How important is staging your bedroom when selling a home?

When selling your home, it can feel like you have a never-ending checklist of chores. 

Even once you’ve signed on the dotted line with your estate agents, decided on an asking price and secured some viewings, the job is only half done. 

The way you present your home to potential buyers can make or break their opinion of the property. But how important is a beautifully staged bedroom? In this blog, we explore just how essential your master suite is when selling your home, along with some tips and tricks on giving your bedroom a makeover that potential buyers won’t be able to resist…

The short answer is yes, it’s very important. If the kitchen is the ‘heart’ of the home, then the bedroom is the soul. It’s your special sanctuary to unwind, relax and catch some Zzzs. After all, we do spend an average of over 7 hours in bed per night (Dreams 2024 UK Sleep Survey) – that’s a third of our time!

A room we spend so much time in surely deserves a lot of attention when presenting your home to new buyers, right? That’s where staging comes in.

But this technique comes with a hefty price tag. Many wealthy homeowners in the US are willing to splash thousands of dollars on staging to flip properties quickly – just pop on any episode of Netflix’s Selling Sunset if you need proof…. 

But what about here in the UK? According to The Telegraph, whilst “property staging has long been popular in the US,” the phenomenon is only just on the rise amongst wealthy homeowners in the UK, with “one designer seeing a 51% increase in demand” in 2023. 

Worried about not being able to afford a ‘stager’? The good news is that you don’t need to spend a fortune on paying a professional to stage your home nicely. There are plenty of small changes that you can make yourself to create a warm and inviting atmosphere in your bedroom that’s sure to speed up the sales process. 

Here are our top design tips to have your master bedroom looking its best…

Don’t underestimate a well-made bed

“Thankfully, bedrooms, unlike kitchens and bathrooms, can be spruced up quickly and on a small budget if you’re thinking of selling your home. […] Never underestimate the power of cushions and blankets to make a bedroom feel cosy and lived in.”

Oliver Gorman, estate agent at Paramount Properties

The bed should be the centrepiece of any bedroom. But you may be surprised by how many homeowners overlook the power of a well-presented bed. Creased bedding, uncoordinated colours and lack of cushions can leave a room looking a little drab.  

For an easy makeover, invest in some new bed sheets to ensure the bed is the focal point of the room. A few cushions and blankets can instantly add a warm and homey feel, helping potential buyers to imagine themselves relaxing there. Plus, a bed that has matching cushions and throws can create a boutique hotel feel – and who doesn’t want that in their bedroom? 

If you’re unsure of what bedding colours to opt for, we suggest looking at simple colour theory. Did you know that blue is considered the most calming colour? Whilst yellow can boost our mood and energise a bedroom. 

Need some more colour inspiration? Check out our colour hub to pick out the best palette for your bedroom.

Add a fresh lick of paint 

Staging your bedroom for viewings can be as simple and inexpensive as a fresh lick of paint. Remember that picture hook hole in the wall you promised to fill? Or those marks on the skirting board you vowed to erase? Now’s your chance! 

Small tasks like changing the light bulbs, cleaning up any scratches and marks on the walls and fixing broken furniture can make a world of difference to your bedroom. And adding a fresh coat of white paint could be just what your room needs to feel brighter, newer and more attractive to viewers.

Clear the clutter 

“Creating an inviting environment free from clutter is key. Hiding trinkets and personal items from view and leaving surfaces clear will ensure people will look at the room and not its contents.”

Nina Campbell, expert interior designer 

Decluttering has probably been on your never-ending ‘to-do’ list for a long time. Well, the time has finally come to get the job done and reap even more rewards. Not only will it save you a task for later down the line (most likely when it comes to moving day), but it’s also a handy selling trick.  

To make it easier for the prospective buyer or renter to imagine themselves living in your house, offer them a blank canvas (or as close to this as you can!) by doing a clear-out of your bedroom clutter, such as trinkets, jewellery boxes, books, photo frames and ornaments. As well as helping buyers to visualise what their things will look like in your room, it can even create the illusion of extra floor space. Sounds good, right?

Create the illusion of extra space

“Create the impression of space and grandeur by using some decorative tricks such as strategically placed mirrors. Placing a mirror across from a window is the best way to reflect light and make the room feel larger.”

Nina Campbell, expert interior designer 

If you’re working with a smaller space, we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeve. To make a room look bigger, stick to light, neutral colours like white or cream. By painting your walls and ceilings (and even floors) in the same reflective colour, it can open up the room to feel nice and airy and can blur the line between where the walls end and the ceiling starts. 

You could also consider removing any bulky curtains from your bedroom windows. This makes the room feel less crowded and can instantly add extra light and depth to the room.

As Nina Campbell says, mirrors are a great secret weapon for making a space look bigger than it actually is, too. Place a mirror opposite your bedroom window and it’ll bounce the light around. This is a super handy trick to take into your next home with you, too. 

Evoke the senses with candles and air fresheners

An age-old selling technique is to bake cookies just before an open house, to create an irresistible homely smell in the kitchen. Whilst that might be a little more trouble than it’s worth, a fresh-smelling master suite is always an advantage.  

Candles, reed diffusers, essential oils and plug-in air fresheners are inexpensive ways to make your bedroom smell amazing all the time. Scents that work well in bedrooms are calming fragrances like lavender, jasmine and patchouli.

Whether it’s a new bedding set or a fresh coat of paint on your walls, there are plenty of quick and easy design tricks that you can implement to be your own ‘stager’ and elevate your bedroom to its highest potential. 

When it’s time for regular viewings, use our handy checklist to keep on top of day-to-day clutter and make sure your bedroom is always ready to be seen by potential buyers.

Essential pre-viewing bedroom checklist:

• Make the bed (extra points for adding matching cushions and a stylish throw)
• Draw back the curtains or blinds and open the window slightly to brighten the space and circulate fresh air
• Turn off the big light and switch on your lamps for added ambience
• Clear any surfaces with excess clutter (even if it’s just by hiding your bits and bobs in a drawer until the viewing is over!)
• Light a candle or spray some room mist to make your bedroom smell amazing!

After all, the sooner you secure a buyer, the sooner you can get your hands on the keys to your dream home. Happy sprucing!