When I looked up “neutralize” in the dictionary, I found “counterbalance.” What a great concept! It suggests that neutralizing is just resetting the scale, balancing the weight between what the seller has and what the buyer wants.
Balancing that weight goes beyond choosing beige or cream paint for walls, it also applies to pattern. Pattern is distracting to potential home buyers and can keep them from seeing the best features of a house. It’s a very personal choice. A bright plaid sofa and loveseat, an entire room in leopard print or the cottage rose window treatments may be favorites of the seller, but may not be so well received by a potential buyer.
It also makes those tiny photos that get posted online look very busy.
Where will you find pattern?
- Most people think of fabric first: the upholstery on a sofa, fabric hanging at windows and the comforter on the bed.
- It can be paper or paint treatments on walls.
- Don’t forget the area or scatter rugs on the floor.
- Hard surfaces may also have pattern: a tile backsplash or vinyl floor.
- Sometimes texture can add to the visual noise: wood paneling, stone countertop, heavily grained wood cabinets or a brick wall.
What to do?
- Slipcovers can work wonders for upholstered furniture. Or choose solid-color pillows and a throw to help mute the pattern.
- If new window treatments aren’t in the budget, sometimes just removing them is better than a taste-specific pattern.
- Before buying new bedding, check the back of the comforter or bedspread. It may be a solid color that offers a more serene experience for the potential home buyer.
- Walls with pattern may be better off painted a neutral color.
- Paint the paneling or brick, if it needs to be toned down. In most cases it will also brighten and freshen the space and make it feel larger.
Sellers don’t have to remove every pattern, just enough to balance the room. Small doses are interesting as long as they are not dated styles. Not sure if there’s still too much? Take a digital photo and look at it on the computer screen, the same way a potential buyer will.
Be honest. Is the room calm and welcoming? Is your eye drawn to the special features of the house? Or is it distracting and busy? Still not sure? Call in a professional home stager, who can help sort out issues and offer solutions that fit the seller’s budget. A “counterbalanced” property has much better odds of selling quickly!
Cathy Brosius is the owner of Arranged Smartly, a home staging and organizing company. Cathy and her team are working smartly for homeowners and real estate agents throughout the St. Louis region. She has also been interviewed on KMOV's Great Day St. Louis, providing tips on staging a home for sale.
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