Are you trying to make the most out of your home when preparing to make it ready for potential buyers? Just because you're short on space, you can still make it appealing and inviting. No matter your living situation, opportunities always exist to make a tight space seem larger and more open. We have an array of design hacks you can tackle while avoiding the treacherous navigation of the vast DIY world. Here are some tips and tricks to maximize the profitableness of your small space.

Less is More

One of the golden rules of home design includes cutting down the number of items you put inside a room when furnishing a small space. Instead of filling a room with a small chair, a small table, a small sofa, another small chair, and so on, which can make the room seem busier, try to minimize the contrast by bringing in less furniture. Keeping this less is more mentality regarding other decor and accent elements. Small spaces are easier to clutter, so make a habit of only keeping what you need. Assess your items, keep what you love, and donate or resell what you can live without.

Store the items you keep in containers, shelves, or even baskets. Tip: Having wire baskets creates an open design that makes it easy to see what items are inside while adding a stylish look to your room. Just remember to keep the storage inside clean and organized so it doesn't add any visual clutter. And if you feel that you need to incorporate more cohesive items into your home, we have professional stagers available to help you create a well-designed space without breaking the bank.

Vertical, Not Horizontal

When your floor space is minimal, include furnishings you can bring off the ground. The more items on the ground, the more cluttered the space seems. There are multiple ways to embrace this hack. For example, invest in a couch with legs rather than a solid base that touches the floor. Or try hanging or mounting items that aren't furniture. Installing wall sconces instead of floor lamps or mounting floating shelves over a heavy bookcase are optimal options. The key here is to find ways to lighten the visual heaviness, lifting the viewer's eye off the ground and helping them see the room's full potential.

Embrace Light Colors

Choosing the right paint color for your room can take time and effort, regardless of the size of your space. It's a commitment, especially when picking just one color from a sea of shades. And while we don't want to force you to choose a specific tone, we want to steer you in a preferred direction. It's best to use light and bright colors when designing small spaces. The brightness will open up spaces as lighter colors reflect more light, making a room feel larger. You don't have to stick with just white, which can dull a room—adding key colors or bold wallpapers as accents are fun and exciting.

Just try to stick with three materials or colors within one space to stay away from overcrowding. Once you've found your color palette, the key is to use them to the full extent of your walls for a more open look and feel.

Mirrors Are the Secret Weapon

A classic and often underestimated design trick involves adding mirrors. Mirrors are instrumental in making spaces look more prominent. The reflection creates an illusion of more space and depth where it might lack. It also naturally reflects light which we've learned makes it seem like there's more space as the room is now brighter. The great thing about mirrors is that they're practical, quintessential, and timeless. There are options for every style preference and plenty of ways to incorporate it into every room.

Use mirrors to open up a small bathroom, add depth to a constricted entryway, or add light to a dark bedroom or living room. Find the one that works for you.

Have Purpose with Every Piece

Adding on to our tip about decluttering, ensure there is function and purpose with every item you decide to keep. Bonus points if you can find a way to double up on functionality! Find furniture with multiple uses, like a dining table that can double as a desk or a side table that can be used as a central table or even additional seating. Aligning form with function is your best bet, so choose pieces that pull their weight. Lean into your creative side and see what you can discover.

Don't Expect Perfection

For our sellers still living in their homes when they’re on the market, embrace the inevitable imperfections. Even with all the tricks in the world, trying to make your home perfect will only add more stress and unrealistic expectations to your life. As much as we want to create a sense of ideal tranquility in our home living, we must accept that it will never look like an HGTV or Pinterest dream space, and that's ok. Homes are meant to be lived in, which means there are times when our rooms won't look spotless and organized. Give yourself the freedom to let your home get messy from time to time, and I guarantee you'll also give yourself more peace of mind.

Here at LRG we offer various services to help you get your home ready to sell. In addition to our stagers, we also can help you determine the proper valuation of your home so you have a sense of what your home is worth, making your understanding of the market easier to navigate. And if some of these tips are making you worry about stretching your budget further than planned, we can also assist with our home sale calculator. When selling your home, there are additional costs like repairs, title fees, and agent commissions that impact the net cash amount after a sale is complete. Use our home sale net proceeds calculator and estimate your home sale price, total costs, and net proceeds, giving you the best breakdown of your budget.

And if you’re looking for more guidance or further tips, our LRG agents have the knowledge to steer you in the right direction. They have experience working with all types of homes and how to best market it to attract potential buyers. If you aren’t already working with an agent, give us a call and we can connect you with the best! Now is the perfect time to get your home ready to sell. Contact us at 210-879-8220 or send us a message if you're seeking our help. You can also follow us or message us on Instagram and Facebook!