Make a Better Impression With These Decorative Accents

Preparing a home for buyers doesn’t necessarily mean filling it with new décor. In fact, the most effective approach is often deciding what to remove first, then choosing a few accents that help each room feel comfortable, inviting, and easy to understand. The goal is to help buyers notice the home itself while giving them just enough inspiration to imagine what living there might feel like. Here are some simple ways to find that balance.

Because many buyers will first see your home online, it helps to consider how every room will look in listing photographs as well as in person. Accessories can add warmth, scale, texture, and visual interest, but too many can compete with the features you actually want buyers to notice. A good place to begin is by looking at each room through a buyer’s eyes and removing the things that are most likely to become distractions.

WHAT TO AVOID

Highly personal or potentially distracting items can pull attention away from the property. Political, religious, or other strongly personal displays may be meaningful to you, but storing them temporarily can help create a more neutral environment in which buyers can focus on the home.

Personal items such as shoes, clothing, jackets, toiletries, medications, and toothbrushes are generally best stored out of sight. Clearer counters and surfaces can also help rooms feel more orderly and spacious.

Unusual or oversized furnishings deserve a second look if they dominate a room or make the space harder to understand. The question isn’t whether you like the piece. Ask instead whether it helps a buyer appreciate the room around it.

Refrigerator magnets, notes, calendars, and photos can create visual clutter. Clearing the refrigerator allows buyers to notice the kitchen as a whole rather than the things attached to an appliance.

Memorabilia and collections can have the same effect. If a collection becomes one of the first things you notice when entering a room, consider packing most of it before listing and leaving only a few carefully chosen pieces.

Limit wall art and personal photos enough that buyers can appreciate the room’s proportions and architectural features. Bare walls aren’t necessarily the answer—a few appropriately scaled pieces may add warmth without becoming the focus.

Artificial food and flowers can sometimes look dated or noticeably staged, particularly in photographs. Fresh greenery, healthy live plants, or a simple arrangement of flowers can create a more natural effect when they suit the room.

WHAT WORKS

Once the distractions are gone, think about what each room might need rather than simply adding décor. Neutral larger surfaces and furnishings can make it easier for buyers to imagine their own belongings in the space, while smaller accessories can introduce warmth, texture, and a little color.

Plush Bedding & Linens
Bedrooms and bathrooms often benefit from clean, fresh textiles. Layered bedding can make a bedroom feel comfortable and finished, but too many pillows and blankets can make the bed look impractical or overly staged. Fresh bath and hand towels can give a bathroom the same clean, cared-for feeling.

Well-placed Mirrors
A mirror can reflect natural light and help some rooms feel brighter or more open. A nicely framed mirror can also serve as an attractive accent of its own. For more information on working with mirrors in your home, read “13 Ways Decorating with Mirrors Can Transform Your Space” from Bob Vila.

Throw Pillows & Blankets
A couple of pillows and a neatly folded throw can make a seating area feel comfortable without requiring much effort. A reading nook, living-room chair, or porch swing may need only one or two simple touches to help a buyer recognize how that space could be enjoyed.

Table & Accent Lamps
Good lighting can make a significant difference in how a room feels. Lamps can brighten darker corners, supplement natural light, and create a more comfortable atmosphere. When choosing accent lighting, make sure its size and style complement the room rather than drawing attention away from it. Click here for some accent-lighting ideas.

Fresh Flowers & Live Plants
Healthy plants can bring natural color and texture into a room and soften spaces that otherwise feel a little stark. A simple vase of fresh flowers can do the same. Keep arrangements proportional to the room and avoid anything so large or strongly scented that it becomes a distraction. For more information about some of the benefits associated with indoor plants, take a look at these science-backed observations.

Area Rugs
An area rug can add color, texture, and warmth while also helping define a seating or dining area. Size matters, however. A rug that is too small can make furnishings feel disconnected, while an appropriately sized rug can help visually bring the room together. This rug-size guide may help you choose the right proportions.

Coffee Table Accessories
A coffee table doesn’t need much. A small stack of books, a tray, or a modest arrangement can make the space feel finished while leaving plenty of open surface area. If you’re unsure whether you’ve added too much, removing one item is often the easiest way to find the right balance.

Outdoor Areas
Finally, look beyond the interior. A porch, patio, balcony, or backyard can become easier for buyers to appreciate when its purpose is clear. A couple of chairs, a small table, cushions, or simple outdoor lighting may be enough to demonstrate how the area can be used.

The right accessories won’t change the fundamentals of your home, but they can help buyers notice and appreciate those fundamentals more easily. When you’re deciding what to remove, what to keep, and where a finishing touch might help, remember that the home should always remain the star. If you’d like another set of eyes before your home goes on the market, I’d be happy to help you decide what deserves attention—and what is probably better left alone.