• Avoid dark colors. Darker colors create an optical illusion that makes a space appear smaller. Lighter, neutral colors for staging your home are best, as they make rooms appear larger. Adding accents of color, like photographs or paintings, against a neutral background can make a room seemmodern and appealing (think art galleries). They also are easier to change in the future, a situation that home buyers will appreciate when it’s time to move in. • Use complementary colors with carpeting and accessories (e.g., blue and orange, purple and yellow, red and green), following the rule that 80% of the predominate color should be a neutral, with 20% as the appealing complementary color. • Avoid using toomany colors when neutralizing the home. Instead, focus on three to five colors to avoid jarring color combinations or a feeling of “separateness.” Bear in mind that lighting changes the color you’ve selected. You can use the same hue for incandescent lights and natural lighting, only to get different results. This can help save money and emphasize your home’s lighting variations. Ensure your colors flow from one to another. Earth tones and neutrals work best, as we’re accustomed to these colors from nature. For example, having a hot pink go to a beige is off-putting. AFFORDABLE SOLUTIONS There’s usually no one-way solution to properly stage a house. Those who prefer the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) method will usually have to do their research beforehand, especially for keeping the process of neutralization within budget. Here’s a few tips to keep it cheap: Consult your real estate agent. That professional person has had experience successfully closing home sales and will have great advice on what may or may not work in your own situation. As agents are commission-based, they have the same goal as you— to sell your home as quickly and at the highest price possible. In addition, they can recommend you have a consultation with a professional home stager. These people specialize in neutralization and can give you honest tips to sell your home immediately.
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