Home-Staging Mistakes Everyone Makes According To Joanna Gaines

Do we even have to tell you how important staging your home is when trying to sell? Just in case, here are some stats! Research from the National Association of Realtors found that more than 80% of buyers' agents said home staging made it easier for their clients to visualize themselves in the home. Additionally, 20% of them also said the staging increased the offer by up to 5%. Of course, staging also costs money. The sellers' agents surveyed said using a staging service cost an average of $600. Fortunately, from depersonalization to decluttering, Joanna Gaines has budget-friendly staging tips that everyone can use to avoid mistakes that cost time and money in the long run.

While Gaines is known for her styling tips for regular homeowners, she also has some staging advice as well — including what not to do. Her simple advice tells homeowners and their agents to avoid the mistakes of using too much furniture for the space, overstuffing closets, worrying too much about removing personal items, and ignoring the home's exterior.  It's no surprise that many of the mistakes Gaines points out have to do with failing to clean and declutter, but she also has some very specific advice. For example, she says to limit yourself to three large pieces of furniture maximum per room. She explains that "trying to put too much furniture in one space makes it look smaller than it really is," per Realtor. Here's more on Gaines' other staging mistakes and how to avoid them.

While it may seem best to hide away clutter, Joanna Gaines warns against stuffing everything in a closet to get it out of the way. People want to know how much storage space you have and will definitely notice if you have overstuffed your closets. Instead, try to declutter items completely or, as Gaines says (per Realtor), "a last-ditch effort to hide a mess is under a bed."

Furthermore, living room staging tips frequently advise you take down your family photos and other signs of personalization — like monograms or initials. Gaines, however, does not necessarily agree. She says,"Personally, I love knowing that a house is well-loved, and seeing those personal touches displayed reminds me that my family would be happy there, too," per Realtor. However, you also don't want your space to feel dominated by your own style. "It's important to be realistic with yourself — if your style is pretty niche, it may turn off potential buyers whose own style differs greatly," Gaines says in a Sunset interview. Creating a gallery wall that mixes photos with less personal art can be a good way to balance the best of both worlds. 

Gaines also says you should take a good hard look at the outside. Does the lawn need cutting? Do you need to break out the power washer? Or, maybe the house could just use a pop of color in the form of some newly-planted flowers. Whatever the case may be, don't forget to give the exterior of the house some love with the many creative ways to increase curb appeal.