Tips For Staging A Small Living Room
Selling your home often means changing up the décor from what you like to what is most likely going to appeal to a buyer. This is especially important if you have a small living room – what was comfortable and functional to you may seem crowded to others. The following staging tips can help a small room seem larger.
Tip #1: Downsize the furnishings
This is no time for a full living room suite. Instead, opt for a loveseat and a chair. You may also want to skip the main coffee table for side tables, since this will help free up floor space. In fact, every piece of furniture in the room should be a small, streamlined design so that it takes up little space. Smaller furniture can do wonders to make a room feel larger.
Tip #2: Open up with color
If you are repainting, opt for a light color. Using a semi-gloss paint can help reflect light without being too shiny, which can also give the illusion of more space. Another trick is to paint the ceiling a shade or two lighter than the walls so it seems higher. Finally, opt for lighter colored upholstery, as well, since this can also make the room look larger. Use dark and bold colors only as accents.
Tip #3: Choose a focal point
A focal point helps take the attention off the size of the room. A fireplace is a natural focal point, if one is present. Another common focal point can be a large window. If there is no obvious focal point, create one. The main goal is that it can't take up too much space. A gallery wall or a mural (which can be placed temporarily with vinyl wall stickers) works well.
Tip #4: Avoid traffic jams
Nothing makes a room feel smaller than trying to walk through it and running into obstacles. Know the most intuitive traffic patterns through the room and arrange the furniture so it works with them. Avoid placing furniture so that it has to be squeezed behind to get through to the next room or doorway. Instead, arrange everything so it is easy to see a path through to wherever the destination may be. This is especially important where doors are involved – you don't want a door to hit the couch, for example, each time you open it.
For more help, talk to a professional home stager.
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