A look at any decor magazine, or designer's online portfolio, or home improvement website will tell you that today there's no one way to decorate a home. That's good news if you are trying to sell your home. 

No matter the architectural style of your home, your decor choices are wide open. A properly staged home will flatter your home, but also let buyers imagine their own furnishings as they tour your property.      

Add variety 

So, ignore the decorating rules of decades ago. Now you can mix things up when staging. This is welcome news for those of you who inherited furnishings or decor items that you might not have chosen. Or if you love to haunt thrift stores, or have naturally eclectic taste. 

Need examples? You can hang a traditional landscape painting in your mid-century home. Or stage your cottage home with that contemporary loveseat you own. How about adding a vintage bar cart to your otherwise sleek dining room? You could dress up an older bathroom with a Picasso poster. Or lay an oversized buffalo plaid blanket over the bench in your girly bedroom. 

Juxtaposing different styles is one easy way you'll appeal to different types of buyers. 

No one says you need to have matching 
styles of furniture or artwork when
staging. Photo: Ballard
   

The wood table and chairs soften the
feel of this contemporary kitchen.
Photo: Harrell Design and Build

Unbreakable rules 

There's one homestaging formula that makes it possible to stage with an assortment of furnishings. The rule is that all your interior walls should be the same color. Trust me on this. Your home will look larger, cleaner, and more intentional. 

If you are reluctant to tackle a major painting project, here are two tips make the job easier. There's no need to empty the room of furniture. Just push everything to the middle of the room, leaving a 3-foot wide area around the perimeter. My other painting tip is to use a long handle on your paint roller, and pour your paint into a 5-gallon bucket rather than the typical, shallow pan. These professional painting methods will save your wrist and your back. 

When your walls are a neutral color,
your accessories can provide shots
of other colors. Photo: Cailini Coastal

Another unbreakable rule is that your home needs to be super-clean. My best tip for easy cleaning is to find a formula that works for you -- either tackle it all at once, or in small chunks of time. Of course, decluttering comes before cleaning.       

Make smart updates

No matter what the age or style of the house you are selling, it's best to get a home inspection before listing. Then, you can take care of whatever an inspector points out. Doing so prevents you from lowering your price. Or losing a good buyer. Or slowing down the purchase process while you make repairs. 

Unless you are selling "as is," buyers expect a roof in good condition. They want appliances that work, if they convey. They want energy efficiency like replacement windows, and modern technology like smart thermostats. They like outdoor spaces that function for recreation and entertaining.

Adding smart technology like security
cameras shows buyers that you have
made recent upgrades. Photo: Bob Vila

Where to get help

There are times when DIY is the best course of action. But if your house needs to change things like the layout of your kitchen, a professional designer and builder will guarantee that it works with how people cook, entertain, and move through the area. Tip: It helps save money if you can maintain the same plumbing locations. 

Some sources of free advice are the salespeople at home improvement stores, established hardware stores like Ace, and reliable paint stores like Sherwin-Williams. 

Plan your outdoor photo

The front view of your home is what gives prospective buyers their first impression of it. Today's curb appeal is online. Make sure things like your landscaping, house siding, and roofing are in good shape. 

When the professional real estate photographer arrives, be ready. Relocate things like recycling containers and vehicles ahead of schedule, especially if drone photography is part of his plan. 

If you have flexibility with choosing the time of year to sell your home, choose the season when the outdoors looks as good as it can. 

Your profile photo is like a dating app photo! 
Make it flattering, but still honest. 

Get the look, get the book

I've blogged about how to market your home to women, and to senior buyers, and how to appeal to Millennial homebuyers. You'll see that all of today's buyers aren't strict about traditional design norms.

But they do share some needs and wants. They all want clean homes in good repair, with upgrades that reflect today's smart technology. After you've satisfied those needs, you can have fun decorating your home with what you already own.

For more ideas on how to sell your home fast for a price you like, be sure to check my homestaging eBooks. You'll find encouragement, money-saving shortcuts, formulas for cleaning and decluttering, and DIY projects that make a difference.

Top photo: Sarah Richardson