Using Interior Design to Stage Your Home

While it also focuses on highlighting the best features of a home, homestaging is considered separate from interior design, in that it tends to involve the removal of personal touches so that it may be viewed as a blank canvas by potential buyers. By contrast, interior design tends to focus on personal expression and long-term use, but taking cues from key interior design elements can help elevate the look of your home while maximizing sale potential .  Color When preparing a home for sale, neutral colors are generally advised, but this can give spaces a stark and impersonal look, making them unappealing to buyers. However, neutral doesn’t necessarily have to mean bright white: varying tonal shades of white such as ecru, eggshell or vanilla can be used to create subtle contrast. Texture Another way to add visual interest without color is by using texture. Take cues from companies like Zoie Brooks Designs, whose work often combines natural textures like wood, metal and soft fabrics to appeal to the senses and to help create an inviting, appealing look, even while working within a relatively neutral color palette. Light Property owners with south-facing backyards may find they have plenty of natural light to work with (always a major selling point for buyers), but for those who don’t, effective use of warm artificial lighting combined with airy window dressing and neutral colors can help highlight focal points while creating a sense of space. Space Interior designers also maximize space by positioning furniture and using layout to encourage a sense of flow. When considered in three dimensions, this aspect can be used to help create a sense of length, width or dynamism in the room through using vertical and horizontal as well as irregular lines. This can refer to objects used within the space, or the space itself. Form Similarly, form refers to the structure of the space as well as the objects within it. This can refer to aspects such as scaling furniture to the room, or alternatively, it can be used to make design choices that work in harmony with the overall style of the room to help avoid visual clutter and create a cohesive look. Form can also be used to create visual balance by using design principles like symmetry. Line  Lines can be used to guide the eye and create visual impact, but it can also have a psychological effect on the viewer: vertical lines add height while also creating a sense of aspiration and strength. Horizontal lines evoke tranquility and rest, while horizontal or irregular lines have an energetic, dynamic effect. Pattern When preparing a home for sale, pattern is best used sparingly, as too much can distract from the overall look of the home. However, so long as they harmonize with the style of the home, pattern can be an effective accent used to complement other aspects such as color and texture. Endnote Depersonalizing a property can sometimes run the risk of it appearing too cold and impersonal, but incorporating interior design elements allows you to strike a fine balance between a home that looks liveable, rather than lived-in. Finally, appealing to all five senses can attract potential buyers, so in addition to visual design choices, consider aspects like texture and even scent.