Styling a Home in 2023 & How Much Does It Cost

Home staging is all about setting a home up with furniture and homeware so that you show the place off in its best light and offer potential buyers a look at what is possible in the space.

While home staging might still be a relatively new concept to some in Australia, it’s most definitely growing in popularity.

Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:

• What is home staging?
• How to style a house
• How much does home staging cost?
• Will home staging increase my sale price?

What is home staging?

Home staging is about making a property look as appealing as possible to potential buyers so that it sells quickly and for the best price.

Very different from most other forms of styling, styling for sale isn’t about reflecting a vendor’s personal tastes – it’s purely to attract buyers.

Home staging is usually done by an expert who will go through a consultation process with the seller, visit the home and get a feel for the space and make recommendations. They might even recommend painting or some small repair tasks.

Full-service styling is usually done by bringing in homeware, art and furniture in the short term and setting up the home for the selling process, from photos through to the open house and sale. It also involves removing much of the old furniture to make way for the hired pieces.

To keep costs down, you could do the styling yourself and just go through a consultation period with an expert who can (for a fee) give you some tips about making the space more appealing.

How to style a house

Ready to kickstart the practical side of selling a property? Here’s what to do:

1. Remove clutter

Removing clutter is the first step to getting a house ready for sale and should be done whether or not you intend to formally style a home.

Removing your family photos and keepsakes ensures that potential buyers can imagine themselves in the home – rather than feeling like they’re looking around someone else’s home.

2. Make sure all surfaces are sparkling

Clean, clean and clean some more.

It might sound obvious but it’s shocking how often houses are put on the market before they’ve had a thorough clean. Unless the house is about to be torn down it’s almost always preferable to ensure it’s free of dirt and grime if you’re looking to get the highest price possible.

Think shiny surfaces, sparkling floors, crystal-clear glass and windows. As first impressions last, you might even want to think about ridding the home of any smells by shampooing the carpet and sourcing some fresh candles to set the scene.

3. Keep it neutral and minimal

The last thing you want is for potential buyers to be so distracted by certain design choices that they don’t see the potential of the space. So, when in doubt, keep home staging neutral.

Neutral hues are sophisticated enough that they will appeal to many but also not offensive so you’re unlikely to put people off. In other words, they’re a safe option.

4. Only use appropriately-sized furniture

One of the biggest mistakes vendors can make is having oversized furniture because rooms will appear smaller.

If you’re a fan of huge sofas that take up your whole living room you might want to consider borrowing or hiring a smaller lounge setting to ensure the room doesn’t look smaller than it actually is.

5. Create an inviting space

Although we’ve mentioned keeping it minimal and clearing the clutter, you’ll still want to ensure the space feels a cosy and inviting so potential buyers can imagine themselves feeling at home and comfortable in the space.

Think a few layers of textural fabrics – such as cushions and throws in luxe fabrications. Fresh flowers also do wonders.

How much does home staging cost in Australia?

The price of home styling will vary depending on your situation and location. Full services can cost upwards of $10,000 while the consultation and hiring of a few pieces will cost a few hundred dollars.

If you’re interested in getting some quotes from local home stylers ask your agent to pass along the details of some tried and trusted names. Agents will often work closely with home stagers and be able to provide you with some real-life example results they’ve achieved by using professional home stylers.

Can home staging increase my sale value?

In short, yes, home staging can definitely increase the sale value of your home.

Hipages.com.au says, “For every dollar you spend on property styling, you make $3 in return when you sell.

“On average, a styled home sells within 33 days of being put on the market. In contrast, it takes around 90 days to sell an unstyled property. In Australia, styled homes sell for 3-6% more than un-styled homes.”

As anyone who has sold a property will tell you, selling a place takes work. So you’re going to want to get it right. With this in mind, some level of property styling is most definitely worth it.

Whether you do it yourself or engage the services of an expert, you will most likely ensure a sale at the end of your efforts, showcase the property in its best light, and therefore get the best price possible.

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