Page 57 - Lighting Magazine October 2018

PreParing hoMes to sEll
TOP TIPS
The basics for staging a room is much like the tenets of good design.
1 CreateaWowFactorfromthemomentpeople step inside the front door. “It’s their rst impression, and we want them to want to see more,” Uselton advised.
2 HaveaMemoryPoint.“Everyroomneedsafocal point,whetherit’sa replace,wallart,oraview. What will people stop and notice? Let it be the star of the show,” she explained. “Then think, ‘What can I place at this focal point to a ract the eye?’”
3 UseProperLighting&Wa age.Useltonsuggested illuminationcomparabletoa75-wa incandescent. This is a light level that people feel comfortable with, she said. “We have even used the lighting in the room as the focal point.”
4 CoordinateColors.Selectapieceofartora decorative pillow and let that item dictate the color intheroom.Introducemoresolidcolorsthanpat- terns. “Your eye rests when you look at a solid color,” Uselton noted. If you’re going to mix in a pa ern, do it in a coordinating color and make the solid color larger — for example, the bed would be in a solid color, but the pillows could be in a pa ern.
5 Keep It Simple. “People want a retreat to come back to at the end of the day. Instead of 10 pieces of furniture, do 5...and the same goes for items on tabletops, etc.,” Uselton noted. Ideally there should not be more than four pieces in one spot. “Keep things light and bright with open window shades and add accent lighting. Furniture in lighter colors can also help make a room look larger.”
6 Use Power Pieces. “Think about larger-scale state- ment mirrors, but be aware of what they’re going to re ect. Or try pu ing two furniture pieces back to back to create one powerful design statement. Try to incorporate one or two features per room,” she advised. “The heaviest piece should be opposite the entry point so that it anchors the space. It will cause the eye to travel across the room, making it seem larger.”
7 Heart of the Home. “Living spaces are important, not just the kitchen and bath,” Uselton remarked. Think about the tra c ow pa ern; make sure there is nothing blocking the way. Create cozy si ing areas.
8 OutWiththeOld.Ifaroomhaslookedthesame way for 10 years, “it’s time to freshen up and update it,” she stated. Group similar accent pieces together, and use touches of glass accessories that can transi- tion anywhere.
9 TransitionalWins.“We’reseeingmoreofa Transitional look gaining popularity; it’s not quite Contemporary and not quite Traditional,” Uselton observed. “We are scaling more towards the clean lines of Contemporary.”
10 NeutralizeThroughout.“Thisisthe‘Skin’part.Go with neutrals and save the pops of color for acces- sories. It helps the home have [visual] consistency,” she advised. “For bedrooms, we do neutral colors and luxurious bedding with Euro shams and accent pillows.”
11 OriginalDesign.“Revisitwhatthebuilderintended,” Uselton suggested. Over the years, many homeown- ers make changes to the overall feel of the space. By se ing up the home in its original lay-out, it will make spatial sense to the buyer.
12 AppealtotheSenses.“Wewantthehometosmell new and fresh — not like you’re covering something up,” she noted. Make the bathroom feel like a spa by forming the towels into a fan-shape (like on a cruise ship or a luxury island hotel). Create a “gourmet kitchen” look with some sophisticated accessories.
13 OpenFloorPlan.“Open oorplansaregreat, unless the home is vacant,” Uselton remarked, adding, “Research shows 90 percent of buyers can’t envision what a large open space would look like furnished.”
14 SignsofLife.Addingatouchofnatureisdesirable. “Anytime we can bring a bit of the outdoors inside is great,” she said. “We’re ge ing away from the cus trees and ivy, which just collect dust. Orchids are a stager’s best friend!”
15 AddthePlush.“Trysomethingthatmakespeople want to cozy up, such as throws, rugs, and pillows,” Uselton suggested. “You can achieve a luxury look that way.”
october 2018 | enLIGHTenment Magazine 53