6 Simple Interior Design Updates to Help Sell Your Home

If you’re contemplating selling your home in the not-too-distant future, we hate to break it you, but you’re probably going to have to put in some work to spruce up the interior. Dark leather furniture, gold-gilded fixtures, and beige wall paint may have been au courant when you decorated 20 years ago, but to catch the eye of the modern home buyer, you’re going to need to step up your interior design game.Luckily, you don’t have to spend a fortune to improve your home’s interior and attract some big offers. Increase the value of your home and get that sold sign posted in your front yard pronto with these six simple design tips from Wade Giles, a Realtor with Moreland Properties in Austin, Texas, who specializes in the luxury real estate market. If you’re not sure where to start or need to make more elaborate changes to your home’s décor and design, consider working with an Austin interior designer.

Get Your Home Market-Ready

Lighten Up Dark Spaces

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Image from our East Austin Home Project

[vc_empty_space height=”10px”]Countering a design weakness can involve a simple fix. If you have a dark room with a low ceiling, for example, adding a large white area rug or a white chair can instantly add brightness. Installing white window treatments or hanging artwork featuring bright, light images does the trick, too.

Appeal to the Masses

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Image from our Westlake Remodel Project

[vc_empty_space height=”10px”]Neutral colors are in. If you live in an artsy district or funky neighborhood, Giles says you’re more likely to be able to get away with color-rich design schemes. But to give your home mass appeal, stick to calming color palettes. For wall paint, he recommends shades of white or gray. Tan and beige walls are so 2005.

Update Lighting

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Image from our Lake Austin Remodel Project

[vc_empty_space height=”10px”]Modernizing your home with warm lighting and stylish light fixtures can immediately improve the ambience. Keep it simple and budget friendly by purchasing chic table and floor lamps. If you can afford to splurge, Giles says it’s worth replacing outdated ceiling fixtures with contemporary ones.

Upgrade Hardware

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Image from our Lake Austin Remodel Project

[vc_empty_space height=”10px”]For most home buyers, well-designed kitchens and bathrooms are a priority. If a renovation isn’t in your future, don’t sweat it. Replacing generic-looking or old-fashioned pulls and knobs on cabinets and cupboards can instantly update a space and transform the aesthetic. Choose from hardware in more traditional finishes, such as brushed nickel, copper, and stainless steel. Or get more creative with metallic fixtures in brass, silver, bronze, or rose gold.

Install Removable Wallpaper

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Image from our East Austin Home Project

[vc_empty_space height=”10px”]Adding wallpaper is a great way to spice up a space. To keep your spending in check, Giles recommends reserving wallpaper for use in small spaces, such as powder rooms and entryways. Removable wallpaper comes in fun patterns and graphics, peels off easily, and most brands can be reused.

Bring in Plants

[vc_single_image image=”1989″ img_size=”large” add_caption=”yes” onclick=”custom_link” img_link_target=”_blank” link=”https://jfisherinteriors.com/portfolio-barton-hills-home-interior-design/#/grs/0/id/48″]

Image from our Downtown Austin Loft Project

[vc_empty_space height=”10px”]Don’t underestimate the power greenery has to bring your home’s décor to life. Adding potted or hanging plants to a room quickly transforms the environment from stale to vibrant. If your green thumb is lacking, start with an easy-to-maintain fiddle-leaf fig. Its top-heavy silhouette characterized by expressive, broad leaves works well with a variety of design styles.

Get Your Home Market-Ready

If you’ve been toying with adding a room over the garage or tackling a major renovation, talk to a real estate agent first. Giles says he’s seen too many home additions that devalue rather than increase home value. Poor-quality craftsmanship or an awkward layout that requires people to walk through a bathroom to get to the addition are a turnoff for potential home buyers. “A Realtor can tell you if adding on makes sense in your neighborhood, will increase your home’s value, and if it’s something buyers want,” Giles says.

If you decide to embark on a big project, get a recommendation for a reputable contractor who can oversee structural planning and a skilled interior designer to handle elements like traffic flow, optimal room layout, lighting, and more. And experienced contractor will have an efficient submittal process which enable them to stay within project timelines and still deliver quality finished products. When selecting an interior designer, work with a local professional who knows what buyers in your area find desirable.

Set the Stage for a Sale

Once you’ve given your home an interior design makeover and completed any necessary remodeling projects, you’re ready to put it on the market. Before scheduling an open house, you may want to work with a home staging expert who can help your home stand out by adding furniture, art, and accessories where necessary; supplying rugs, curtains, bathroom towels, and other textiles; and adjusting room layouts.

Giles says that when working with someone to stage your home for sale, it’s important to clear out clutter and family photos. “You want potential buyers to be able to envision themselves living in your home,” he says, “so it’s important to take down religious and personal effects.”

He says it’s also important to ensure that furniture is scaled appropriately for the size of the space. You may have a favorite Barcalounger, but if it’s massive, it will make a room appear smaller instead of highlighting how spacious it is. Rather than buying a new chair, Giles suggests moving any bulky furniture to the garage or a storage unit before your first open house. A home staging expert can bring in properly scaled, transitional furniture that blends traditional and contemporary style to give potential buyers a glimpse of your home’s limitless design potential.[vc_empty_space height=”10px”]The prospect of preparing your home for sale may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Contact J.Fisher Interior Design for expert guidance that takes the hassle out of getting your home market ready.

Contact

J.Fisher Interiors’ studio is located in east Austin. To schedule your consultation appointment, please fill out the contact form or call us at 512.954.0904. We would love to hear from you!