If you bought bits and pieces to dress your house to sell ...

[Soontobeseller]

What did you buy and how much roughly did you spend?

I know people will think it’s not worth it so I’m hoping those people just don’t bother replying but if you did do it I’d love to hear from you.

I personally feel there’s such a huge difference between houses that have some nice decorative items, art and bedding around the place and ones that have obviously just been put on as they are.

Our house is practically blank because we only just finished decorating so we definitely need to do something to jazz it up a bit for Rightmove and viewings.

hate to say it, but just decorated would ring alarm bells for me as I would wonder what you were covering up! Definitely need to make it look more lived in.

'nice' items are very personal. In my opinion - no inspiring quotes, no letters, no words, no generic pictures, no sparkly rubbish. Beds properly made for photos (but not covered in umpteen cushions as that also looks fake). Possibly some fresh flowers although it is coming up to the best time of year for gardens.

second hand stuff better as you don't want it to look like someone has emptied B and M into the house.

We did - it was nearly 20 years ago and there was a popular TV show with unsold houses and giving them 'kerb appeal'; "House Doctor.'

We painted the windowsills and front door, got a mirror for a dark hall, put potted shrubs out by the front door and replanted a window box with flowers, a couple of colourful pillows in the living room, had carpets cleaned and packed away a lot of our books, DVDs and photos. Probably spent the equivalent of £800 on getting those done.

New bedlinen and towels (which I knew i would use in my new house).
Some flowers for the photos.

Kept my existing artwork & ornaments (not a huge amount, but enough not to have huge expanses of empty mantelpiece).

I bought a couple of vases and a few ornaments from places like next, primary and Matalan. Then I also got new bedding and cushions for my bed from House of Fraser.

I just went for a few pieces that would make the living room, hallway and master bedroom look more 🤩

I think you need a couple of pictures on the walls in each room. I added some cushions, nice duvet covers and throws to a bare house I was once selling. It looked much nicer with just those few bits. It depends how many people you want to appeal to, how much you spend in terms of time and money.
A few flowering plants in pots can help too.

I’d do the nice-towel-bales route as mentioned above and take them with me or I’d use a home staging company to do the whole lot-surprisingly less expensive than you’d think.

@murbblurb The house was a do-er upper so that’s why it’s freshly decorated but it won’t be fresh for much longer. It’s amazing how quickly paint marks etc
We’re definitely on the same page - I don’t want it to look like I’ve just gone and filled a trolley at B&M. Plus I’d rather buy things I’ll want to use in the next house too of course.

It sounds like I have the right idea then I’m thinking some plants, maybe a couple of prints up on the walls as they’re just so bare and I’ll definitely get some plain white bedding. I saw on an old thread about keeping a set made up for each bed and throwing it on (neatly) for viewings. I love that idea.

I bought a bunch of plants and some nice bedding but mostly I just tidied away and threw out as much as I could to try and disguise that fact that I didn't have enough storage space! Sometimes you see houses on Rightmove where they haven't even made the bed or washed up. Clean and de cluttered makes a huge difference.

A friend of mine recently borrorowed from various friends, art, plants, bedding, mirrors etc. the place looked fantastic with all our stuff in it!

I’ll definitely make up some pots for beside the door when it’s go time. Should probably just do that anyway because it’ll be nice

@nzeire I’ve actually been trying to rack my brains to see if anyone has anything I could borrow but I’m not sure how many stylish people I know because I’m struggling!

I’m more than happy to buy bits anyway I’m just not sure if I should be thinking £100/1000. I don’t want to go OTT.

I got a few things, throw for the sofa and a couple of cushions. Table runner and flowers for the dinning room. A lovely pot and flowers for the front garden. I had just finished my house though and decided to sell it so I already had most of the fluffy stuff such as bedding and pictures. It helps to sell your house and get you the price you want.

Do you watch "Buying and Selling" with the Property Brothers? God, I love that show!

One trick would be to buy some cheap but large canvases and paint some fake abstract art yourself. I'd check out Facebook marketplace for some unusual/vintage chairs, rugs, ceramics etc. Be clear on what kind of look you want, and spend as little as possible, unless you find stuff that you love and want to take with you to the new house.

Any recommendations for nice but reasonable art that’s not your typical ten a penny stuff?

I have been to a lot of show homes lately and would say a welcoming entrance makes a huge difference. Leave lights on, a clean/fresh door mat, candles/diffusers, bedding and tidy and clean bathroom and kitchen. I went to see a house where they had laundry drying in the entrance hallway and unmade beds, it was difficult to look past that and the smell of.damp laundry.

Have a look on Facebook marketplace for things. X

When we sold our previous house I bought a few pictures from Matalan, few cushions and lamps. I think The range probably has quite a few reasonably priced bits.

I would look on FB also, I'm about to put quite a few decent 'housey' bits on for free as we have to move out while we have some building work and I don't want to keep it.

I’m not doing up a house to sell, but things that I think make an immediate difference when I do them at home are:

Clean porch - leaves swept out, no cobwebs, polished letterbox and bell etc

Big pot of something bright by the front door which you can take with you. Maybe an evergreen at the back (small like conifer or white flowering skimmia or something) and then a few things in flower at the front. Good right now, if you haven’t planted bulbs, are primulas (all one colour look nicer I think in a small space) and when they’ve finished, you’ll be into bedding plants after last frost

Welcoming doormat - hug at home (online) do great ones and some are washable

Coats and shoes all put away

Neat throw and plumped up cushions and sofa cushions

Small stacks of things that look nice to do or read on the coffee table - books, small games etc

Lovely smells all the way through - lemons are cheap and smell great

Fresh flowers aren’t expensive now - daffodils £1 a bunch, irises are usually quite cheap at Tesco and freesia will make a room smell Amazing

You could frame lots of small things and make a collection of them, using the same colour frames (paint them if you need to. Cards or postcards are good for this and cheaper than prints

I also like a big clock instead of artwork and you can take it with you. Mirrors the same.

I’ve got the odd thing from Dunelm. Do you can wade through the ‘love laugh shite’ plaques then there are a few nice and inoffensive canvasses etc. This has real paint on it which might look ok. Not sure of your style, but you just want something most people won’t mind.

I read once that it is texture and not just colour that make a space homely and welcoming - fleecy or furry fabrics, boucle, wool, velvet etc.

I know you said not ten a penny, but IKEA’s posters are usually good and, obviously, fit in their frames.

I found that Facebook market place quite good for knick knacks that didn't look like I'd bought an entire aisle at IKEA. Large picture frames and large plants especially as they can cost a fortune new.

A good set of curtains are also a nice way to dress a bare and newly decorated room without overly putting your mark on it. I got an affordable floor length mustard set from Dunelm

My house was pretty well served for being dressed, as I have stuff like that anyway.

I bought beautiful hand towels for the downstairs toilet, a big White Company candle, a linen runner for my dining table and new cushions for the bed. I have a big bedspread, but of I hadn't I would have used that. I also had a full fruit bowl in the kitchen.

I also made sure the garden was dressed too- cushions on the outside furniture, glasses and a nice plant on the table etc.

I believe that many people are buying a lifestyle

More fantastic ideas thank you very much! I actually like that painting that someone has posted.

Love Matalan for home decor items so I’ll definitely be getting some things there. Bought a cute doormat when recently but if needbe I’ll get another for this purpose as they do obviously get grubby! Not sure if you can wash the coir type ones.

Whoever said about textures I completely understand what you mean. There’s definitely something about cosy blankets and soft cushions that makes a home seem welcoming.

I’m not naive enough to think any of this will increase the value of my house but I think it’s important to paint a picture to the buyers and the more buyers you can do that to the more you’re going to get for the house hopefully.