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A Bathroom is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

By
Home Stager with Arranged Smartly LLC

The bathroom is one of the most overlooked rooms in the home. Really. And as a home stager, I see a lot of wasted bathrooms in homes on the market.

First things first: bathrooms have to be clean. Sparkling, dirt-free and stain-free clean. Strangers are looking at a seller's bathroom, wondering if they will feel good about brushing their teeth in that sink. Some elbow grease goes a long way to make it a well-received space.

What I really mean, though, is the stuff. Many of us don't live with decorative accessories in our bathrooms. But staging a home for sale means presenting spaces so they look like a magazine spread. This approach really appeals to buyers.

bathbeforestaging    Bathafter

It doesn't have to be complicated:

  • Candles, greenery, vases, soaps and artwork make stunning transformations.
  • Pay attention to shower curtains and choose a neutral color and pattern.
  • Don't forget the towels. Always hang them on all towel racks. Use bath and hand towels, the nicest, fluffiest ones you have and fold them neatly. If you don't have newer towels, it's a good time to buy some. You can take them with you and it will make a huge difference in the way your bathroom looks--fresh and fluffy versus tired and worn.

 

LgeBathBefore    LgeBathAfter

Apply these techniques to all bathrooms--powder rooms, kid's baths, even spare bathrooms in the basement. This makes them all look usable and attractive for everyone.

Teenbathbefore    Teenbathafter

Finally, don't forget what is reflected in the mirror. This is true in any room, but we tend to have the largest mirrors in our bathrooms. For example, hanging a piece of art so it's reflected in the mirror when entering a bathroom means it gets viewed twice, in the reflection and from other places in the room. Also pay attention to what you see in the mirror in other adjoining rooms.

MasterBathBefore    MasterBathAfter

A little tweaking will make bathrooms and the surrounding spaces picture perfect!


 



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.


 

 

Posted by


Cathy Lee
CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA
ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

Great post Cathy!!!  Bathrooms do make a difference!!!  Love your photos-beautiful work!

Sep 13, 2009 01:53 PM
Jackson West
Reveal Estate Home Staging - Vancouver - Vancouver, BC

Hi Cathy,

Excellent post. Bathrooms are my favorite rooms to stage and love the fact that you can create maximum impact with minimal investment.  Having OCD when it comes to rollong and folding towels perfectly comes in handy ;)

Sep 13, 2009 09:02 PM
Kimberly Uksik
Independent - Pickering, ON
Home Stager - Durham, Toronto, On.

Grat advice Cathy!  The pictures really show how a little investment can make a big impact!

Sep 14, 2009 02:44 AM
Cathy Brosius
Arranged Smartly LLC - Saint Louis, MO
Home Staging St. Louis region

Thanks for stopping by Cathy!

Jackson, I'm the same way about the folding... I can spend too much time making sure those towels are perfect!

Sep 14, 2009 03:54 AM
Cathy Brosius
Arranged Smartly LLC - Saint Louis, MO
Home Staging St. Louis region

Kimberly, I agree that it doesn't take much to make a bathroom look great. Just make sure every room has a wow factor!

Sep 14, 2009 07:45 AM
Liz Gallagher
LG Home Harmony - Home Stagers & Organizers - Montreal, QC
Montreal Quebec RESA member

Nice transformations ... amazing how some people just live with it.

Sep 15, 2009 11:33 AM
Ana Hitzel
AccentPositives Home Staging - Corona, CA
Professional Home Stager Inland Empire

Cathy these are really nice. I like that usually bathrooms don't cost that much to do unless they are a gut job.  Good work.

Sep 16, 2009 11:56 AM
Cathy Brosius
Arranged Smartly LLC - Saint Louis, MO
Home Staging St. Louis region

Liz, it is amazing what people live with! Thanks for stopping by.

Ana, you're right. Some bathrooms require just a few pieces, but a small effort can make a huge difference in the way the space looks. Thanks!

Sep 17, 2009 01:20 AM
c m
Colorado Springs, CO

Ooooh...this is the topic I was thinking of next! =o) Well done, and I agree, ALL bathrooms, even in a vacant need to be addressed.  They can look so sterile and utilitarian without some softening! Great post!

Sep 20, 2009 02:26 PM
Cathy Brosius
Arranged Smartly LLC - Saint Louis, MO
Home Staging St. Louis region

Thanks, Cheryl. I'm trying to make my posts more focused, like yours. Glad you liked it. (Sorry I took your topic!)

Sep 20, 2009 04:14 PM
c m
Colorado Springs, CO

LOL, No worries, there are plenty of things to "focus" on, when it comes to staging! =o)

Sep 22, 2009 06:06 PM
Lanora Campbell
NMLS#232975 - Springfield, MO
Ozarks Home Loan Professional

Cathy, most of the time simple is better than over thinking it.  I loved the pictures.

Sep 24, 2009 03:19 AM
Cathy Brosius
Arranged Smartly LLC - Saint Louis, MO
Home Staging St. Louis region

Thanks for stopping by again, Cheryl. Let's call those topics "focal points"...!

Sep 24, 2009 06:37 AM
Cathy Brosius
Arranged Smartly LLC - Saint Louis, MO
Home Staging St. Louis region

Lanora, I couldn't agree more. Anything overdone becomes distracting, which is usually what a stager is trying to eliminate. Thanks for your comment.

Sep 24, 2009 06:39 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Great post and the pictures alone sell what you are saying.  What a difference removing that green wallpaper made!

Sep 27, 2009 05:02 AM
Cathy Brosius
Arranged Smartly LLC - Saint Louis, MO
Home Staging St. Louis region

Thanks, Sharon! That was actually faux painting in that little bathroom. You couldn't see those beautiful green tiles that were original to this little bungalow because that paint treatment commanded your attention.

Sep 29, 2009 02:07 AM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

Bathrooms do seem to be the one rooms that can always use help, and are often overlooked!

Nov 17, 2009 03:48 PM
Cathy Brosius
Arranged Smartly LLC - Saint Louis, MO
Home Staging St. Louis region

I agree, Cindy. Especially about the overlooked part...

Nov 19, 2009 03:04 AM
Rita Minion
O'Brien Realty - Solomons, MD

Hello Cathy,

I really enjoy your writing and staging work!  Lovely transformations to the bathrooms.  Thank you for sharing your tips and photos! 

Rita

 

Jan 30, 2010 02:22 PM
Cathy Brosius
Arranged Smartly LLC - Saint Louis, MO
Home Staging St. Louis region

Thanks, Rita! You've encouraged me to try to blog a little more often!

Jan 30, 2010 02:35 PM