Decorating Styles that Sell
By J. A. Young
Photo: © Phartisan - Dreamstime
 Sellers that are looking to spruce up their décor before placing their home on the market can benefit from contemporary and sophisticated styles. Some decorative styles simply have more appeal to most homebuyers. It’s always ideal to make the home into as blank a slate as possible without being completely bland. Most contemporary features and decorative styles allow future homebuyers to imagine their items in the surroundings. An extreme style will make it difficult for buyers to see themselves in the home.
Country décor can be an extreme style. For instance, painted rooster cabinet knobs and a farm scene fresco is not likely to draw as much interest from buyers as plain hardware and white walls. Of course, buyers shopping for a home in rural areas might not be surprised to see a wall border of tractors in the den, but it is still best to avoid an extreme style that cannot easily be combined with others.
Rustic styles can work if the house is a cabin or situated near woods, but keep in mind that, still, many buyers will not necessarily want to be greeted by a stuffed deer’s head in the foyer. While earth tones and wooden props are fine, stuffed animals and permanent wall decorations should be minimized. Comfortable features might go a long
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way to softening a rustic style. For instance, knotty wood floors can be softened with sumptuous area rugs and inviting furniture.
Child friendly decoration may not appeal to many adults, who, after all, are doing the house hunting. Walls painted in bright primary colors like red, white, yellow and blue can be a major turn-off to a buyer who will have to come in and repaint right away if they purchase the home. If possible, keep childish decorations confined to children’s rooms. Instead, opt for sophisticated props that will be visually appealing to adult home shoppers.
Industrial décor can also be uninviting to many buyers. Too much stainless steel conveys a cold interior. Again, the key to this style is finding features that balance out the hard steel. Similarly, a flowery style can be off-putting to men. Try to strike a decorative balance even if it means finding a more neutrally appealing style.
A contemporary look would certainly include neutral wall colors (ivory or light beige) as well as updated cabinetry, sleek and functional furniture (slipcovers can help achieve this look), and sophisticated props. When assessing your props, it would be best to put out a few nice pieces of crystal and pack up the teddy bear statues, for instance. Likewise, keep wall art neat and toned down—you can always enjoy it again when you move to your new home. In most cases, the best results can be achieved with interiors that compliment the home's structure and don’t detract from the buyer’s vision of the house. |
