It is commonly said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. Because buyers pay close attention to this area, your kitchen plays a massive role in how quickly your home sells and for what price. Spending a little time refreshing and styling the space before your listing photography shoot or open house pays off significantly. Here are the best strategies to make your kitchen look bright, spacious, and inviting to prospective buyers.
Clear away clutter and deep clean all surfaces
Buyers want to walk into a light, airy, and spotless space. Fortunately, deep cleaning is the most affordable way to make a kitchen feel brand new. You can hire professional cleaners or tackle the cleaning job yourself by breaking it down into manageable steps.
Start by decluttering three critical areas: the countertops, the pantry, and the refrigerator.
- Countertops: Remove nearly all everyday appliances. Clearing off the counter space proves to buyers that you have plenty of storage.
- Pantry: Showcase built-in shelf space by removing excess items. Turn food packaging so labels face forward, and use matching wicker baskets to hide loose, mismatched items.
- Refrigerator: Throw away old leftovers and expired items. Clean every shelf thoroughly and remove all personal items like magnets, photos, and artwork from the exterior.
Once the clutter is gone, scrub every surface in the room. Pay special attention to cabinet fronts, baseboards, appliances, and grease spots. Seeing the kitchen completely clean helps you decide if you actually need to replace anything or if a deep clean was all it required.
Affordably refresh cabinetry and lighting
If your cabinets still look worn after a deep clean, you can update them without spending a fortune. Replacing cabinets takes a lot of time and money, but a fresh coat of paint delivers similar results for a fraction of the cost.
If you are trying to cover outdated, warm wood tones, choose a crisp white paint. Bright white acts as a clean backdrop that helps buyers visualize their own decor in the room.
Swapping out hardware is another easy fix. You can buy affordable modern drawer pulls and cabinet knobs online or at your local home improvement store. While you are making quick upgrades, consider replacing outdated light fixtures and putting in a modern sink faucet. Buyers notice these small, thoughtful details right away.
Add subtle, sensory decor to build an emotional connection
Once the space is clean and updated, use a few intentionally placed items to make the room feel warm and homey. You want the kitchen to inspire visions of home-cooked meals and smooth morning routines.
Place a few subtle accents on the counters or center island, such as:
- A glass jar filled with cookies
- A vase of fresh flowers
- A wooden bowl with fresh fruit
- A neat tray for hand soap and sponges
Keep scents subtle as well. Foul odors from pets or cooking will turn buyers away immediately, but overwhelming artificial scents can also cause concern. Light a mild citrus candle or use an essential oil diffuser to create a fresh, clean atmosphere.
Tailor your staging strategy to the room’s layout
Different kitchen layouts require different staging approaches to look their best.
Staging small kitchens
Small kitchens feel cramped when overloaded with large furniture. If you have an eat-in kitchen, swap out a massive six-person table for a small, round table with four slim chairs. Replace bulky island barstools with simple, backless stools. Choosing smaller furniture keeps sight lines open and makes the floor plan feel larger.
You can also distract from a smaller footprint by adding an eye-catching design detail. A stylish herringbone tile backsplash or a sleek gold faucet draws the eye to high-end finishes rather than square footage.
Staging open-concept kitchens
Open floor plans are popular, but they require clear visual boundaries. Define your separate zones clearly. Stage the dining space with a distinct table and hanging light fixture. If the kitchen opens directly into the living room, place a large area rug under the living room furniture to anchor that space.
Keep your paint colors and overall decor style consistent throughout the entire open floor plan to create a smooth, connected flow.
Consider virtual staging for vacant or outdated kitchens
Physical updates take time and effort. If you are selling an empty home or do not have the budget to purchase new furniture and modern decor, virtual staging is an ideal solution.
With Virtuance’s virtual staging product, our professionals digitally add realistic furniture, trendy decor, and stylish accent pieces to your kitchen photos. This service allows you to showcase the full potential of an eat-in kitchen or dining area without buying, moving, or renting actual furniture. High-quality virtual staging helps listings stand out online, which draws more buyers to schedule in-person tours.
FAQ
What colors are best for kitchen staging?
Neutral colors are best for kitchen staging. White, light gray, soft beige, and warm off-white make kitchens appear larger, brighter, and cleaner while allowing buyers to imagine their own style in the space.
Should you remove everything from kitchen counters when staging?
You should remove almost everything from your kitchen counters, but leave a few decorative items. Clearing away everyday appliances creates a spacious feel, while adding a small vase of flowers or a bowl of fruit keeps the space from feeling cold.
How do you make a small kitchen look bigger for photos?
You can make a small kitchen look bigger by removing clutter from countertops, painting cabinets a light color, utilizing virtual staging to add sleek furniture, and shooting photos with bright, natural lighting.
