New interior design psychology ideas help you sell your kitchen. You may ask, “Sell my kitchen?”
Yes. Kitchens sell houses. So, get your kitchen ready with home staging ideas for a top-dollar sale.
Seven Home Staging Strategies from the Psychology of Interior Design for Kitchens:
1. Brighten dark areas. For an inexpensive solution to light up dark countertops, use plug-in nightlights. Also, a small lamp looks great on a countertop because the warm spotlights feel “homey.”
2. Soften hard surfaces with cloth, including window treatments and new hand towels.
3. Remove all appliances from countertops. This step, clearing eye clutter from the counter, visually expands your kitchen. Each item on the counter stops your eyes for a second. Fewer fixtures let shoppers’ eyes roam freely and give the impression of a large countertop expanse. If necessary, use a bowl of fruit or flowers to brighten up the space.
4. If you decide to replace kitchen cabinets, choose light wood or a white finish to reflect light in a dark kitchen. White cabinets convey a feeling of cleanliness and spaciousness. Wood cabinets in major cities recoup 90-130% of the installed cost when you sell them.
5. For a moderately priced home, laminate countertops mimic limestone or granite and provide a smooth surface. Upscale buyers prefer granite countertops, but large-scale ceramic tiles with small grout margins produce a granite-like effect for a fraction of the cost.
6. Luxury home buyers are looking for pantries, hardwood or stone floors, built-in wine coolers, water filtration systems, built-in microwaves, and custom lighting. All buyers expect a garbage disposal, a dishwasher, and an over-the-range vent system.
7. Sleek modern kitchens don’t need to smooth out totally hard surfaces (countertops, floors, cabinets, etc.). However, homes that exhibit a relaxed and inviting atmosphere benefit from eye-softening additions like colorful new hand towels, a rug underfoot at the sink, and potholders on hooks near the stove.
No matter your budget, get your home ready for a high-value sale. Little house staging strategies entice a buyer to say, “This is my new kitchen.”
Copyright © 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved. (You may publish this article in its entirety with the following author information with live links only.)