It doesn’t matter how beautiful the rest of your home is—if the owner's suite (formally known among Realtors as the master bedroom) isn’t properly staged, it can turn buyers off to the entire home.
Luckily, you don’t need to spend a lot of money or put a lot of effort into creating a master bedroom that sells itself. Here are nine tips to staging a master bedroom that adds value to your home:
Make it sparkle. Don’t just tidy up and vacuum. Give your bedroom a deep clean. Dust the blinds, wash the windows, wipe off the baseboards, and steam clean the carpets. Everything should look, feel, and smell clean. If you need to, invest in a scented plug-in or put a dryer sheet or two under the bed for a pleasant odor.
Keep it simple. Master bedrooms should be a sanctuary, not a place where you do office work or exercise. But, there’s another reason to ditch the desk, filing cabinet, and treadmill—those items send the message that there’s not enough rooms in your house. While you’re at it, get rid of the TV, too. Really, the only items you should have in the bedroom are a bed, two nightstands, a lamp, plants, and art.
Tend to the closet. Keep the closet simple, too. You want to make sure that you have 20 to 30 percent open space in the closet to give buyers the impression that it’s spacious. If you need to, pack and store extra items. As you reorganize, you’ll also want to create a sense of balance. If one person’s wardrobe obviously dominates, buyers may think the closet is not big enough for two people.
Evaluate your décor. Spend a little time flipping through current decorating magazines or exploring Pinterest. You can even go online to your favorite hotels’ websites and check out the rooms in their photo galleries. Now, look at your bedroom objectively. Is your bedspread out of date? Are the lampshades an eyesore? You may not need to spend a lot of money, but a few small changes can make a big difference in updating your look.
Pick a color. A coordinated color scheme can pull a master bedroom together. If you’re not sure how to achieve a professional look, go to a bedding store and purchase quality bedding and matching window treatments. Choose a complementary neutral color for the walls, and another color for accents (throw pillows or vases, for example). Tip: Grey is the “in” color right now and gives bedrooms a peaceful, spa-like air. Neutral tans are also still very popular and help create a blank canvas effect for potential buyers.
Add a headboard. Headboards draw attention to the bed and make it the focal point of the room. If you don’t already have one, you can easily make a headboard. Or, get creative with old doors, rustic signs, and weathered shutters. The sky’s the limit. Art above the headboard or even the windows can lend more drama, creating a luxurious effect at any price point.
Decorate the nightstand. Like the headboard, nightstands accentuate the bed and draw attention to it. Unless your owner's suite is very small, add matching nightstands, or at least ones of similar size and style, to both sides of the bed and accessorize them with matching lamps, books, plants, or flowers. This is the one place in the house where it’s permissible to add a family photo or two, so go ahead and give your nightstand that personal touch.
Appeal to both genders. Owner's suites that clearly are intended for one gender or another usually alienate members of the opposite gender. If your walls are pink or you have a camouflage bedspread and curtains, consider making your master bedroom more gender neutral.
Tell a story. Your master bedroom can encourage the buyer to envision a particular lifestyle in your home. For example, Western artwork and cowboy boots near a leather chair evoke a spirit of adventure and outdoors. A garden painting above the bed and a sunhat tossed casually on the bed give the impression that someone has just been gardening. These “stories” can help sell your home.
No matter what price point your home exists at, these tips can help elevate the appearance of one of the most important rooms in your home. Still want help staging? We're glad to answer any questions about how to make your Scottsdale, or any other, home for sale shine!
