PROPERTY STYLING

BLOG- PROPERTY STYLING YOUR HOME FOR RESALE

From all credible accounts by Australias top real estate agents, over 80-90% of homes that have been properly styled , will sell for well above and beyond the asking price and at a much more rapid speed in comparison to a non-styled home in the exact same market. Creating an emotional response is really what you are aiming to achieve as people will fall in love with your home if you create an inspirational and aspirational space.

As with most things in life, first impressions really do count ! This directly applies to your home as well. In fact it is the look of your home that is the most important way to get an emotional connection or reaction from prospective buyers for your home. It is widely argued that you have a maximum of have 30 seconds to engage a potential buyer . Henceforth it’s imperative that you take a great deal of care to ensure that your home is styled correctly to achieve an instantaneous connection with people coming through your home.

 People naturally respond to visuals, so hence why the majority of people have great difficulty in visualizing what a home will look like when it is unfurnished.  Not only unfurnished but also un-styled ! An unfurnished room looks much much smaller than its furnished counterpart.. Most properties that are unfurnished when they go on the market, actually end up selling for less.

This is precisely why it is imperative to consider the appearance of your home prior to placing it on the market. Property styling is really about decorating your home so it is presented at its absolute best on inspection days. Your home must be impeccably cleaned inside and out.

It is often best to engage a professional to gauge the best way to style your property ( or at least give you tips on how to ) as we tend to place too much attachment on possessions in our home. And really a lot of property styling is actually  about taking objects out ! Definitely try to take a less is more approach as too much clutter looks messy and is visually confusing.

 Generally speaking, you can either use your existing furniture, or part of, or actually hire a furniture“package” for the duration of the period that your home is on the market.

As taste is so very personal, it is best to present your home in the most neutral manner possible, as a neutral palette is more likely to appeal to more people. Neutrals also help make your home non-gender specific, allowing it to appeal to both men and women. Keep your furniture not only neutral , but also tasteful.  However you definitely do not want to create too boring a home, and this is where it is critical that careful accessorizing and placement of objects comes into play. Artwork, mirrors and accessories should all be carefully selected to create harmony and balance. Artwork subject matter is incredibly important that it has no inflammatory or questionable subject manner that could be even slightly offensive to someone. I often suggest simple framed Abstracts.

Using slightly smaller furniture will also help make your rooms appear larger. Good simple tricks are to use 2 seater sofas instead of 3 seater sofas and a double bed instead of a Queen or Double. This can also be applied areas such as dining rooms- by decreasing your chair width for example, you are able to place more chairs around your dining table, thus further creating an optical illusion of more space. And a larger a space appears, the more likely it will be viewed upon favourably by prospective buyers.

Simple things such as freshly laundered linens on beds with inviting and luxurious throws and cushions, create a sense of warmth and luxury. Always ensure that fluffy colour co-ordinated towels are placed in all bathrooms, and even small details such as an expensive hand soap dispenser are modestinvestments that make a huge impact !

 Invest in bunches of fresh well-arranged flowers throughout your home to create an attractive focal point , a pop of colour and a personalized touch. Even items such as bowls of well displayed fruit in the kitchen, create subconscious bonds with people coming through your home.

It is essential also to play on the olfactory senses too. Burning a rich French vanilla candle for instance creates a lovely feeling upon entering a space. Some real estate agents even swear by the smell of fresh baked cookies to really create a sense of comfort for people upon entering your home. If you have a fireplace , I also suggest lighting it, ( unless it’s the height of summer ! ) to further create a lovely warm and welcoming ambiance.

Selecting Window Furnishings

Window furnishings range from anything from sheer curtains through to block out blinds, and a thousand variations in between. Window furnishings “finish” the look of the window, and can add protection from the sun, the cold, and of course block unsightly views or stop people peeking into your home. There is not a steadfast set of rules with exactly what window furnishing to use where, but there are several things to take into consideration.

LOCATION LOCATION

Location of the window you wish to furnish is hugely important. It’s important that you firstly establish the amount of light you want in the room. This, combined with the amount of sun and heat that penetrates the room, will help you establish if you need a more hard working furnishing.

 You should already know you home well enough to know what views you wish to highlight. This may mean you use a sheer curtain or a semi-transparent blind. You can also use window furnishings to highlight a window, by drawing your eye to a coloured or patterned curtain for example. Providing the curtains are drawn to the side, this is quite a polished look for a formal area or a bedroom. In a bathroom you will most likely want privacy and also flexibility. This is an area where shutters can work beautifully as they allow various levels of privacy and also light in. Shutters can also look quite beautiful in a bathroom as well as being water and mould resistant, which is hugely important in a wet area!

LOOK

Window furnishings can of course make or break a room. It’s essential that the style of the home is really well considered and that window furnishings are harmonious with this. A contemporary home will benefit from more minimal window furnishings, and generally in more neutral colours that are in keeping with the interiors. Generally modern homes look best when using blinds or shutters, with sheer curtains to private areas to soften the blinds on the windows here. Again it’s quite personal.

More traditional homes however really shine when window furnishings are more ornate and much more decorative. In fact it was in traditional homes where window furnishing became an art in itself. Windows would be decorated in volumes of lavish fabrics, with rich colouring and patterns. Pelmets, swags and tails, tassels and the like further added decoration and a level of complexity. This look is still appropriate if in keeping with the style of the home, but a more restrained version of this look will make it less fussy and more in keeping with today’s aesthetic.

Colours used in window furnishings are also important and will completely change the look of your room. Blinds look in keeping with the room if they are the wall colour or one or two tones darker for a very subtle contrast. You may wish to use a combination blind, which has a transparent or semitransparent blind , with a block out blind behind. Again, these look best when the same colour. The most popular shutter colours are white and timber. White will always look crisp and elegant, whilst timber will add warmth and create a more down to earth appearance. Colours of curtains will vary considerably. The most important consideration is really just to make them work in harmony and be appropriate to the space!