Inspire My Interior: Selling your home? Style it first

A close friend of mine will be putting her house up for sale shortly and so I've been looking into tips to style her home to get it ready for sale because they say that styling your home greatly increases the final sale amount which is great for the seller!

So what do we have to do to style it? don't worry its not too daunting, the simplest way is to decorate and organise your home and garden to look their best on inspection days.

There are some really easy things to do like to de-clutter, get rid of any smells and dirt, clean & dust, trim the garden, and to display fresh towels and pillows or cushions.

If you need to, there may be items to do that require a bit more time and money such as re-paint walls, re-finish floors and re-grout tiles if necessary.

Ive put together some of the best low cost styling tips for property sellers (courtesy of LJ Hooker)

Front Yard

Add interest to your doorway with potted plants

Pave a pathway to your front door

Spruce up your front door with a coat of paint

If your hallway is narrow and dark paint it a light colour and add a broad floor runner

Invest in a new front door mat

Lounge Room

Use neutral colours in your living space
Use receding colours like blues and greens to make the small space seem larger
Find a focus in your room. If you don't have a natural focus, add a feature wall or large artwork
Ensure your carpets are cleaned
Layout your living area to show how you live there

Kitchen

Fix the floor by lifting old lino and replacing it with new lino, polished floorboards or tiles
New cupboard and drawer handles will add life to an old kitchen
A fresh coat of paint will cover cooking splatters and add life to a drab kitchen
Kitchen clutter must be cleared

Bathroom

Your bathroom must be spotless and tiles clean
Fix or replace cracked basins, toilets or tubs
Air your bathroom before inspections - bad smells are a buyer turn off!
Add a little luxury with plump towels, handmade soaps, a plant or flowers
Add some boutique bath products

Bedrooms

Reduce the amount of furniture in small bedrooms to give the impression of space
Storage is important - consider adding built-in wardrobes
Add a little luxury with fresh linen, puffed pillows and extra cushions
De-personalise your bedroom but add little touches like candles and perfume bottles

Backyard

Trim your lawns and weed your garden beds
Define your garden bed borders with old bricks or garden edging from the hardware store
Add a focal point - a large potted plant or seating area?
Give the illusion of space in a courtyard by using large pavers
Introduce colour with pots of whatever is in flower

Finishing Touches

Ensure all areas have been dusted, vacuumed and place new light globes in all rooms
Add colour to neutral rooms through accessories - throws, cushions, artwork!
Keep window treatments simple
Disguise small windows: hang curtains from the top of the wall not the top of the window
Add elegance by extending your curtain drop so it pillows on the floor
Don't go overboard with patterned accessories as they create a cluttered feeling