Spend Smart: 5 DIY Styling Tips That Home Stagers Swear By to Help Your Home Sell Faster
Selling your home? A professional home stager can transform your space into a buyer’s dream – but if that’s not in your budget, you can still apply some of the same tricks with just a few affordable tweaks. Think of it this way: you’re investing in pieces you can enjoy in your new home, all while increasing your current property’s appeal.
Here are five easy, high-impact styling tips, straight from expert home stager Jetara Ross, founder of Hire a Homestager.
1. Dress the bed like a boutique hotel
Start with crisp white bedding – clean, fresh, and universally appealing. Then layer on at least three or more neutral cushions in mixed textures and one or two matching throws. The goal is to create softness and symmetry without overwhelming the space. This classic combination suggests care and quality – two things every buyer is drawn to. Best of all, you finally have a reason to throw out those worn out sheets!
2. Clear and curate your surfaces
Decluttering is essential – but don’t just clear, style with purpose. Remove everything from your side and console tables, then add back only what enhances the room. A tall neutral lamp, a small indoor plant, and a neutral-toned candle or stack of books are perfect finishing touches.
Most of these can be found around the home, but if not, they’re inexpensive to pick up – and work beautifully in your next space too. Plan to style each table with intention, rather than clutter.
3. Use height to fill bare spaces
Got a blank wall or awkward corner? Rather than overcrowding with small décor, think vertically. Leaning mirrors, tall faux plants in neutral pots, and clean-lined standing lamps can transform an empty area into an elegant moment.
These are slightly pricier styling pieces, but they bring a lot of visual value to your sale – and will continue to elevate your next home. They make a space feel taller, fresher, and more inviting – all while giving buyers a sense of scale and function.
4. Choose large, neutral wall art
Walls filled with too many small pieces can feel cluttered. Instead, go for fewer, larger works. Hang one strong piece – think abstract, landscape or textured – above each bed, sofa or console to ground the space.
Edit your existing artwork first, but if you’re missing something impactful, look to high street retailers for affordable framed prints or canvases. Stick to neutral tones and a width of at least 60 cm for a more deliberate, elevated look.
5. Swap curtains for sheer white voiles
Heavy or patterned curtains can visually shrink a room. Replacing them with sheer white voile panels instantly brightens a space, making it feel more open, airy and calm.
Voiles are a favourite among home stagers because they blend with almost any décor and help maximise natural light – a major selling point. Their simplicity makes them a timeless, practical update you’ll appreciate in your next home too.
Spending smart is about making choices that support both your sale and your future space. With just a few key updates, you can style your home like a pro and make a lasting impression on every buyer who walks through the door.
Top photo by Kam Idris on Unsplash
