already there in-person to feel out the property. Plus, it’s a bit of a hassle to set up, and who wants that kind of stress during the sales process?
Playing your favorite TV show, albeit with the sound off, is also a big no-no.
That leaves you with the big black box effect – a real eyesore. If you only have enough decorations for one location, make sure you allocate them to the TV area to spruce up that distracting black screen.
14. Style the bed
Everyone knows you can bring interest to the center of the living room with coffee table decor, but when it comes to the bedroom, many people are left scratching their heads…
Bed decor is a real thing, you know? Fill the void in the middle of your bedroom by placing a throw or a decorative tray at the end of the bed.
The need to do this is a lot stronger if your bedroom has neutral paint colors and plain bedding.
15. Angle off furniture
Buyers crave a welcoming home and this should be at the forefront of your mind with every home staging decision you make.
Armchairs in the corners of the room should always be angled off to create a more sociable atmosphere where everyone can see and talk to each other.
This applies to non-seating furniture, too. If you have a cabinet in the corner, don’t place it flush against the walls. Consider setting it at an angle so that it establishes a connection with the rest of the space.
16. Leave a book open
Books are your best friend when it comes to staging an apartment like a pro.
No, we’re not saying you need to hit the books to learn about the best home staging hacks (although, that’s not a bad idea). Rather, you can use books as decor to woo buyers with that lived-in look.
The simple act of leaving a book or magazine open is a brilliant way to show signs of life, and the ‘footprint’ of the book doubles in size when opened, which does wonders for making dull surfaces more interesting.
And besides, there’s something quite poetic about displaying an open book as potential buyers expect sellers and realtors to be an open book about the property.
17. Add texture with baskets
You have to be cut-throat with your choice of decor so that the features of your apartment remain the star of the show.
However, we’ll always campaign for the humble basket. They provide pattern, character and texture in one go, making them super valuable as a styling device.
Oh and not to mention baskets are useful forms of storage. But for staging purposes, you ought to have a basket spitting out a throw blanket in elegant fashion to raise the drama a little bit.
18. Fill a tray
Vignette is a fancy word that describes a cluster of decor and they’re really useful for creating fun little ‘scenes’ around your home.
Putting together a vignette in areas that are lacking visual appeal will ensure there’s never a dull moment during real estate showings.
You should set the foundation of a vignette with a tray, as this sets the parameters of the display and stops you from going overboard. Plus, it becomes a whole lot easier to move your vignette in the event that you need to shift things around.
19. Decorate the door handles
Since you’re going to follow tip #6 and leave the doors open, the door handles will be out of action for a while.
And unless your apartment is blessed with super attractive doors, you’re going to want to beautify that big block of nothingness. But how?
You could purchase some decorations which are specifically designed to be displayed from door handles, but it’s too intentional for our tastes, and frankly quite tacky.
Exhibit a whimsical vibe by hanging a (flattened) handbag or some other clothing accessory from the door handle, so that browsers are met with visual interest even as they move from room to room.
20. Break out the beads
The reason why beads are so beloved by home staging professionals is they bring an organic touch to a static piece of decor.
Indeed, a set of well-placed beads will break those straight lines and regular shapes, and depending on length, you can use them to connect several items together.
Think of beads as a kind of visual lubricant that helps buyers scan the space, thereby helping them to fall in love with your property!