The following is a guest post from Patti Stern, PJ & Company Staging and Interior Decorating.
Lighting is a key element that should not be overlooked when preparing a home for sale. If not updated, it will convey the age and condition of a home. The right light will not only enhance a home’s features, but make it feel larger, more modern, and ultimately more inviting to potential buyers.
The following are some basic tips to help understand the different types of lighting that are important when showcasing a space and making a home showing memorable.
Natural Lighting
A dark room is an immediate turn-off to buyers. The easiest first step is to let the sun shine in and increase natural light as much as possible by opening curtains and blinds and cleaning windows thoroughly.
Aesthetic Lighting
This type of lighting is used most often in Entryways, Dining Rooms, Living Rooms, Family Rooms and Bedrooms to focus attention on artwork, architectural features and create a mood. Floor and table lamps, wall sconces and recessed lights are all aesthetic lighting sources that work well when layered with a main light source or alone depending on the size of the room.
Task Lighting
Certain rooms such as the Kitchen, Bathroom and Office require more illumination for specific purposes such as preparing meals, cosmetic application or reading. For kitchens, focus on work areas such as under cabinets, over islands and sinks. In bathrooms, use wall mounted fixtures above or on the sides of vanity mirrors. Offices usually require one main ceiling light source as well as recessed lighting and a desk lamp.
The following are some of the common issues that we see before staging and decorating homes:
Light fixtures are outdated.
Replacing older styles with more trendy, contemporary fixtures is an easy way to make a room feel more current. While you’re at it, be sure that the fixture is in the best location to brighten where needed most. It’s also important to replace dead bulbs with new ones so all are in working order. While selling, make sure the bulbs are not the energy saving ones that take too much time to light up.
Lamps that are too small for the room.
An easy fix is to update small lamps with larger ones that not only provide more light but make the room feel visually interesting and well balanced. We enjoy shopping for new lamps with all the affordable and fun styles available which can instantly give a room a whole new look.
A single light is used in a large room.
The trick is to layer lighting by adding aesthetic lights such as wall sconces and recessed lights with dimmers which will add warmth and depth. Another idea is to change out older style fans that are not used often for actual light fixtures.
For more examples of lighting solutions in interior decorating and home staging, visit www.pjstagingdecorating.com.
Patti Stern, principal, interior decorator and professional stager of PJ & Company Staging and Interior Decorating, has been decorating and staging homes since 2005. She and her team provide turnkey, full service home staging and interior decorating to clients across Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. She also developed an award winning staging program for luxury home builder, Toll Brothers.
Patti has been featured in Connecticut Magazine, the Hartford Courant, Danbury News-Times and on NBC Connecticut and FOX TV. She is a regular contributor to the National Association of Realtor’s Blog, “Style, Staged and Sold.”
