Whether you are moving or staying in place, engaging the senses is an important part of a decorating – or staging – plan. Of course, when you are staying, you can engage the senses in whatever way appeals to you and your family. When selling, you want to pay a bit more attention to the buying public, which means you may want to tone things down just a bit. But still think about how to engage all five of the senses. Here are some suggestions:
Sight. Of course, this is the most obvious. So much of what we do when we stage involves what the buyer is seeing. Everything from curb appeal through the house and into the basement and garage should be in good condition and decorated appropriately. Colors should be warm and inviting, but not over-stimulating.
Touch. Even if potential buyers don’t touch items in a room, texture can bring depth and warmth to a space. Soft pillows and throws in a bedroom ‘feel’ cozy, woven textures are interesting in a space with a lot of smoother textures, and plants are a natural texture which help a room feel inviting. Make sure a room has enough texture to make it interesting and warm, but not enough to be a distraction.
Smell. We’ve discussed this in other blog posts, but we can’t say it enough. The house must smell fresh and inviting but without using fake or chemical scents. That means essential oils are ideal, particularly in citrus scents (which smell clean) or those that are calming (such as lavender).
Taste. The buyers won’t necessarily be tasting anything in the house unless you provide refreshments for an open house (always a nice touch and one that can incorporate smell with the baking of cookies). But a bowl of fresh lemons on the kitchen counter may remind the buyers of the taste of lemonade. Or the scent of vanilla may remind buyers of the taste of vanilla, a ‘homey’ taste to most people.
Sound. Soft music in the background can be very welcoming. Just make sure the sound stays in the background and is one that isn’t too distracting. Many Realtors complain that sellers leave music on too loud, so be careful! The sound of flowing water isn’t good in the bathroom, but can be very relaxing on an outdoor deck or in a sunroom.
So pay attention to your five senses to make your house the one that potential buyers remember!
Ann Anderson, owner of Rooms Reborn, founder and Director of the School of Interior Redesign, co-founder of the Association of Design Education, co-creator of theReady2Sellin30Days System.
