Focus on…… Home Staging
Lighting
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As key as it is to any interior design scheme, lighting comes into its own when selling your home. Both
inside and out, it is the key to providing the sense of warmth and welcoming that a buyers sub conscious
will pick up on.
What looks more welcoming from outside for viewers when looking at a property
after dark? - A lit or an unlit property? Having a few lights on inside and lighting the path to the
front door will help to instil a sense of relaxation in a buyer as they walk up to your home. Having
no lights will make a buyer uneasy and unwelcome – and this will form a negative image of your home
before they have even got through the front door.
Buyers make decisions with the feelings
they get for houses – if they are looking at 4 homes that all tick the right boxes on paper (no of beds,
garden, GCH etc.) then the differentiator will be their reaction to the home. The more positive feelings
you can instil when they view, the more likely they will be to want to live in, and therefore buy your
home.
Even on a bright summers day I advise keeping lamps on in every room for viewings.
They won’t necessarily add much light (unless it’s a naturally dark room) but they will add a warm glow
that enhances rooms, creating positive emotions in the buyer. A dark home will simply feel cold and
unwelcoming no matter how nicely furnished or staged.
To help understand about lighting
and how your home can benefit from being better lit, here are a few pointers.
Lighting is
split into 3 main areas:
- General = Ceiling or wall lights
- Ambient = Floor and table lamps – even candles
- Task = Spot lights, desk lights, under counter kitchen lights etc.
All three need to be taken into consideration in every room of the house. If you only have one type
of lighting then the room can look cold and unwelcoming – think of it as layering the light. With these
layers you can create any mood you like. If you were relaxing in the evening in your living room it
is preferable to have softer lighting than if you were doing the ironing there – therefore it has to
be adaptable to your needs. One ceiling light will cast shadows around the room, whereas several lamps
dotted around a room alongside a ceiling light will highlight all areas and make the room feel not only
more welcoming but also more spacious.
It is also worth remembering that the type of light you choose can make all the difference as well:-
- White shades can create a harsher light than a cream shade.
- Soft coloured bulbs can add warmth and cosiness to a room, especially successful in bedrooms (try
a soft peach or pink, but match to your décor or you may find the result less than relaxing!)
- Use dimmer switches on your main lights to soften the look in the evening when relaxing
- Add candles for that touch of luxury
- Use light fittings that match the period of the house - spotlights in modern builds / more ornate
fittings in older properties. Buyers will expect these kinds of features.
- Clean your lights – dust settles on all types of fittings and makes the light feel darker than it
should.
- Don’t forget about natural light – maximise this as much as possible during daytime viewings.
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