Bigger is not always better but you may need a few tips and tricks to make your home appear larger if your home is on the small side. With the new fad of tiny homes, you may be surprised how many buyers are looking for a smaller home, whether it be a starter for millennials or downsizing for retirees. Sometimes smaller homes can appear even smaller if they are encumbered with clutter and appear dark or dingy inside.
Our Anne Winch Ottawa Real Estate and Staging Team would like to offer you some suggestions on how to make your smaller home appear larger, open and inviting.
- Downsize your clutter
It doesn’t matter the size of your home,
- Brighten up your windows
Take down any heavy drapes and put up sheer or linen curtains that light can filter through. This is especially true if you don’t have a lot of light coming into your home. A quick trick is to hang your curtains higher, closer to the ceiling to give your rooms more height. Open up any drapes at showings so that you can extend the view outdoors to give your home more depth.
- Tone down your colours
If your home is not open concept, you may wish to carry a neutral paint colour throughout. This stops your home from looking choppy and smaller. The same goes with your furniture colours. If you can keep contrasting colours to a minimum this also creates a smoother appearance. Pick one colour to accessorize your room. Build on that colour to complement your walls with artwork that is light and stay away from any dark prints. Your want the buyer to see the whole room and not fixate only on the artwork.
- Keep rugs to a minimum
The more rugs you have, the smaller your space will look. Limit rugs to one or two main areas. For example, you may wish to have one rug under your dining room table and one in front of your main living or sitting area. Don’t put too small a rug in your home as this also gives the idea your home is smaller than it is.
- Mirrors, metal and glass
Mirrors, metal and glass all reflect light. They can add light to a darker room and make smaller spaces appear larger. Make sure you hang your mirrors to reflect light in the room. Keep the corners of your rooms free of items so it extends the view of your rooms. Furniture made of glass and metal all reflect light and make your area appear larger.
These are just some of the tips we would like to share when staging a smaller home. As always, each home may have its challenges but smaller homes need special attention to create the light and openness to present well.
If you are thinking of selling your smaller home and are still undecided on how to get the right look, don’t hesitate to call our Team. We will be able to evaluate your home and give you some suggestions on how to declutter and brighten your home. We offer free home staging which includes our warehouse of furniture and accessories to help style your home to perfection. Contact us so we can get your home listed, staged and sold and help you with any of your real estate needs!