Turn My House To Sold: Size Matters

Small spaces can be challenging when selling your house. The temptation is to fit in as much as possible to make the room seem fully functional. But is it a good idea?

Probably not!

The best way to show off a small space it to pare it down as much as possible to give the space “room to breathe.” This isn’t necessarily a small space trick – it is an important part of depersonalizing and clearing clutter.

What are some of the best hacks to make the space flow and feel larger than life?

Color

There is a popular myth that small spaces should all be white or pastel. If this is your taste, go for it! However a dramatic color will give the room a sense of depth and when done correctly will give the room added interest, and highlight any architectural features.

If you are planning to repaint a small room for sale, just remember to use neutral color – unless there is a very compelling reason to go bold!

One of the best ways to make a small room feel larger is to bring color from an adjacent or adjoining room. This will help the eye flow from one space to another giving the illusion that the space is bigger than it actually is.

The medium deep taupe of these walls add interest to this room and work well with the neutral furnishings.

Scale

Some people think that one must use small scale furniture in a smaller room. Nothing can be further from the truth! While a pair of facing love seats may work better than a large sofa, a small frame may just emphasize that the space is small. Keep furniture lines simple and tailored for a streamlined look.

Use comfortable furniture, but use only the pieces you need to make the space work. If one stylish table makes the room useful, don’t try to fit in three small pieces in various places. If a coffee table will impact traffic, use two end tables instead.

When staging to sell, don’t be tempted into using multifunctional pieces – such as an ottoman or trunk -- for storage. These pieces often weigh down a room and work against the illusion of more space. Where ever possible, eliminate clutter.

The room on the right uses sleek modern pieces for a well appointed room.

Pattern and Texture

Pattern and texture are a great way to add interest and personality to a room.

Instead of overall patterns on furniture upholstery or bedding, opt for accent pieces that compliment the furniture and décor.

Throws and accent pillows are a great way to add a splash of color without overpowering a room.

In this example, the color pallete is neutral with an accent wall that draws the eye into the room. Paired with a matching throw, there is good flow between colors and the different scales of texture in the room.

Impact

While it is usually a good idea to clear as much of your personal belongings away as part of staging, plan to keep some interesting art, or a curated collection of objects for interest and focus.

Even in a small space, a bare wall is just a bare wall. Use these objects to highlight the room’s great features – such as a mantel or built in shelving or cabinets.

If you are fortunate enough to have tall ceilings, use art as a way to draw the eye up. Vertical height can be a great way to give the illusion of more space.

Windows

Many people are tempted to remove window treatments to make the room feel larger.

Unless you have a spectacular view that is the focal point, this usually just makes the room look unfinished. Instead use window treatments with crisp clean lines – avoid anything with a lot of volume or billowing draping.

The best way to be inspired is to look through decorating websites for designs that have similar window style and proportions to yours.

The room at left uses floor-to-ceiling drapes in a pale coordinating color. The compact vertical pleats help the eye travel up and down in the small space.

Lighting

Keep fixtures in proportion to the room. Where possible use accent lighting to highlight the room’s features.

A minimum of three fixtures will keep the space from feeling claustrophobic. Choose lamps with clean lines and keep volume to a minimum.

For added interest and reflected light, consider using mirrors or reflective objects throughout the room.

The room on the right makes great use of a dramatic pendant, well placed pocket lights and an accent light from below for the vase.

In addition, the glass cabinet doors add interest and sparkle to the room.

If you are putting your home on the market yourself, rececorating may be a very stressful and unnecessary activity. In addition, if selling during the holidays isn't something you wish to consider right now, we can help.

If you have come to the realization that it is time to move right now to have a better life, but your house isn’t ready for market, we can help.

If you are juggling too many responsibilities to sell your house yourself this fall, then there are people who specialize in the sale of properties "as is" - usually within a week to resolve the situation quickly.

Next time we will look at preparing for holiday guests while selling your house.

So thanks for reading my post. I'm so glad you're here!

And I really look forward to getting into more great stuff in future posts -- so that you can

Turn Your House To $OLD!

Feel free to ask me any questions through the contact info below. I would be very happy to help.