Home Staging Tips to Attract More Buyers in 2025

New year, new beginnings and a fresh start for your home. Many buyers start their home search early in the year to avoid the spring rush, so its a great time to focus on refreshing your home to attract these active buyers in waiting. I'll share where to focus your home staging efforts to attract todays buyers, while also explaining why home staging is so important to maximize your sale price.

Modern Chandelier in a home

Focus on Entertainment

First always keep in mind these three spaces: Living Room, Primary Bedroom/bath, and Kitchen. These rooms are the areas buyers will scrutinize most. However, in 2025, you also want to focus on these 2 additional rooms: First is the dining area. Many buyers look to see the potential to host and entertain in a home, so creating a functional entertainment focused space can be key to attract young buyers looking to make memories with friends and family. One easy way to refresh this space is installing a new modern light fixture. The picture below is my favourite Home Depot chandelier option at the moment, for under $200.

Home office space staged.

Add a Functional Workspace

Second is a separate office area. Many people still work from home and todays buyers are definitely still looking for this space. The focus on these separate areas highlights the move away from super open concept living, towards a more traditional floorplan. This trend is a response to people craving a stress free environment when they get home to relax and unwind. Bonus points for having continuous flooring throughout a space, it makes your home appear larger and gives your home a nice visual flow. Pro Tip: Avoid a cheap laminate reno, it has zero water resistance and is right up there with carpet in terms of flooring options to avoid.

Avoid "Agreeable Grey" Homes

Pro Tip: Do NOT paint everything grey! This colour sucks the life out of every space, and feels very dated. Aim for bright open spaces, my top paint recommendation is Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17. Not only does this perfectly neutral shade brighten up any space and make it appear larger and brighter, it also photographs really well so your home will shine online. Your first showing with todays buyer is online so don't underestimate the power of fresh paint in attracting buyers.

Benjamin Moore White Dove.

Benjamin Moore White Dove in action.

Living Room with warm accents.

Warm Earthy Colours Add Warmth

Warm earthy tones are tending for 2025 so avoid cool greys and embrace touches of soft browns and green to add warmth to a space. It makes the room feel inviting, while not overwhelming buyers. Remember, when staging accent with pillows and a soft throw, do not overdecorate, and when in doubt take it out.

Indoor plant idea.

Incorporate Nature

Another easy element you should add when staging is to Incorporate nature. Plants can really brighten a space up and make a room appear fresh and clean. Aim for succulents in bathrooms, with larger plants in living room/bedrooms. Be careful not to overdue it, and make sure the plants are real. Not only will they purify the air, but they are also sustainable and breathe new life into a space.

Embrace Natural Light

Before

While were on the natural trend topic, another thing you can do this year that will help enhance your living space is remove any dated window coverings. If you have a valance, or dark heavy curtains or drapes, you need to remove them before having your home photographed. The key is to make your rooms appear bright and open. There has never, in the history of real estate been a buyer who complained about an abundance of natural sunlight in a room. In the photo here you can see just how dark and small the kitchen area appears with the dated window coverings. Below is the after with new sheer white drapes that instantly update the room and allow for maximum natural light.

After!

Make Deep Cleaning a Top Priority

My final tip for home staging in 2025 is to remember that buyers are looking for homes that feel like a clean slate where they can start fresh. We are not decorating when we stage, we are highlighting the homes best features and trying to make a great first impression. In order to make a great first impression your home needs to be sparkling clean. Don't skimp on cleaning, its so important and can be the reason you don't get a buyer to place an offer on your home. Dirt and clutter eat your equity!

By investing this additional effort, you foster an emotional connection with the buyer. This not only helps them recognize the inherent value of the home, but also allows them to envision their own new beginnings within the space.

If your goal this year is to sell quickly for the most amount of money, home staging is a great way to prepare your home for a successful sale. Reach out for help getting started, together we can get your home sold in 2025!

For more staging tips feel free to check out my full home staging guide HERE.