Make a Better Impression With These Decorative Accents

Effective staging is less about decorating a home and more about controlling what buyers notice. Once clutter and highly personal items are removed, carefully selected accents can help define a room, add visual interest, and demonstrate how a space can be used. The objective is straightforward: accessories should support the presentation of the property without competing with it.

Listing photographs and virtual tours frequently provide a buyer’s first exposure to a property, which makes visual presentation important. Accessories can contribute color, scale, texture, and warmth, but excessive décor can make photographs appear busy and distract from the home’s features. Before adding decorative elements, identify and remove items that do not contribute to the presentation.

WHAT TO AVOID

Highly personal or potentially distracting items can shift attention away from the property. Political, religious, and other strongly personal displays may therefore be worth temporarily storing while the home is being marketed.

Personal items such as clothing, shoes, toiletries, medications, and toothbrushes should generally be stored out of sight. Clear surfaces reduce visual clutter and can make rooms appear more orderly.

Unusual or oversized furnishings may also interfere with presentation when they dominate the room or obscure its scale and function. Evaluate furniture based on what it contributes to the room rather than whether it is personally appealing.

Refrigerator magnets, notes, calendars, and photos create additional visual information for a buyer to process. Removing them provides a cleaner view of the kitchen and its primary features.

Memorabilia and collections can similarly dominate a room or suggest limited storage when displayed in quantity. Reducing them before listing generally creates a simpler presentation.

Limit wall art and personal photos so they do not compete with architectural elements such as windows, fireplaces, ceiling height, or wall space. A limited number of appropriately scaled pieces can add visual interest without becoming the focal point.

Artificial food and flowers can sometimes appear dated or conspicuously staged. Healthy live plants, greenery, or simple fresh flowers may provide a more natural alternative when appropriate for the room.


WHAT WORKS

After unnecessary items are removed, decorative accents can be used selectively. Keeping major surfaces and furnishings relatively neutral allows smaller accessories to provide controlled amounts of color, texture, and warmth while preserving a clear view of the property.

Plush Bedding & Linens
Clean, coordinated textiles can improve the presentation of bedrooms and bathrooms. Layered bedding can add texture and comfort, although excessive pillows and blankets may make the room appear overly styled. Fresh, neatly arranged towels can provide a similar finishing effect in bathrooms.

Well-placed Mirrors
Mirrors can reflect available light and, depending on their placement, make some spaces feel brighter or more open. They can also function as decorative accents without requiring additional floor space. For additional examples, see “13 Ways Decorating with Mirrors Can Transform Your Space” from Bob Vila.

Throw Pillows & Blankets
A limited number of pillows and a folded throw can add texture and define the intended use of a seating area. These elements can be particularly useful in reading areas, living rooms, and outdoor seating spaces, where they help demonstrate function without requiring substantial changes.

Table & Accent Lamps
Lighting affects both photographs and in-person presentation. Lamps can supplement natural or overhead light and reduce dark areas within a room. Select fixtures that are appropriately scaled and consistent with the home’s overall style. Click here for examples of accent lighting.

Fresh Flowers & Live Plants
Healthy plants can introduce natural color and texture without occupying much visual space. Fresh flowers can serve the same purpose when arrangements are appropriately sized. Avoid oversized arrangements or strong fragrances that could become distractions. For additional information about indoor plants, review these science-backed observations.

Area Rugs
Area rugs can add texture, provide contrast, and visually define seating or dining areas. Proper sizing is important because an undersized rug may make furnishings appear disconnected. This rug-size guide provides useful sizing guidelines.

Coffee Table Accessories
A coffee table generally requires only a small amount of styling. A tray, several books, or a modest arrangement can provide visual interest while preserving usable surface area. If the table begins to look crowded, reduce the number of items.

Outdoor Areas
Exterior living areas should be evaluated in the same way as interior rooms. Simple seating, a small table, cushions, or appropriate lighting can clarify how a porch, patio, balcony, or backyard might be used and help buyers recognize the usable space available.

  • Create a stepping stone path that leads to a private bench w/cushions.
  • Create a sitting area around a fire pit on brick, stone, gravel, or concrete pad.
  • Add patio lights for a relaxing evening inside a gazebo.
  • Hang a beautiful hammock between the trees.
  • Place a couple of chairs next to a side table with an umbrella.
  • Solar pathway lights help illuminate the way.


Decorative accents are one component of presentation, not a substitute for appropriate pricing, condition, location, or market positioning. Used selectively, however, they can reduce distractions, clarify how spaces function, and help a property present well both online and in person. If you’re preparing to sell, I can help you evaluate which changes are likely to improve presentation and which ones probably aren’t worth the time or expense.