Staging a Guest Room

I think that staging a guest room might be one of the easiest staging jobs to do. Basically, the guest room should look like a room in an upscale hotel or bed and breakfast. The little touches that make these establishments sometimes command upwards of $300/night can also help convince your prospective buyer family that "this house"="oasis."

And it doesn't take much.

• rich, neutral walls
• coordinated fabrics
• a lush throw draped over a chair or even the foot of the bed
• lots of pillows
• generic but warm art on the walls
  
• a basket of new magazines

Some extra tips that won't break the bank.

• Hang a cozy bathrobe in the closet on a padded hanger
• a bottle of linen spray on the nightstand
• replace "cool white" bulbs with warm light bulbs
  
• an orchid or other beautiful exotic plant or flowers on the dresser

Get inspiration from the pages of decorating magazines and travel magazines. Remember, you want the room to appeal to as broad a spectrum of people as possible, so keep it minimal without being cold, and keep it neutral without being austere. And always, always, do your staging with the intent that you CAN sell this house.

For more information or to request free sample chapters of I CAN Sell This House: Secrets to Selling Quickly in a Buyers' Market, please visit I CAN Sell This House.