Selling a home is about more than just square footage and location. In today’s competitive real estate market, presentation is everything. That’s where home staging comes in. Done right, staging can help your home stand out online, attract more buyers to showings, and even spark bidding wars. The best part? You don’t need a full renovation or a huge budget to stage your home effectively. With a little creativity and intention, you can transform your space into something that feels fresh, welcoming, and market-ready.
Here are some creative real estate staging ideas that can make your home feel irresistible to potential buyers:
1. Use Paint to Expand Space and Light
Paint is my client's secret weapon. The right colour reflects light even in a dark room, make rooms feel bigger, and can add the appearance of natural light to any space.
Paint colours that sell:
Right now, I prefer neutral tones that don't read stark white, but instead are softer. For greys which are still popular I prefer a warmer grey or pale taupe that can blend with both brown or grey toned furniture. I enjoy a wall colour that has enough contrast to stand out from the trim to give a higher end look. Eggshell for the walls and semi-gloss for the trim makes both stand out. Don't be fooled by the word 'white' name in the paint colours - to a paint brand white can look anything from beige to grey in my opinion!
Behr Spun Wool for walls
Benjamin Moore Dove White walls and trim (it also gives good coverage over darker walls)
Benjamin Moore Simply White for trim
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace for trim (although coverage is not as good as Simply White & Dove White)
2. Create Character in a plain room
Changing a light fixture and painting a feature wall can turn a box into a showstopper with the right accessories. Or a feature wall in a powder room can transform a space with peel-and-stick wallpaper, available on-line or in any home renovation store
4. Change Light fixtures & switchplates
Lots of homes I sell still have the builder basic light fixtures - see the picture below where we transformed a plain jane condo to a warm hygge space with a feature wall & Ikea light fixture.
A handyman can replace old "tongue' light switched to decor switches in an afternoon.
5. Add lights where there are none
Did you know that you can find plug-in rechargeable lights on Amazon? These wall mount like a picture and the bulbs remove for re-charging. A great, inexpensive way to brighten any room. The pink sconces below were in a home I purchased for a client. They are rechargeable, with a bulb that is attached to the base by a magnet. There's a great selection under $100. Bonus is that if you keep them charged, they work if the power is out!
6. Use soft furnishings strategically
Have an outdated or loud piece of furniture that needs to stay for staging? Neutralize it with throw pillows & strategically placed cosy throws:
7. Bring in the light
Even though the room above had light sheers, removing the draperies & opening the blinds immediately created a bright, open space. Replacing heavy drapes with sheer panels pushed to the side can add a finishing touch, too.
8. Stage the Closets
Don’t just stuff everything behind closed doors—buyers *will* look inside! Clear out clutter and stage closets to look spacious and organized. Use matching hangers, neatly folded linens, and a few well-placed baskets to suggest a lifestyle of ease and order. Remove any clutter on the closet floors, too.
9. Make it sparkle
A professional deep clean before you list is essential - buyers translate a clean home with a well kept one.
10. Consider Scent
Our sense of smell is tied closely to emotion and memory. Use scent to your advantage with subtle candles or diffusers. I'm talking high-end, subtle scents that are not overpowering - not glade plug ins. Avoid anything overpowering—you want clean, fresh, and inviting.
Final Thoughts
Staging is about helping buyers visualize themselves living in your home. These creative ideas don’t require a huge investment, just a thoughtful approach and a little effort. By emphasizing your home’s strengths and creating inviting, memorable moments, you’ll be one step closer to that sold sign.
Looking for more inspiration or professional help with staging? Reach out today—we’d love to help make your home stand out! 415-562-5002
Enjoy transformation stories? You can find some modest home glow-ups on my YouTube Channel here:
Before and After Transformations
See what my clients say about working with me here:
You can find some of my impactful property videos here:
Property Tours of home sold by Sue Anfang
