Picture this: You've decided to sell your home. The agent you are listing with has suggested your furniture looks dated and will affect the price you get.
Go for contrast
Magic happens in home decor when you blend contrasting elements. So, consider it an advantage if you own some older furniture. Your rooms can be more interesting than those furnished with just one style.
Feel free to mix things up. Experiment with switching pieces from one room to another. That ancient table from your childhood den might make the perfect island in your contemporary kitchen. And that vintage bamboo chair from the sunroom could be the perfect foil for the mirrored desk in your guestroom/office.
Not only will this mixing make your rooms more interesting, but the playfulness actually highlights the best aspects of each piece.
Note that there's a sweet spot here -- too many contrasting elements can become chaotic, and too few may look uninspired. Also, some furniture sets, like two matching armchairs, or a formal dining room set, can look especially stylish when kept together.
Set the stage
To help create an intentional, curated look, choose a simple color palette for all your walls. It will help your older pieces fit right in with your newer ones. Neutral wall colors such as grays, beiges, and whites work wonders in creating a backdrop that is not distracting. In the above photo, the walls match the bed coverings, and some old-fashioned bed frames were updated with a coat of red paint.
If your older pieces have clashing colors or patterns, consider giving them a fresh coat of paint in a color that complements your modern furnishings. For instance, painting an old wooden chair in a soft gray can make it look brand new and easily integrate it with a contemporary dining table.
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| This kitchen reflects a cottagecore aesthetic with its seemingly random, happy mix of old and new elements. Photo: Hecto Manuel Sandez |
Mix patterns and textures
Combining decorating patterns, colors, and textures gives your home the facelift necessary to please today's buyers. The art of homestaging has been accused of creating over-simplified, boring rooms, and there is some truth to that accusation. But your home won't look boring if you get the hang of mixing colors, textures, and patterns. I've blogged about how to make patterns work for you when you stage a home.
When I tell home sellers that older pieces of furniture can work for staging, I often hear, "But I don't own antiques! I own funky junk!" Not a problem, because home decorating styles have taken a turn towards unpretentiousness in the past few years. Since the pandemic's influence on comfort-at-home, coupled with trending farmhouse and cottagecore styles, you'll find more openmindedness in buyers' minds about what makes a home look fresh and inviting.
As long as your home is spotlessly clean, uncluttered, and has touches of "newness," you're golden.
Refresh older pieces
Some upholstery projects are simple, like replacing the fabric on a removable chair seat. For larger pieces, consider purchasing retail slipcovers. Today's stretchy slipcovers look stunning compared to those of years ago. They come in fresh patterns and colors that look contemporary or traditional, and at reasonable prices, so there's no excuse for boring upholstery!
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| You can order slipcovers online that will stretch to fit different-shaped chairs and couches.Photo: Stretchl |
We all know that paint is a DIY home stager's most budget-friendly helper. A fresh coat of paint on wooden pieces can transform them. And sometimes just some sandpaper distressing and waxing can make an older chair look like an interesting antique.
You can also refresh an older wooden piece by swapping out its hardware. For example, an old wooden dresser can become a statement piece with some sleek, contemporary drawer pulls.
I've written about how to paint furniture like a pro. And I offer more encouragement on mixing old and new furniture in my post about staging a dining room.
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| Two different styles of chairs surround this old trestle table to create a cozy, casual dining area. House&Home photo by Robin Stubbert |
Accessorize with modern accents
Not many people have a house full of new furniture. Most of us have a mix of old and recently acquired pieces. You may have inherited an antique bookcase. Or rescued an end table from the sidewalk or a dumpster. Maybe a friend gave you her bedroom's old dresser. Or you're a regular at a local second-hand shop.Modern accessories will bridge the gap between old and new in any of your rooms. Stylish lamps, contemporary artwork, and trendy vases will tie your decor together and make it look fresh instead of dated or uninteresting.
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| In this living room, traditional furniture mixes with abstract art and a distressed bureau topped with aged artifacts. Photo: Wendy Word Design |
Feel free to add a sleek, geometric lamp to an ornate antique side table. Or an ethnic batik pillow to a mid-century-modern sofa. A few trendy accessories in the mix improves the overall look, creating a pulled-together style throughout the house. You can often find almost new, high-style props like vases, light fixtures, artwork, clocks, glassware, candle holders, and trays for sale locally on Facebook Marketplace or ReStore. Big box and discount stores are also economical sources for trendy decor.
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| This simple table shows some age, a smart contrast to the sleek, contemporary mirrors, lamps, vase, and boxes used as props. Erin Glenn Interiors photo by Bill Bennet |
Get the look, get the book
When it's time to stage your home for the real estate market, it's time to evaluate each piece of furniture you own. It's time to ask yourself, "Does this (chair) (desk) (ottoman) add to the perceived value of my house?"
The good news is you can make your home stand out, using what you have and combining furniture in new ways. Integrating furnishings that are both old and new, bold and subtle, timeless and current, will achieve just that. Download my eBook, DIY Home StagingTips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar so you can start your homestaging today!
Top Photo: Dunbar Road
