One of the most important aspects of home staging—making your home more appealing to potential buyers—is making the space seem bigger. This is particularly true if you’re selling a condo, as most are quite small.
You can’t lie about the size of your space, but there are many things you can do to make your condo seem bigger than it is.
Here are 8 of the easiest ways to do exactly that:
1. Paint or wallpaper the ceiling
Any decoration that draws the eyes upward makes the space feel taller. White or very light blue wallpaper with a star pattern is particularly effective, as the stars bring to mind an open sky.
When choosing a paint colour, use white or light colours for the ceiling, walls and floor. Light colours reflect more light, making the space feel brighter and more open. Light walls and flooring can also provide excellent visual contrast when paired with dark furniture pieces. Often a bright off-white is preferable.
2. Create separate areas with rugs
This trick is particularly useful for studio apartments, as it gives the appearance of many different spaces within one large one. Choose brightly coloured rugs to make your condo appear even more spacious.
If you’re looking for rug patterns, consider getting a striped carpet. Stripes lined up so they follow the length of the room will give the illusion that the room is longer. You can achieve a similar effect with vertical stripes along the ceiling.
3. Move your furniture away from the wall
Pushing your furniture directly against the walls may technically give you a larger main area, but it actually makes your space feel more cramped. Move any big furniture at least three inches out from the wall.
4. Add mirrors in the right places
Mirrors are the fastest way to make your space feel bigger, as long as you put them in the right places. Hanging a mirror so it faces a window or door is particularly effective.
5. Follow the cantaloupe rule
The cantaloupe rule states that decorations smaller than a cantaloupe are distracting and often assumed to be clutter. Choose larger decorations and place them strategically to draw attention to the best features of your condo.
6. Colour code small items
There are two ways you should be colour coding items. First, small items like shoes and books should be colour coded so they look like organized stuff rather than clutter. Second, accents like throw pillows and sheets should be chosen to bring out the hints of colour in the walls and furniture.
7. Invest in multi-functional furniture
Make the most out of your space by purchasing furniture with many uses. Hidden storage is particularly effective for making a space feel larger. You may also want to get glass furniture, as it takes up less visual space.
8. Think big
When you’re working with a small space your natural instinct is to buy small furniture, but choosing small furniture actually makes a space feel more cluttered. Instead opt for one large sofa and a single table that fill the space.
Some of the items on this list may seem like an awfully large time or money investment in a property you no longer want, but maximizing your space will ensure that you get the best deal possible when it sells. If you don’t want the stress of staging the condo yourself, consider hiring a professional to do it for you. Your real estate agent or broker should be able to connect you with a quality home stager/fluffer.