Mirror, Mirror on the Wall. This is the beginning of the question the evil Queen asks in the fairy tale, Snow White, followed usually by, "Who is the fairest of them all?" The mirror cannot lie, and so it tells the evil Queen that she is the fairest until Snow White's beauty eclipses hers. And we know where the story goes from there. But enough of fairy tales.
In real life, mirrors don't lie either, so it is a very good idea to ask each mirror what conversation it is having within that room. Listen closely for the answers before putting your home up for sale.
Take two steps into this unstaged Master Bedroom pictured below and what does the mirror tell you? The photo on the right gives you a close up view.
The layout of the Master Bedroom necessitates the placement of the bed along the same wall as the entrance door--eliminating it as a focal point in the room. The mirror acts as a secondary focal point and our eyes are drawn to the reflection. But do we really need to see the air conditioner twice--the actual unit and its reflection in the mirror? It would be best to replace this mirror with a beautiful piece of art. If that is not possible, just leave the wall empty. Let buyers concentrate on the space and not on the appliance.
People often place mirrors in small areas to create the illusion that the space is larger. Do you think the homeowners achieved this using the strips of mirrors in the hallway photographed below? Reflecting a solid wall and door only three feet away creates confusion, not illusion. The mirrors simply reflect the surrounding walls and doorways, emphasizing the narrowness.
When your home is being toured by a prospective buyer, your Realtor will have all the doors to rooms open and the lights on to showcase each room. This hallways has two doors, and while the end at the end of the hallways appears to be a closet, the one on the right appears to be a room. What do we see in this first mirror when the door is opened and the lights turned on?
Ah, the reflection of the laundry room. Interestingly enough, the laundry room is reflected in the mirrors regardless of which end of the hallway you are standing at, and this first mirror on the left is also directly across from the stairway leading up from the first floor. This provides potential buyers with another great view of the laundry room as they come up the stairs. Is this what you would like buyers to remember about your home?
The mirrors (and for that matter all the decorative accessories on the left side of the hallway) should be removed, and the walls patched and repainted before this home is placed on the market. Hang a beautiful piece of art in place of the first mirror to greet visitors coming up the stairs.
Check all the mirrors in your home. You might not think about the bathroom vanity, but the photos below show a classic oversight--placing items with unfinished backs in front of mirrors.
The photo is quite lovely, but what grabs your attention are the solid black reflections of the back of the frame. You even get to notice the white label the owner did not remove from the stand. Use objects that are finished on all sides in front of mirrors, whether the mirrors are on dressers or hung over buffets or fireplace mantels. Place framed pictures against walls where their backs and sides are not visible.
Make sure your mirrors are reflecting your home's better features, and you are that much closer to a sale.
If you want to be sure that your home makes a dazzling first impression, consult with a professional home stager in your area before listing your home for sale. They are trained and knowledgeable and, like Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, they will make all the difference in your home being deemed "the fairest of them all".
Janet L. Jones
800.766.1558
www.just-your-style-interiors.com
Just Your Style Interiors provides home staging, redesign and interior decorating services on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Turn average spaces into beautiful places.
Comments(15)