How to Make Your Listings Feel Larger

               
Without furniture, this 800 sq ft, 2 bed 2.5 bath townhome sat on the market for months. Every potential buyer complained that furniture would never fit. Once the furniture was in place, this home sold within a few weeks.  By adding furniture and accessories, your seller will ensure that buyers see how a home’s square footage can be utilized.

You have a great new listing with one small problem-the size of a room.  With a little strategic planning, your client can transform any room or awkward space into place with purpose that adds valuable square footage to their home.  The right furniture and accessories will make any small space feel larger and spark excitement in the eyes of the buyer.

The addition of furniture to vacant rooms always makes a room feel larger.  The key is to use pieces in scale with the room.  Your client will want to be sure to use pieces that work in real life and not attempt to use miniature sized pieces.  Use simple furniture with clean lines.  Consider a loveseat and two chairs rather than the traditional sofa and chairs.  Adequate seating in a living room is key to showing buyers that the main living space is suitable for today’s lifestyle and entertaining with family and friends. 

Glass tabletops work well in small rooms and round tables tend to make the flow of traffic easier.  Bold artwork with great splashes of color adds drama to every room, including small rooms.  Have fun with accessories; this is where they can go bigger.  Tiny accessories usually end up looking like clutter, so keep the accessories exciting, but avoid over doing it.

In occupied homes, most clients need to remove some furniture.  Oversized armoires, extra dining chairs, dining table leafs and exercise equipment will probably all need to go.  When a client is using an extra room for storage, be sure they turn that storeroom into a room with a purpose.  If it is a small bedroom, turn it in a cozy guest room.  Most homeowners have enough furniture in other rooms that pieces can be re-purposed and used to create nightstands and small dressers.   Check to be sure adequate light is provided for all rooms, including small ones.

Most Sellers have enough existing furniture in their homes that pieces can be repurposed and used in other rooms so that each room shows its best use.  Less wasted space equals more valuable square footage.

When a home has an awkward nook, make it work to the seller’s advantage.  In a living room, it may be a great place to display art or to build display shelves.  If there is a small nook off the stairs, this can be a great place for a small desk and chair to create a small home office area.  In the master bedroom, a nook can be turned into a cozy seating area for reading or even a sexy spot for breakfast for two.

Low ceilings can be made to feel higher.  Use “up” accessories-a floor vase with an upright arrangement, a tall upright plant with an up-light, a floor lamp that lights the ceiling.  Keep the top shelves of high furniture or cabinets clear.  Placing items close to the ceiling will make even a higher ceiling feel low.  Be sure there is nothing stored on the floor under the furniture to attract the eye downward. 

Curtains hung from the ceiling all the way to the floor will make the windows feel larger.  In many rooms, you can hang the curtains all the way across the wall from one corner to the other corner to really maximize the feeling of large windows.  Sheer white or linen curtains will allow natural light in.  I always prefer to keep them open for all showings regardless of the size of the room-the more natural light the better!

Set your seller’s mind at ease about small rooms.  With a little creativity small spaces can be turned into big assets!