Embracing Biophilic Design
One of the biggest trends in current design is biophilia—introducing elements from nature into one’s interior design plan. The biophilic trend involves the use of natural materials, the introduction of live plants (both potted and hanging) and the decoration of the home with nature-inspired imagery (imagine a bedroom with a beautiful forest-inspired mural). Just a few items from Oak Park Home that reflect this trend include a cute mailbox with an oak tree filigree, a Y-branch lodgepole with a closed cone hook you can hang towels or coats on, and beautiful square pillows graced with the image of a woodpecker sitting in an orange tree. When it comes to plants, freely add them to all rooms—including powder rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms.
Clearing the Clutter
The biggest difference between simply decorating a home and staging it, is that while the former expresses the homeowner’s style and taste, the latter is all about revealing a home’s most interesting architectural features. Maximalism (filling a home with color, various pieces of furniture of various heights, and unique artworks) may be all the rage, but when staging your home, you should ensure that the layout is not too busy. Buyers should be able to enjoy unobstructed movement throughout the home. Overly cluttered rooms or those without enough negative space can seem smaller, while those with free areas seem bigger. If buyers are able to imagine the use they would make of your home, they are more likely to go to extra measures such as signing an escalation clause, which outlines their willingness to raise their initial purchase price if, and only if, there is a higher competing offer. This clause has a maximum purchase price, which is called the ‘escalation cap’.
Choosing Natural Hues
One of the main moves home stagers make is to repaint a home and replace a few accessories, rugs, chairs, and other easily replaceable items. In general, remember that most buyers are looking for a sanctuary; a place they can feel at peace. Your home should ideally be filled with neutral hues and plenty of natural light, rather than clashing colors. Paint your walls in hues like cream, beige, or light stone. Go for gray, natural wood, or black furniture items. Examples of beautiful designer pieces that will capture a buyers’ eye include the Dragonfly 2 Hook Coat Rack, the Dard Hunger Framed Beveled Mirror, and the Round Hammered Copper Table Top.
Staging your home has an excellent ROI. Staging does not involve simply embellishing a home, but rather, highlighting its most interesting architectural features. Just a few tips that can help you make that big sale include hopping on the biophilic design trend, reducing clutter, and choosing natural hues for walls and furniture.