Top 10 Home Staging Tips to Help Buyers Love Your Home

When you’re getting ready to sell, staging your home can make a huge impact on how quickly it sells and for how much. These top 10 home staging tips will help buyers focus on your home’s best features and imagine themselves living there.

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1. Declutter and Simplify

Buyers need to see space, not stuff. Go room by room and remove anything that isn’t essential: extra decor, piles of mail, toys, small appliances on counters, and overflowing closets. Aim for “model home” minimal. If you’re unsure, remove one more thing.

2. Deep Clean Everything

A clean home feels well cared for. Scrub kitchens and bathrooms, clean baseboards, doors, light switches, and vents, and wash windows inside and out. Don’t forget often-missed areas like ceiling fans, behind toilets, and the tops of appliances. The goal is a home that looks, feels, and smells fresh.

3. Depersonalize the Space

You want buyers to picture their life there, not yours. Remove family photos, kids’ artwork, diplomas, collections, and anything with names or personal details. Replace them with neutral decor, simple artwork, and clean, open surfaces so the focus stays on the house itself.

If you want quick ideas for neutral, buyer-friendly decor, here are a few options that style well in almost any home:

Minimalist Framed Artwork – Clean, abstract prints that add interest without feeling personal.

Ceramic Vases in Neutral Tones – Great for shelves, mantels, or staging kitchen counters.

Textured Throw Pillows – Light colors, subtle patterns that feel cozy but not distracting.

4. Neutralize Color and Style

Bold colors and very specific styles can turn buyers off. If possible, repaint bright or dark walls in light, neutral shades. Keep bedding, rugs, and towels simple and classic. A neutral backdrop makes rooms feel bigger, brighter, and more universally appealing.

🏡 Sherwin-Williams Beige & Soft Neutral Wall Colors That Appeal to Buyers

🔹 Accessible Beige (SW 7036)

A widely recommended warm neutral with subtle gray undertones — neutral enough to work in nearly every room and lighting condition.

🔹 Balanced Beige (SW 7037)

Slightly richer than Accessible Beige, this tone gives rooms a cozy yet neutral feel that still feels light and modern.

🔹 Natural Choice (SW 7011)

A soft off-white with warm beige/greige undertones that keeps rooms bright and welcoming without stark whiteness. It reflects a lot of light while still adding a cozy, neutral backdrop.

🔹 Aesthetic White (SW 7035)

A light, balanced neutral with a soft beige undertone — bright and versatile, yet warmer and more inviting than a stark white. Perfect if you want a color that feels airy but still subtly warm.

🌟 Classic White Neutrals – Bright, timeless, and universally appealing

• Alabaster (SW 7008) – Warm, soft white that isn’t too stark and adds subtle warmth to a room. (My Favorite – is in my personal home everywhere from the walls to the ceiling to the trim and doors!)
• Pure White (SW 7005) – Clean, crisp white that works beautifully throughout a home. This would be great for all trim and doors if you need a refresh on trim only.

Shop our top recommendations for bedding, rugs, and towels that blend comfort and style. These hand-picked favorites make refreshing your home effortless.

Bedding – Clean, neutral bedding that instantly refreshes and elevates your room.

Rugs – Neutral, soft rugs that ground the room and tie your décor together effortlessly.

I LOVE the Loloi Layla Collection in Antique/Moss listed above! I have it in my entryway (it’s the perfect low pile rug and still looks new after a couple of years) and it brings a slight bit of natural moss green color to the space without being overpowering and still staying neutral.

5. Optimize Furniture Layout

Furniture placement can make a room feel cramped or spacious. Remove any extra or oversized pieces (maybe that old recliner 😜) and keep only what you need to define each space. Create clear walkways, float furniture away from walls when it helps the flow, and set up simple conversation areas rather than pushing everything to the edges.

6. Boost Your Curb Appeal

First impressions start at the curb. Clean up landscaping, trim bushes, and add fresh mulch if needed. Sweep the porch, clean the front door, and add a simple welcome mat and maybe a couple potted plants. If you have room, create a cozy sitting area to make the entrance more welcoming. You want buyers to feel excited to walk through the front door!

Check out these hand-picked items to shop and explore — simple ideas that can instantly enhance your home’s curb appeal.

7. Maximize Light

Light sells homes. Open blinds and curtains fully, remove heavy drapes, and make sure windows are clean. Add lamps in dark corners and use higher-wattage (correctly rated) bulbs for a bright, inviting feel. During showings, turn on all lights to make the home feel warm and welcoming.

If you want quick ideas for neutral , buyer-friendly table and floor lamps , here are a few options that style well in almost any home:

Neutral Table and Floor Lamps – Soft light, simple shape, perfect for entry tables or living rooms and bedrooms.

8. Highlight Key Rooms First

If time or budget is limited, focus on the spaces that matter most: the entry, living room, kitchen, primary bedroom, and bathrooms. Make sure these areas are especially clean, uncluttered, and beautifully staged. Buyers often make up their minds based on how these key rooms feel.

9. Use Simple, Cohesive Decor

Stick to a limited color palette throughout the home so it feels cohesive and calm. Use greenery or plants, a few carefully placed pillows, neutral throws, and simple artwork. Avoid busy patterns, heavy themes, or too many small accessories. Less decor, styled well, looks more high-end.

These simple décor picks can be placed throughout your home to create a cozy, inviting atmosphere.

Plants – Simple greenery that adds life, color, and a fresh feel to any room.

Neutral Throw Blanket – Soft, cozy layers that add warmth and texture to any space.

10. Add Lifestyle Touches

Finally, add a few touches that make the home feel aspirational. Think: a styled tray in the kitchen with a candle and small plant, folded spa-like towels in the bathroom, a cozy throw on the sofa, or a neat coffee station. These little moments help buyers emotionally connect with the home.

Bathroom Towels – Soft, neutral towels that add a spa-like feel and a polished touch.

Candles – Soft lighting and subtle fragrance that instantly make your space feel more welcoming.

Staging doesn’t have to be complicated. Focus on these 10 tips, take it one room at a time, and you’ll be amazed how fresh, bright, and inviting your home will feel to buyers!

Don’t miss the before‑and‑after photo of a bathroom I staged below—it’s a great example of how small changes can make a big impact.

Before Staging a Bathroom

After Staging a Bathroom