I have a thing for bathrooms. As a home stager, I especially LOVE staging them. But as a homeowner, it’s not always very practical to live with a staged bathroom. What is eye candy for the buyer is often inconvenient for the seller.
So I’m going to help you out today with some tips for staged-bathroom survival, show some examples of staged bathrooms, and some easy updates for those of you who are not trying to sell your home.
First, let’s talk about a few tips to help you survive your staged bathroom:
- Use a caddy to hold personal toiletries to keep them off the countertops when not in use. Kind of takes you back to the old college dorm days!
- Keep “guest” towels to use for home showings. Toss your “real” towels in the dryer when buyers are coming through.
- Keep counter wipes, Windex and paper towels handy in EACH bathroom for quick cleanups. Tip: a little Windex on all the little shiny parts does wonders for a bathroom).
- Don’t use contour rugs or toilet seat covers. One more thing to get dirty and they never stay in place (plus they’re kind of gross).
- Use liners in your trash can. It’s cleaner, and makes for a quick toss-out!
Ok, now let’s check out a few before and after shots of staged bathrooms. The first two examples are from vacant homes.
This vacant bathroom feels much more luxurious with warm tones.
This master bathroom needed to have more of a spa feeling. Contrasting darker accessories with the light walls gave it some depth.
Now this example is from an occupied home – and note that the sellers did not spend much money at all to update the bathroom. It just needed a few style updates. Simple curtain made out of kitchen towels, more contemporary artwork, fresh towels and a little de-cluttering made this bathroom feel move-in ready.
Even if you’re not moving, there are some staging techniques you can use to infuse some style into your bathroom:
- Look at your bath linens with a critical eye. They often wear out and/or get outdated before you really notice it!
- Take inventory of what is on your bathroom counters. If you don’t use it daily, store it somewhere else. If it must stay, store it in a decorative container.
- When is the last time you looked under your bathroom counter? Some purging and organization can do wonders for your bathroom and your mindset! It’s the same feeling you get when you clean out your purse.
- Bathroom a little bland? Bring in color with rolled up towels or washcloths in a pretty basket.
- Look at the artwork and accessories in your bathroom. Avoid smaller pieces as they tend to make a room look smaller. And dried flower arrangements tend to look tired very quickly.
There you have it! Thanks for sharing in my bathroom obsession!
It’s that time of year again – if you’re thinking about putting your house on the market, get ready for a bit of incovenient living. But the payoff is well worth any inconvenience. Once you get your home sale-ready, you need an efficient action plan to accomodate the not-always-convenient showings of your beloved home.
You know how it goes…you get a call from your realtor that a potential buyer wants to see your house…in 30 minutes! So you have to pick up the house, load up your kids (and pets), hop in the car and try to find something meaningful to do for an hour or so.
How you live in your home is quite different than how you sell it. Assuming you’ve already followed your Professional Home Stager’s instructions, you’re a step ahead in preparing for show time. After all, you want to make sure it shows at its best when the curtains come up! Here are some helpful checklists to prepare your staged home for show time in 30 minutes or less.
Safety
- Hide liftables – wallets, mail, jewelry, small electronics, passwords, financial statements, etc. Most people are honest, but it helps if you remove the temptation.
- Don’t light candles (fire hazard and looks like you’re trying too hard).
Lighting
- Turn on lights and open all curtains – yes, even in the daytime.
- Make sure windows are clean.
Pick Up
- Toys, clothes, papers, general clutter.
- If worse comes to worse, grab a large garbage bag and stuff everything in it and take it with you. You can put everything away when you get home.
Kitchen
- Wipe down counters – keep disposable wipes by each counter area to make it quick and easy.
- Make sure the sink shines! There is nothing more disgusting than a dirty sink.
- Empty the trash – even if it’s not full yet.
- Countertops – opt for single large accessory rather than a group of small things – doesn’t have to be out all the time, but “places everyone” applies.
Bedrooms
- Make all beds, and arrange decorative pillows per your stager’s instructions.
Bathrooms
- ALL toiletries hidden (keep daily use items in a handy cubby that can be stashed under the sink)
- TOILET SEATS DOWN
- Put your towels in the dryer & bring out “show towels”
- Wipe down counters and mirror
- Sniff test –air freshener if needed
- Empty the trash
Pets & Kids
- Don’t even think about leaving the pets behind!
- Keep the car pre-stocked with snacks, water, games, dog leash, picnic blanket, diapers (if needed), and extra changes of clothes (you never know).
- Make up “car games” such as “left, right, or straight” – a game where each kid gets a turn picking which way you turn. Whenever you find someplace interesting, stop and have a car party.
- Have a list of fun places you can visit, such as a pet store, local park, library, etc.
Ambiance
- Music – Play some classical or jazz music softly to add ambiance and minimize eerie silence.
- Concession Stand – Candy Bowl – put out some wrapped candy.
- Check Thermostats – make sure it’s set at a comfortable temperature.
It’s show time…break a leg!
Even my 2nd grader gets it.
We had new carpeting put in the Master Bedroom yesterday. Once the room was emptied of a king sized bed, armoire, double dresser, 2 night tables and rocking chair, she peaked into the room. Then she said “Mom…why does the room look so small now?”
A vacant room does not appear “spacious” or “open to possibilities” to a prospective buyer. Rather, it looks, well…empty and small.
Out of the mouth of babes, huh?
I recently wrote an article about staging the front door. Since then, I’ve looked more closely at my own front door, and realized that the bushes flanking the door have become overgrown without my even noticing it! Sort of crept up on me! Funny how gradual changes in your own home become part of the landscaping. So yes, I have trimmed back the bushes, tended to the flower pots, etc.
This experience reinforced my strong belief that when selling your home, your just too close to it to see it as a buyer would. Hiring a stager will give you valuable insight into how buyers will view your home. It’s worth every penny!
Below is an excerpt from that article…so everyone…go forth and make your front door an asset to your home!
Have a great day!
-Susan
The Staged Door
“There is that awkward moment when your realtor is fumbling with the lock box to get the key, and you (the buyer) are patiently waiting and subconsciously creating an image of the home you are about to see. Could this be the one? Such anticipation! Click to continue!”
