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When preparing to sell a home, staging plays a key role in making a strong first impression. Most homeowners focus on the living room or kitchen the obvious showpieces but one space that often gets overlooked is the bathroom.
Yet, the bathroom can have a surprisingly big impact on how buyers perceive the overall cleanliness and upkeep of a home. A fresh, well staged bathroom signals care, hygiene, and modern appeal all factors that help potential buyers imagine themselves living there.
In this guide, we’ll explore why bathroom staging matters and share simple, effective bathroom staging ideas you can apply right away. Whether you’re planning to sell your home or just want to refresh your space, these tips will help you transform your bathroom into a clean, inviting, and spa-like retreat that buyers love. Let’s dive in.
Before we get on the practical tips and tricks on how to get bathroom staging done right, let's first begin with the "why" aspect because it's important to understand why to do something for motivation of getting it done with the correct reasons.
While you can understand the kitchen, living room, and bedroom being some of the critical spaces to stage, why is staging a bathroom so necessary? Here are some critical reasons:
Purchasing a home is one of the biggest decisions of anyone's life. Further, it's also a decision most buyers make with the help of their emotions. This means that whatever they feel about the home the moment they see it physically will be laying the foundation for their decision of whether to buy it or not. They need to look at every corner with warmth and acceptance in their eyes because without being relaxed and feeling welcomed, it would be hard for them to imagine living there comfortably.
While the bathroom with a wet mirror or no rug may not be a big deal for the seller, and while it's also not a big deal when seen together by keeping the bigger picture in mind, you need to remember where the buyer comes from. The buyer is seeing someone else's property; they are entering someone's personal space and want it to resonate with their feelings to ensure they are comfortable living in the space after that.
If they see dirt and dirty towels in the bathtub, it's going to be difficult for them to imagine unwinding and relaxing in that same space. So, you need to make sure you give the potential buyers the respect and grace of embracing a stranger's home and being as relaxed as they can.
Before we dive into the practical tips on how to get bathroom staging done right, let’s take a step back and talk about the “why.” Understanding the reasons behind staging a bathroom gives you the right motivation and helps you do it with more clarity and purpose.
You probably already know that the kitchen, living room, and bedroom are major areas in home staging. But the bathroom plays a surprisingly important role too. Here’s why bathroom staging should never be skipped:
And now since you are aware of why staging a bathroom is necessary, here are 13 Bathroom Staging Ideas That Impress Buyers:
Everything needs to be spotless! Simply dusting it off is not enough. The first rule of staging a bathroom is that it needs to be spick and span before any potential buyer sees it. Wash everything you can – the garbage can, walls, bathtub, mirror, showerhead, toilet seat – everything seen in hindsight.
The next idea to stage a bathroom effectively is to get rid of anything left by the previous owner. No one wants to imagine being in someone else's bathroom or, worse, someone coming and using their bathroom. Hence, it's important to eliminate anything that signals someone's preference.
Below are the three necessary components you absolutely want to get rid of when you stage a bathroom:
It's the minor things that would make or break the buyer's decision to get the home or not. When considering accessorizing a staged bathroom, it's essential to bring the luxurious factor in for the potential buyer to find comfort. Get some elegant accessories in the bathroom, like:
These subtle touches can elevate and highlight the potential of the master bath, helping potential buyers take a decision.
Many existing homeowners are used to the mildew, hard water stains, and peeling caulk in their bathrooms. It doesn’t bother them anymore. But when you are showing the house to someone who wants to buy it, these things will leave a huge impression on them and potentially make them turn away from the property.
When you are staging the bathroom, make sure to go through a strict cleaning spree to get rid of all the water stains from the walls, floors, tiles, and glass. Update the caulking near the sink and shower for a better-looking bathroom.
Bathroom hardware and fixtures are some things that seem to be a personal preference depending on the homeowners. Hence, it's essential to replace them with something modern and trending so that the overall look of the house seems cohesive and everything flows perfectly.
The cabinets also play an important role in enhancing the look of a home when staging a bathroom. Swapping the outdated ones with something modern and trendy is important, especially if the old ones are dingy and in bad shape. Talking about the color of the cabinets, make sure to use neutral paint to cater to every type of potential buyer's taste.
Adding a neutral color palette to the bathroom is the next important point to keep in mind during bathroom staging to make sure you are appealing to a huge crowd. Bright and bold bathroom colors are not everyone's taste, and if the existing bathroom is of a bold color like dark blue or magenta, ensure that you change it to a much lighter and neutral color like beige, cream, brown, or white for more home buyers to attract to the look.
This small investment in applying a fresh coat of paint can allow you to secure a deal faster and of much more value.
A bathroom should feel bright (not blinding bright), cozy, and inviting. Allow the natural lighting to flow in by opening the windows and blinds during a daytime showing. And if you are showing the house at night or in the evening, make sure to get bright but not harsh lighting. Incorporate more lights on the warmer side of bright, like golden, for an inviting look, and avoid white lights as they seem to be too much.
One of the easiest bathroom staging ideas is to add a touch of greenery. A small plant on the counter or a hanging pot in the corner can instantly lift the mood of the room. It softens the look, adds freshness, and takes away that plain, sterile feel that bathrooms sometimes have. If you’re working with a small space, this trick makes a big difference without any clutter.
When staging a bathroom, it’s not just about what people see. You want to create an experience they remember. That’s why it helps to tap into all the senses. Use a light air freshener or keep a bowl of potpourri out in the open. If you're around during the showing, lighting a soft, fragrant candle can add a cozy and relaxing vibe. These details help create a spa-like atmosphere that leaves a lasting impression on potential buyers.
Towels might seem like a small detail, but they matter more than you think. For a clean and polished look, go with matching towels. White always works well because it feels crisp and fresh, but you can also use soft neutrals. Hang hand towels neatly over bath towels or roll a few and place them on the counter for a hotel-style feel. It’s a simple way to show that the space is cared for and well put together.
When staging a bathroom, everything comes down to small details. Adding the small details makes up the entire look of the space. Try to roll in everything that can appeal to the mass, like luxurious hand towels, pretty apothecaries, small green plants, decorative soap dishes, artwork, and everything else that can elevate the potential buyer's senses and keep some space in their mind to imagine themselves in the bathroom better.
Wall art adds a polished and welcoming touch to any bathroom. Go for clean, elegant designs in soft or neutral tones that match the feel of the space. Abstract prints, subtle nature scenes, or minimal line drawings work well without drawing too much attention. Stay away from anything too bold, loud, or personal. The goal is to create a balanced look that appeals to a wide range of buyers.
Now you know the importance of a good staged bathroom to sell a property at top dollar, but there's one minor drawback (or even a major problem for some people). You need to be aware of the heavy investment of money that comes with traditional staging.
Staging a bathroom has excellent perks as it enhances the property's appeal and helps home buyers visualize the space of their dream. This further makes it easier and brings you closer to signing the deal. But no one talks about the high costs that tag along, including:
Combining all these costs, an industry average estimate comes down to an estimated $1,719 every month in 2023. And hold on, this cost is just a fair average. Depending on the area and the location, it can increase, where luxury home staging can reach up to $6,800 per month.
So, clearly, if you’re working on a tight budget, spending this much may not be ideal.
But what's the solution to this problem? Virtual staging!
Now, there's no need to sacrifice home staging due to its expense with a virtual staging service like Styldod. We help you ensure you are able to reap the benefits of a staged bathroom and other spaces in the house at a lesser expense!
Stage a property with the help of professionals at only $16 for every image and save some dollars.
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