Art and Mirrors Can Help Sell Even
Outdated Homes

Art and mirrors can help you sell your house if you know where to hang them. When staging a home, I frequently find beautiful artwork and mirrors hung without purpose. They look like they were hung on whatever wall was free at the time they were purchased.

Instead, try thinking of them as gems. They will dress up your home just like jewelry dresses an outfit. Which ones you choose and where you hang them, makes all the difference in the world.



When I first began staging homes, the economy and real estate market were at their peak. Many owners could afford to buy their new home and move into it while they put the old one on the market. Staging in those days meant a clean slate to work with.

The stager would recommend painting the walls a neutral paint color, light fixtures were updated, kitchens and baths were frequently redone, and then the stager set up all new furniture and accessories. The transformation was stunning, the cost was expensive, and the results were spectacular. Homes sold quickly.

Unfortunately, home prices have dropped and few sellers can afford hiring a home stager to fully stage a vacant home. The good news is that most people have more than enough beautiful things to work with. They just need a little help putting it all together. Try using these tips and guidelines to make your art and mirrors the stunners they deserve to be.

Outdated Dining Room Before

What Happened in this Room?

• The collection of small mirrors looked haphazard and distracting. One large one (about the same width as the cabinet) bounces more light into the room

• The owl sculpture was placed in the center and two more interesting pieces were added to the display (tall, medium, small)

• Wine rack was moved to the right where it balances the room better

• The new arrangement reflects the owl, other beautiful items in the room and adds light, sparkle and interest to an otherwise dark and distant wall

Outdated Dining Room Before

What Happened in this Room?

• Everything but the table was removed

• Four black chairs from another room add more contrast

• One large picture was hung on the wall you see when you first enter the room

• A silk palm adds life and fills an empty corner

• Staging the dining room table helps the buyer imagine a lovely meal in their new home

What Can You Do with an Outdated Bathroom?

What Happened in this Room?

• Even though this is 1970s wallpaper, black and white graphic wallpaper is making a comeback. In this high-end, but older home, we decided to go with a bold look and keep the wallpaper

• Black valance was removed

• Small old-fashioned mirror was replace by two oval ones with black frames that update the look and fill the vanity space better

• A currently popular shade of green in the shower curtain and towels softens the black and feels fresh

• Black and white nature photograph reflects in the mirrors

• "Grass" adds a little life and compliments the look

• "Horse" adds interest and a touch of whimsy

Art and Mirror Guidelines

1. Size
   • Make sure the size of the picture or mirror is large enough to fit the size and shape of the wall

   • Two mirrors or two similar pictures will work if one is too small

2. Color and Frames
   • Color matters. The right color, one that you've chosen as your accent color will have the greatest visual impact

   • Consider the frame as well. Currently dark espresso brown and black frames are most appealing

3. Placement
   • Hang your pictures where they will be most visible when you first enter the room. They should serve as the "background" for the dining room table,for your living room furniture or for the bed in your bedroom
     
     
   • Make the reflection in the mirror "work" for you. Check that you're not reflecting a ceiling or some other unattractive architectural feature

   • Hang art and mirrors so that they feel visually "attached" to the furniture to which they're closest (usually within 4-6 inches of a side table, console, buffet, bed, etc.)

Art and Mirrors will charm the buyer into falling in love with your home. If you can deliver their dream home, they'll move heaven and earth to buy it!



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