We're sharing the first of many room by room top tips on how you can add value using our home staging techniques - in this blog, we focus on the hallway.
It's so important that your hallway sets the right tone - this way, your buyer begins to emotionally connect with your home. Learn how to add value to your hallway with our amazing top tips below. Even with Covid-19 upon us there’s still plenty you can do. As a minimum, start planning and researching now. If you can do more, even better. Whatever you can do, this gives you a head start when the housing market picks up again (which it will).
Maximise space
#1 If the stairs are in the hallway, use the cupboard beneath or if you don’t have one, create a cupboard. Put as much of your day to day items that normally clog the hallway in here. You may even be able to use this space to house your white goods. For large items like bikes, make sure they’re removed, if only temporarily for buyer viewings.
#2 If your hallway is narrow, limit the amount of furniture you have. A wall hung unit or shelf is best to use when you are restricted on space. You can also buy smaller furniture pieces which combine a mirror with some storage space or at least a shelf. We have lots of inspiration for you here.
#3 You may have an alcove that you can create into a useable space – add a shelf to display some key pieces and hang a mirror above it.
#4 You may have a wall which lends itself to creating a storage area - if so, there’s lots of furniture inspiration for you here.
#5 If you need to keep your keys and day-to-day items in your hallway like glasses, mobile phones etc, keep them safe and neat and tidy in boxes if you have limited drawers or cupboards. Take a look at our inspirational ideas.
Features
There are many ways to add features to your hallway – these will make buyers pause and enjoy the space. It will also build anticipation for what’s to come …
#6 Accentuate any features. If there’s wood panelling, cast-iron period radiators, covings, arches, ceiling roses, an exposed brick wall, make a feature of them.
#7 If you don’t have any features, create them. There are many ways to do this – use MDF to create interest with wood panelling and paint in a statement colour, hang a collection of items such as mirrors, plates, artwork on a single feature wall.
Showcase special pieces in glass display units or open shelving. These even work in a narrow hallway. There’s plenty of ways to add interest – look at some of our inspirations.
#8 If you have space, create a focal point with a console table and add some statement pieces – these pieces always look better when they’re grouped in odd numbers. You can even add a statement chair if there’s plenty of room and accessorise this with a throw and cushion.
#9 Radiators should be hidden, behind purpose-built radiator covers, unless they’re cast-iron. Some covers have built-in storage and can be turned into a feature to display key pieces. These often work well in narrow hallways.
#10 Plants add colour, vibrancy and create a really welcoming first impression. Add greenery to the hallway table or shelving using fresh flowers, foliage or potted plants – orchids are very effective in creating interest.
There are also really good faux flowers available – Amaranthine Blooms have some great ideas and best of all, you take these to your new home.
Brighten Up
#11 Hallways can be dark unless there’s a window or the front door has integrated glass. Add one or more mirror to bounce and reflect light and give the illusion of space.
#12 Repaint walls in neutral colours, using our inspirational ideas. Paint the ceiling white to bounces light around the hallway.
Paint colours look different depending on whether there is artificial and/or natural light. To be sure if your paint choice works well, test your paint on a lining paper cut-out. Once dried, move around the hallway to see what the colour looks like under different light settings throughout the day. This is a great tip to use in any room in fact.
#13 If artificial lighting is poor, add more. If fittings are old, replace them. There’s a huge selection of pendants, table lamps and wall lights available – take a look at our inspirational ideas.
Flooring
#14 Depending on the type of home you have, there may be original wooden boards, parquet or even tile flooring hidden under that carpet. If so, remove the carpet and bring the flooring back to life - buyers love these features.
#15 If you don’t have any original flooring and your current flooring is dated or in poor condition, replace it. There’s a huge range of flooring available and to suit all budgets – you’ve got natural products such as wood, stone and matting made from grasses (coir, sisal, sea grass). You have man made products, some of which look just as good as natural products. These products include, lino, engineered wood, tiles and so on. Here’s some of our inspirational ideas.
If you’re changing the flooring, it’s important to tie the hallway flooring with the flooring in other rooms - this creates the illusion of space.
Stairs
These can be one of the main features in your hallway, so make the most of them.
#16 There’s many ways to transform your stairs. You can go back to basics and remove your carpet and paint or stain the wood - this is easy to maintain. There are also striking carpets, runners as well as rods, which create a real conversation piece.
#17 Depending on the age and quality of your bannisters, you will have several options.
You can transform the bannister by painting, re-purposing (eg. boxing in) or even replacing elements of it. You can paint or stain wood bannisters (its best to avoid dark colours unless this is the statement colour in the hallway). There’s also a huge range of finishes including wood, metal and glass and various combinations in between.
Which is your favourite home staging top tip and why? Let us know at info@sortstyleandstage.com