Want to make your new property listing stand out? When you add colour in a deliberate way to appeal to potential buyers and tie the spaces together for a seamless experience, your home will come to life and become more memorable than the competition. That helps you sell faster.
 

When staging a property for sale, there’s no need to neutralize the spaces to the extent that they feel lifeless. At the same time, you don’t want to overwhelm potential buyers with colours that feel too personalized or show up in finishings that can’t easily (and inexpensively) be changed – like cabinets, flooring, siding, etc.
 

But a little spark of life is possible when you add colour in ways that are both tasteful and temporary.
 

This home we staged in Scenic Acres, Calgary is a perfect example. In this project, we worked with the owner’s red couch which became the jumping off point. Keeping the main features of the home very neutral, we chose accessories for key rooms that picked up the same red tone.
 

These accessories are just enough to catch the eyes of potential buyers as they walk through the property (or when they see it online). It helps the spaces all feel connected, which intuitively makes sense to the buyer and creates a more relaxed experience.
 

Relaxed does not necessarily mean sleepy and unforgettable. Red adds a feeling of energy and liveliness. When used strategically, your listing becomes more memorable when you add colour through staging.
 

Bottom line – don’t be afraid to add colour when staging your home for sale. Make it work to your advantage.
 

Want to stay in touch and read more of our home staging tips? Follow Set Your Stage on Twitter.
 

Think of the potential buyers who will be viewing your house for sale. What’s the first thing they’ll smell when they walk in the door? Hopefully nothing. Nothing but clean indoor air. If you are living in your home while selling and have time to care for them, use simple house plants to stage your property with clean and fresh smelling air as your goal.
 

Our sense of smell is powerful. You know how it feels to walk into a home and notice the first smell. If you’re selling, that opening sniff better make a positive first impression.
 

If not, it’s a challenging memory to overcome. After seeing ten listings, what will the potential home buyers’ lasting memory be of your place? It could easily be that first scent impression. Don’t allow that to create a problem impacting the progress of your sale.
 

Sometimes we get used to the scents that surround us, so it’s helpful to ask a trusted friend (or home stager!) for their honest feedback. Maybe you’ve seen that commercial where the person’s kitchen is presented as a fish market to show how others experience the space. It’s a bit exaggerated, but true.
 

So when I saw this infographic on Pinterest about clean indoor air, I knew it would be a helpful Pin to add to the Set Your Stage DIY Home Improvement Board.
 

I’ve written before about the importance of getting rid of smell to sell. Plants provide an ideal natural solution.
 

For home staging purposes, choose a plant from the list that reflects the style and feel that you want your home to express to potential buyers.
 

Beachy? I’d go with the areca palm.
 

Health conscious? Why not aloevera?
 

Don’t have a green thumb? Chinese evergreen is a hardy choice.
 

Inspiration can come from anywhere. When it comes to clean indoor air, look no further than nature…and of course, Pinterest!
 

For more staging inspiration, check out the various boards we have at Set Your Stage on Pinterest.
 

A bedroom in a property for sale that simply addresses function is a missed opportunity. A bedroom after staging can tell a story, speaking to the potential buyer’s ideal lifestyle. Are you selling a place to crash and store your clothes, or are you selling an adult retreat that inspires sweet dreams?
 

I’ve written before about the power of professional staging to tell a story that connects with your right buyer. It’s something to consider for each room of a property for sale.
 

These before and after photos of a bedroom we staged in a Renfrew Regal Terrace Calgary condo emphasize the point. Before staging, the bedroom is functional. It’s clean, spacious, feminine, and cheery. But it misses the opportunity to tell a more appealing story and sell a lifestyle.
 

The problem with a room that is too feminine is masculine buyers will not be captured.
 

The same bedroom after staging feels more grown up, as if it’s a chic hotel. It feels “put together” as if a successful young couple lived there. If you were a first time home buyer, isn’t that an image that you would prefer? Something you would feel proud to own?
 

That’s the power of professional staging. Emotion, not logic, usually starts and ends the home buying transaction. This bedroom after staging fuels emotional connection to the property. It’s what sets listings apart.
 

For more examples of the power and impact staging can create in a space, take a look at the rest of the Set Your Stage Facebook albums featuring many before and after photos of the various homes and condos that we’ve successfully staged to sell.
 

What story are your spaces telling? If you are listing your property to sell, you should consider the answer to this question. More importantly, that story should connect with potential buyers. Professional staging can help you tell the right story to sell a lifestyle that your right buyer desires.
 

I do a lot of professional staging jobs for clients who have a vacant property. They understand the impact of looking like a motivated seller and of presenting the space to appeal to the ideal lifestyle of potential buyers who have a hard time visualizing what’s possible.
 

These before and after photos of a closet we staged in Copperfield, Alberta home emphasize the point. Before staging, the empty closet is simply that – an empty space. It’s clean and spacious. But it misses the opportunity to tell a story and sell a lifestyle.
 

After staging, the same closet invites an emotional interaction. That’s because a few strategically selected staging props make the space feel like it’s doing more than simply filling a utilitarian function that you would check off your list.
 

Art, a pair of expensive shoes, a shopping bag from a high end store, and a shimmery basket all work together to tell a specific story about the kind of person who “belongs” there.
 

Selling a lifestyle is about tapping into emotion, hopes and dreams, and a sense of belonging.
 

That’s the power of professional staging. And it’s why this particular property sold fast. It was able to successfully sell a lifestyle.
 

For more examples of the power and impact staging can create in a space, take a look at the rest of the Set Your Stage Facebook albums featuring many before and after photos of the various homes and condos that we’ve successfully staged to sell.