New Curtains & Fresh Paint - An Easy Fix for Small Dark Rooms

A while ago, I wrote a blog titled Cheap Paneling Isn't the Kiss of Death. Here in the Poconos and particularly in Pike & Wayne county, paneling seems to have been very very VERY popular, though it's not seen in newer homes. It was a relatively quick and inexpensive way to finish a room, and probably seemed very "on edge" and "up to date" at the time...but things change.

Much like curtains. My mom was really big on having heavy, layered curtains on the windows (in our house with cheap paneling). Perhaps at the time, the curtains added a look of richness to a the room. I remember her poring over the Sears Domestications Catalog - finding burgundy panels, burgundy drapes, and a big puffy burgundy balloon valance to "treat" our small windows and block the sunlight from shining in.

I still see similar window treatments today, many of them in small dark homes with dark paneling and small windows, blocking out the last bit of light that could brighten and cheer the room.  They  may not be burgundy, but they do hide the window. My dad used to hate curtains and would grumble when mom "hid the view".  I think he was a man ahead of his time!  (Well, he just wanted to keep an eye on the deer, but hey!)

Light, Bright, & Airy is the Key!

If you like living in a semi-dark atmosphere, that's of course your choice, but when you are putting your home on the market you need to make it "light and bright". Even if your puffy, layered curtains are light colored, they can add an almost claustrophobic feeling of heaviness to a small room.

Putting in bigger windows is an expensive option; but you can maximize the window's impact and enhance the ambiance in the room by simplifying your windows with modern, minimal treatments and - gasp - painting your paneling!

Today's buyers generally do not want dark, cavelike homes. They are looking for light, bright, and airy!

Roman Shades Are a Tasteful & Inexpensive Alternative

This can be done fairly inexpensively, too. Roman shades are very attractive, much more so than dated and clunky mini blinds, and can be purchased as cheaply as $15 each from J.C. Penney. When you desire privacy you can simply pull the shade down...and unlike mini blinds, a Roman shade can stand alone, simplifying the look of your window and keeping the room from looking "heavy."

If you simply adore your curtains, just pack them away and use them your new home. You want your buyers to see the features of your house - not your personality all over the place.

Don't Forget That Dark Paneling...

Oh, and please...paint that paneling! Believe me, not many people ask me for homes featuring "dark paneling." In fact, most buyers say "I don't want to look at homes with dark paneling. I don't want to have to paint when I move in."

Finally...Some Added Reading....

For a fun, psychedelic trip down memory lane, visit It Came From the Sears Catalog. The scary thing is, I've seen some of that stuff from 1971, like mirrored glass tiles for your living room wall...in homes currently on the market here in the Lake Wallenpaupack area!  Thank you to Toonhead, the creator of the site & owner of A Perfect World for granting permission to use her photo of the red curtains and "Satan's Bedroom".  HA!

For more tips on preparing your home for the market, and learning about home staging, visit Sue Argue's home staging blog. She is a professional home stager in New Hampshire, and has a wealth of information and helpful articles for sellers, agents, and stagers.