9 Genius Home Staging Tricks That Could Add Thousands to Your Home’s Selling Price

Not only does staging your house makes it more desirable to potential buyers, making small tweaks can actually increase its value. We asked the design pros for the cheapest ways to make your home worth even more.

Entice interested homebuyers

First impressions matter, especially when it comes to your biggest asset. Fortunately, a few easy tweaks can spark that “I’d love to live here!” feeling and motivate buyers to make a strong offer:

Inspire ‘check-in’ vibes

Before listing your home, imagine you’re a hotel guest stepping into a suite for the first time, suggests real estate pro Kati Spaniak. “Think about what people love most about hotel rooms— they’re clutter-free and feel wonderfully inviting.” Then try to get as close to that as you can with your home.

“For example, a fresh bedspread and fluffy pillows—even inexpensive ones—help buyers picture your home as a comfy retreat.”

Go for the trendiest shades

Neutral tones are your secret weapon! Swapping out bright accents—like a red rug or an orange vase—for light-colored options makes rooms appear bigger and brighter in listing photos.

“Bold colors also pull focus away from your home’s best features, like sunny windows, while neutral tones ensure buyers zero in on what matters most,” explains Spaniak.

To complete the look, consider painting your walls a “greige” color, such as Benjamin Moore’s White Dove, she sug- gests. “This classic blend of gray and beige instantly transforms any room in your home, making it feel warm and truly welcoming.”

Signal kindness with a patriotic flag

When HGTV star Nicole Curtis designs an exterior, there’s one thing she never forgets: our American flag flying proud. “It signals this is a home with heart.” In fact, houses with the flag are perceived as more welcoming. Flags should ideally be on the left side of your entry, but if you can’t, “just keep the porch light on when the flag is flying.”

Beautify your windows with pretty plantings

Few accents are as cheery as window boxes. If you’re short on blooms, just fill them with potted plants. Used by Joanna Gaines on HGTV’s Fixer Upper, this shortcut looks best when you stick to one type of plant, like begonias or geraniums. “And don’t be afraid to go faux,” says Kristie Barnett, author of Psychological Staging. “You can order faux plants designed for the outdoors, like baby boxwoods.” Tip: Installing a window box? Says James, “Placing them a bit lower balances facades of older homes with too-short windows.”

Upgrade your garage with stylish magnets

An updated garage door boosts your home’s value by as much as four percent. Just pick up a carriage hardware set ($21.99), suggests James. “I used a screw-in version and love it, but for something less permanent, try a magnetic garage door hardware set ($26.88).”

Paint your front door a bold red or turquoise, and Zillow reports your home could sell for $6,271 more! “I chose a pear yellow that tied into the landscaping,” says James. “Now, the first thing people say when they come over is, ‘Oh I love your door!’” Prefer a smaller splash of color? Go bright with a mailbox or porch swing.

Looking for more of the Top Ways to Increase Your Home Value? Check out this video.

This story originally appeared in our print magazine.