10 Real-Life Staging Tips That Actually Make Your Home Look More Expensive

Staging isn’t about making your house look Pinterest-perfect. It’s about making buyers in Central Maine feel like your home is clean, cared for, and absolutely worth the price. These 10 real-life home staging tips are the same ones I give my sellers when we’re getting their homes ready to list, without turning their life upside down.

1. Start With the First Impression (Your Entry Matters)

Buyers decide how they feel about a home in the first 10 seconds.
Quick wins:
• Sweep the entry
• Replace the doormat
• Add a simple plant
• Hide the shoes and mail

This one move makes the entire home feel more put together.

2. Remove 25 Percent… Not Everything

I’ll never tell you to empty your home like you’re moving into a minimalist monastery.
Just remove a quarter of what’s on your surfaces. It instantly makes the space feel larger and more expensive.

3. Fix the Lighting (The Secret Weapon)

Dark homes look smaller and older.
Swap bulbs for 3000K soft white.
Turn on EVERY light for showings.
Add a lamp to dark corners.

Seriously — buyers feel the difference before they can explain it.

4. Make Bathroom Counters Hotel-Level Simple

No one needs to see your 47-step skincare routine.
Keep:
• Hand soap
• A candle
• A neutral hand towel

Everything else goes in a basket under the sink. This changes the whole vibe.

5. Remove Personal Photos (But Keep Personality)

This isn’t witness protection.
You can keep cozy blankets, books, baskets… just avoid the giant family gallery wall.
Buyers should imagine their life, not yours.

6. Neutral Bedding = Instant Upgrade

White or cream bedding photographs beautifully.
Bonus points: smooth out the duvet with your hands. Wrinkled bedding kills the shot.

7. Declutter the Kitchen… With Limits

Clear the counters EXCEPT for 2-3 intentional items:
• Wooden cutting board
• Bowl of fruit
• One nice appliance

Kitchen chaos kills buyer excitement faster than anything.

8. Fix Smells Before Showings

Maine homes in winter can get stale.
Open windows for 5 minutes.
Run fans.
Light a candle.
No overpowering sprays — subtle is your friend.

9. Hide Pets (And Their Evidence)

Love the dog.
Hide the dog bowls, crates, and fur tumbleweeds.
Buyers get distracted, and you want their eyes on the property, not the pup.

10. Style Your Surfaces With the Rule of 3

Odd numbers look better to the eye.
Example for a coffee table:
• Candle
• Book
• Small plant

Simple. Elevated. Not cluttered.

Bonus Tip: You Don’t Need a Perfect House To Get a Perfect Offer

Buyers fall in love with homes that feel warm, clean, and cared for — not homes that look like a staged museum.
If you want a custom walk-through of what to focus on (and what to ignore), I offer complimentary seller prep consultations that show you where the real ROI is.

Click here to book a 15-minute Seller Strategy Call