House styling for sale | DiJones

If you're unsure how to start the staging process, it is worth having a styling consultation. This allows you to benefit from professional advice without having to commit to paying for a full-service package.

A step-by-step guide for staging your home for sale

Whether you’re styling yourself or working with a professional, it is much easier to stage your home for buyers if you have a clear plan. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to help get you started.

Step 1: Declutter and depersonalise

Step 2: Deep clean and refresh

Step 3: Define each space clearly

Step 4: Style with soft furnishings and décor

Step 5: Finish with curb appeal

Step 1: Declutter and depersonalise

Decluttering your house is a proven way to make your home look more appealing. In addition, depersonalising your space will help your buyer form an all-important emotional connection to it.

Try to create a neutral, inviting space in which buyers can imagine living. A good way to do this is to:

• Store away family photos, souvenirs, kids’ artwork, and magnets
• Remove excess books, toys, and hobby items
• Keep surfaces clean and clutter-free

Step 2: Deep clean and refresh

Once you’ve decluttered and depersonalised, you now have the perfect opportunity to deep clean. Clean your property from top to bottom and try to make everything look like new.

Part of this process is about making your space feel ‘fresh.’ Focus on:

• Cleaning windows, mirrors, and floors
• Repainting marked walls or fixing scuffed corners
• Airing out the home to remove lingering odours

Step 3: Define each space clearly

Each room needs to flow well and feel easy to move around in. To show buyers how they can use each area of the home, consider:

• Adding a desk to create a home office nook
• Setting up the dining table to define the dining area
• Removing any furniture that blocks flow or feels out of place

Step 4: Style with soft furnishings and décor

Decor is a difficult balance when staging a home. On one hand, you want to make the home look inviting. On the other, leaning too heavily into a theme or colour palette can put buyers off.

It is a good idea to use:

Neutral colours like whites, creams, greys, beiges, and taupes

• Match lamps, mirrors, and simple artwork to create balance
• Fresh flowers or greenery bring extra vitality into your home

Step 5: Finish with curb appeal

Curb appeal is everything. When a potential buyer drives up to your home, they see the exterior and make an impression before they walk through the door.

To create as good a first impression as possible:

• Mow the lawn, trim hedges, sweep paths
• Paint or wash the exterior walls
• Repair and paint the fence

4 budget-friendly styling tips to make your home stand out

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars when styling your property. Instead, by making a few smart updates and focusing on presentation, you can make your home look polished and attractive to buyers.

Here are four budget-friendly styling tips to help your home stand out.

1. Focus on curb appeal

Buyers get a feel for your property the moment they set eyes on it. The better their first impression is, the more likely they’ll be to overlook drawbacks when viewing the home. Often, they’ve already decided to buy in their head.

Prioritise your outdoor area, as well as your entranceway.

2. Repurpose existing furniture

Staging a home doesn’t have to mean you have to buy new furniture. Instead, repurposing what you have can work just fine. And it won’t cost you a fortune.

Try adding new cases to pillows or reupholstering chairs. And when in doubt, a fresh coat of paint can do wonders.

3. Shop smart for decor

Not every piece of furniture needs to be bought new. You’ll be surprised how much character you can inject into your rooms with affordable decor from charity stores, bargain bins, and second-hand shops.

You just need to be willing to hunt around a bit for a good deal.

4. Let there be light(ing)

Natural lighting is totally free. So, open the curtains and leave the windows open. If there isn’t enough natural lighting in the property, add downlights or table lamps. Don’t forget about using mirrors to make the space look bigger and more airy.

Home staging: A room-by-room checklist to impress buyers

When it comes to staging your home, some rooms matter more than others.

Agents recommend focusing on key areas in this order: the living room, master bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom.

These are the spaces where buyers tend to form the strongest emotional connection, so it’s worth getting them right.

Use this checklist to guide your room-by-room styling efforts:

Living room

• Arrange furniture to show off the space and flow.
• Add soft furnishings in a cohesive colour scheme.
• Use lamps or mirrors to brighten darker corners.

Master bedroom

• Choose fresh, neutral bedding with layered textures.
• Style bedside tables with matching lamps or books.
• Remove clutter and keep wardrobes tidy.

Kitchen

• Clear benchtops completely (except for one or two items like a fruit bowl).
• Remove fridge magnets, personal notes, and excess appliances.
• Add fresh flowers or a clean tea towel for a pop of colour.

Bathroom

• Fold fresh towels neatly and clear all personal toiletries.
• Add a small plant, candle, or neutral soap dispenser.
• Ensure mirrors, taps, and tiles are sparkling clean.

Kids bedroom

• Keep styling simple and age-neutral.
• Store toys neatly in baskets or cupboards.
• Add soft lighting and a few calming decorative touches.

Outdoor areas

• Mow the lawn, trim hedges, and clean surfaces.
• Add outdoor seating or potted plants.
• Ensure front entry is clear, clean, and welcoming.

The bottom line

Staging or styling your house can be easy if you understand the process. In fact, all you need to do is:

• Declutter
• Depersonalise
• Deep clean
• Arrange furniture smartly
• Enhance with decor
• Keep the buyer in mind
• Include natural lighting

House staging is a manageable and even enjoyable process when you break it down into chunks.

Doing it can help sell your home faster. You can also increase the final sale price. Win-win.

How DiJones can help

We’ve helped hundreds of Australian home sellers get on and off the property market over the last few decades.

With our knowledge of property styling and property management, you'll be on your way to a sale in no time.

Check out our buying and selling guides that offer helpful information and guidance for selling real estate, assisting you throughout the selling process.

Looking to request an appraisal or need further help? Connect with us today. Our expert team is always on hand to provide support.

FAQs

What’s the difference between staging and styling a property?

These terms are often used interchangeably. However, styling typically refers to the design elements, such as soft furnishings, colour scheme, and layout, that are used to present the home.

Staging, on the other hand, is more about how you physically present the home. It may involve renting furniture or working with a design consultant.

Can I style my home without hiring a professional?

Absolutely. Many sellers use DIY styling tips from YouTube or relevant blogs to present their homes.

With a clear plan and attention to detail, you can do a great job of styling your property yourself. Especially if you already have quality furniture and décor to work with.

Is property styling worth the effort in a slower market?

In any market conditions, a beautifully styled home can help your listing stand out against the competition.

Buyers are drawn to clean, welcoming spaces where they can see themselves living. The better you can style your property to align with their vision, the more likely you will be to receive an offer.

Do I need to style areas like the laundry or hallway?

While they might not be the top priority, these areas of your home can still benefit from basic styling.

At the very least, it is important to keep them clean, well-lit, and clutter-free. This will help to maintain a good flow throughout the home.

Can interior styling help even if my home needs updates?

Yes. A consistent colour scheme, soft furnishings, and some nice little touches like fresh flowers can draw focus to the positives of your home. They can also help buyers look past minor flaws.