Selling A Home? Staging Purchases that You Must Make!

(Author note: Originally published June 2020; Modified & improved from original!)

So you’re selling your home? Congratulations!

As you already know, there is so much to do to get your house ready to list! The most important goal of staging your home for sale is to make your house look maximally appealing to your prospective buyers. It’s true, the markets are pretty hot right now, but if your house looks its very best, you stand to sell more quickly and for more money!

Do you know which items to purchase in order to meet your home staging goals? How about which types of household goods are best for staging, irrespective of your home’s style? Did you realize that you can find many staging items at low-priced retailers and no one will know that you purchased them on the cheap? (It’s absolutely true!)

I’m going to show you what to buy and how to get the biggest impact for the least amount of money!

All items from local discount retailers!

Recently, I ventured to my local Target, Marshalls, and Home Goods stores, looking for examples of excellent, budget-friendly staging items. As I shopped, I expected to find a few noteworthy items. To my amazement, I found countless items at a very inexpensive price point–and the best thing was, they didn’t look chintzy!

Bathroom decorator items from Home Goods

What should I buy?

First, let’s discuss the staging process. Once you have gone through the exercise of de-cluttering, rooms often feel bare and impersonal. Staging items should add elements of style to the room, drawing attention to positive aspects of the room. Your decor should also complement what is already in the room–the goal is to stage on a budget, treating your new purchases like stage props!

New pillows & throws add coziness to a staged room. Pillows from Target

Home staging must also freshen the look of a room that may look neglected or outdated (no judgment…it happens to most homes). I’m not talking about purchasing big-ticket items to stage your home. On the contrary, I’m mostly talking about buying accessories. Accent chairs, ottomans, lamps, vases, wall art, pillows, throws, and possibly rugs–they add an updated sense of coziness when you choose them intentionally.

photo of plants on the table — Concentrate on accessories to bring life to your rooms! Credit: Photo by Designecologist on Pexels.com

Second, let’s talk about items that work best. Oversized items work well in large rooms. White or beige accents work well in darker rooms. A flourish of color or a bold pattern adds interest to neutral decor.

It’s all about the online photos…

Think about what photographs well. Dramatic patterns, textured surfaces, and contrasting colors photograph extremely well, and that will make your house stand out on online listings. If you want confirmation on that, look at sites like Zillow.com or Realtor.com and see what catches your eye. Most home buyers now look online at homes before going to a showing or open house. It’s critical that you craft your rooms to look interesting in pictures.

Staging props to set a mood that appeals to home shoppers. Wicker tray from Home Goods

Ideas for home staging accessories

The photos in this article are only a small sampling of the inexpensive yet impactful items that I found on my shopping trip. Each item has color, pattern, texture, or scale that would work well in most homes.

Pillow with contrast & pattern. Home Goods

Enjoy the virtual tour of staging ideas, and remember that staging as a home seller means leaving your own comfort zone. After all, you’re not staging for yourself–you are staging for the person who you hope will make you an offer on your home! Keep that in mind, and it will be much easier for you to make positive changes that help you to get what you deserve for your home!