DIY Home Staging Tips That Anyone Can Do

For a faster, more profitable home sale

Neutral colors make a good backdrop for any color or pattern you place against it.Neutral colors are a great backdrop for any color or pattern you place against it. Photo by makinglemonade.com.

Learn how you can sell your home faster and for more money by doing your own home staging.

Inside these pages you will find free, step-by-step instructions and interior decorating ideas that you can do yourself!

By following the diy home staging tips on this site, you'll learn the proper placement of furniture, how to accessorize, and how to use color to create better flow and the illusion of more space in your home.



Area rugs help define the separate zones in open concept rooms.Use area rugs to define the separate zones in open concept home designs. Photo by i.pinimg.com.

Discover how to take advantage of focal points, create artful vignettes, and why it's crucial that you declutter and depersonalize your home.

Learn why good curb appeal is so critical in creating that positive first impression, and how to highlight your homes' best features and tone down any faults.

What is home staging?

Soft neutral colors appeal to more people than any other color palette.Soft neutral colors appeal to more people than any other color palette. Photo courtesy of socalhomebuyer.com

Home staging is the marketing of your home for a fast sale and highest price possible. Learn how you can sell your home fast by incorporating the following steps:

Home staging can be as simple as rearranging what you already have and adding a few new touches, or as extensive as painting ceilings and walls, installing new carpet, updating bathroom and kitchen fixtures, replacing old light fixtures or bringing in new (or rented) furniture. A bit of repair work may be essential, as well. 

Home staging is NOT the same as interior decorating, although many of the same principles are applied.

With interior decorating you are creating a space designed around a homeowner's specific style and taste.

With home staging, the goal is to neutralize the homeowner's personal taste to create a more neutral environment that will appeal to a wider range of people. 

Why the first impression is so critical

The entry is the first impression room.Photo by Homebnc

The first impression buyers get of your house is a critical moment in the home buying quest. You have mere seconds to convince house hunters to stop or drive on by. 

Your goal is to WOW buyers at the curb so that they're tempted to get out of their cars and go inside.

Home staging is a bit like preparing for a job interview, hoping to convince employers to hire you.

If your house looks great, buyers will have an easier time imagining themselves living there and more likely to make an offer.

As a former real estate agent, I was often frustrated by home owners who didn't see the value of decluttering or EVEN CLEANING their homes before placing it on the market. I often found myself washing a sinkful of dirty dishes, straightening towels, or hiding unsightly items in cupboards when I did open houses.

The fact is, most buyers can't see the potential in a dirty, cluttered or outdated home.

A dreary home may present an impression of neglect and instill the notion that potential problems are lurking behind the walls. Even frumpy furniture, ancient wallpaper or outdated fixtures can cause potential buyers to walk away.



Why should I stage my home?

A cluttered house will not sell your home.Because clutter is NOT a selling feature!

A survey by the Real Estate Staging Association in 2013 concluded that staged homes typically sell 73% faster than non-staged homes.

A different survey by stagedhomes.com® shows that 94% of homes staged by an Accredited Staging Professional® sell in about 29 days or less. The average un-staged home takes around 145 days to sell.

A beautifully staged home will compete better in the marketplace and show buyers that your home is "move-in-ready."

The time and money you put into staging your own home will definitely pay off in the end.


When buyers see problems, even small ones adding up, they'll make a list and use it to negotiate for a lower price.

Making a small investment in your home now can save you thousands later by preventing you from having to drop your price.


What does home staging cost?

Home exterior with great curb appeal.A home with lovely curb appeal will grab buyers attention before they even get out of their cars.

You may ask yourself, "Why should I spend money on a house that I'm trying to sell?" Think of it as an investment.

The little bit you spend now on home staging will yield you a higher return when you sell your home.

Staging your home doesn't have to be expensive to be impressive. You can spend as little as $200 if you do it yourself.

The median cost of a professional staging service is around $1,500, but can range anywhere from $1,000 to over $15,000 depending on how much work is required and size of the house. The added expense will pay off when your house sells faster and for a better price.

Home staging SHOULD NEVER be used to mask major problems. If your house needs extensive work, like a new roof, plumbing or rewiring, hire professional contractors to fix it.

Home staging can increase the value of your home

If you're planning to use a Realtor to sell your home, stage it before the walk-through.

An agent will walk through your house, noting the positives and negatives. The Realtor will perform a CMA, (Comparative Market Analysis) comparing it to nearby homes similar to yours. The Agent will come back with a suggested list price for your home. 

There will always be certain factors beyond your control, such as location and the state of the housing market. But you can control the look and feel of your house with home staging.

The final sales price depends on the degree of work you put into your home and how it looks after staging.

Any updated items will add value to the price of your home. If buyers notice a couple loose shingles on the roof, they will demand an entire new roof!

Other than listing your home at a competitive price, the only tool within your control for making your home stand out from all the others is to show it in tip-top shape! 



How to sell your home with online real estate pictures

A beautifully painted home exterior will raise the value of your home.This beautifully painted home looks in tip top condition. Who wouldn't want to venture inside? Photo by NolanPainting.com.

If you plan to sell your home yourself, you MUST include pictures of it online. The National Association of Realtors stated that 90% of today's home buyers start their search online.

Most buyers ignore online real estate listings that don't include a picture gallery. Why bother looking, unless it's the location you want.

Avoid the mistakes that many people make when they display pictures of their home online. 

Before photographing your staged home, create that lifestyle buyers are looking for. Browse through interior design pictures in magazines and online for ideas.

Decorate your home interior with accessories and fresh flowers. Find your perfect bouquet at International flower delivery service MyGlobalFlowers.com. 

Hang a hammock or porch swing outside, stage an outdoor eating area next to a barbecue, update your kitchen by adding new hardware on the cabinets or create a spa-like bathroom.

Create an outdoor living space that buyers can't resist.Create an outdoor living space that buyers can't resist! Photo by architecthonolulu.com

A home purchase is usually an emotional decision for buyers. Buyers aren't just looking for a house, they're searching for that home where they can fulfill their dreams and upgrade their lifestyles. Good home staging can help them realize the true potential of your home.

Go from How to sell your home to declutter your home

Updated 06-16-2023