When selling your home, it’s crucial to get as much as you can for it.
As an award-winning home stager, I’ve seen firsthand how strategic staging can dramatically impact a home’s appeal and sale price.
And this doesn’t necessarily mean spending thousands or even hundreds of pounds decorating and renovating.
It can be achieved with a few smart tweaks and tricks that are free.
And I should know. As the founder of ThePropertyStagers, a company that furnishes and transforms 400 properties across the UK every year, I know what buyers are looking for – and, most importantly, how to design a home they’ll want to call their own.
Whether it’s a compact city apartment or a multi-million-pound townhouse, staging isn’t just for luxury homes – it’s a method that can be applied to any property at any price point to maximise its value.
To showcase this, I’ve chosen a diverse range of homes currently on the market, each with unique challenges and opportunities.
With the right approach, every property can be presented in its best light, attracting more buyers and commanding a higher price.
Property stager Liv Conlan (pictured) can help increase the asking price for those selling their homes, suggesting tweaks to make the houses more attractive to buyers
Liv has suggestions that would make this one-bedroom apartment more appealing for buyers – and maximise the space
1. One-bedroom apartment on Pentonville Road, Angel, London, N1 – £450,000
At £450,000, this apartment is essentially two rooms, meaning the buyer – whether a young professional or an investor – will be looking to maximise every inch of space.
Even for a single person, clever design can make this feel less like a compact flat and more like a stylish, multifunctional city pad.
With the right staging, we can elevate this to a Carrie Bradshaw-style apartment, blending chic, cosmopolitan charm with practical solutions.
By implementing smart design tricks, we can make it feel bigger, more functional, and undeniably desirable.
Define the kitchen and living space
According to Liv, the kitchen/living area lacks a clear separation, which she believes could be rectified and improved
Right now, the open-plan layout lacks clear separation, which can make small spaces feel cluttered rather than cohesive. A high bar table in the centre of the kitchen would act as a visual divide between it and the living room, creating a natural flow while also offering a practical dining and workspace.
Remove bulky storage units
The large storage unit with drawers is taking up valuable square footage and making the space feel cramped. By replacing it with sleek, built-in storage solutions, we can maintain practicality without overwhelming the room.
Enhance lighting and add soft furnishings
Good lighting is key in small apartments. Layering different light sources – such as pendant lights over the bar table, stylish floor lamps and wall sconces – will create depth and warmth. Adding soft furnishings like textured cushions, throws, and a statement rug will bring in an inviting, high-end feel reminiscent of a boutique hotel.
Incorporate multi-purpose furniture
Every piece of furniture should earn its place. A coffee table with hidden storage, an extendable dining table, or a sofa bed can showcase how versatile the space can be. Photographing these items in both open and closed positions will allow potential buyers to visualise the apartment’s flexibility.
Maximise bedroom space with smart sleeping solutions
In a one-bedroom apartment of this size, the bed should work harder. A day bed or a complete wall bed system (Murphy bed) would free up valuable floor space during the day, making the room feel more like a stylish lounge when not in use. This would be especially appealing for buyers who work from home or love to entertain.
2. Four-bedroom house on Oaks Avenue, Worcester Park, KT4 – £900,000
According to Liv, this property has ‘great potential’ – but she says that it ‘feels a little cold and unloved’ at the moment
This property has great potential, but right now, it feels a little cold and unloved. While a buyer might expect to do some light renovations, there are plenty of low-cost ways to make this house feel warm, inviting and truly like a home.
Small staging adjustments can help potential buyers emotionally connect with the space, which is often what turns a viewing into an offer. By focusing on lighting, soft furnishings, and minor cosmetic changes, we can transform this house from a blank canvas into a welcoming family home.
Create warmth with better lighting
The current listing photos were taken with the lights off, which makes the space look dull and uninviting. Simply turning the lights on and adding warm-toned bulbs can create an ambient, cosy atmosphere that instantly feels more welcoming.
The property expert advises sellers to ‘elevate the bedrooms with fresh bedding’ – like crisp, white sheets
Freshen up with a lick of white paint
The dark kitchen furniture makes the space feel smaller and heavier. A quick coat of crisp white paint on the walls and cabinets would brighten it up dramatically, making the kitchen feel more modern and spacious.
Soften the living room
The living room is lacking warmth. Adding a plush rug, stylish cushions, and soft throws in warm neutral tones would make the space feel far more inviting. Storing away extra dining chairs that aren’t in use would also help declutter the room and create a more streamlined look.
Elevate the bedrooms with fresh bedding
Unmade or mismatched beds can instantly make a home feel neglected. Using crisp white bedding with textured throws and accent cushions would create a hotel-like feel, making the bedrooms look fresh, clean, and desirable.
3. Four-bedroom apartment on Carnation Way, SW8 – £6.6M
Simply furnishing this impressive space would make it more appealing to buyers, says Liv, who says leaving it empty is a ‘huge missed opportunity’
With a price point at this level and the luxury amenities the building provides, it’s clear this apartment is designed for a high-earning corporate buyer.
The location and modern architecture make it ideal for those who want a sleek, effortless lifestyle in the heart of the city.
Yet, right now, the space is completely empty, which is a huge missed opportunity. At this price, it’s criminal that the apartment hasn’t been staged – buyers need to be able to visualise how they would live here.
And right now, the blank walls and bare floors do nothing to sell the lifestyle this property is meant to offer.
Furnish the space to sell the dream
Without furniture, it’s overwhelming for buyers to grasp the full potential of each room. Carefully selected furniture would define key areas, giving the apartment both functionality and personality.
Create three distinct living zones
The open-plan living space should be staged with clear zones: a formal dining area for entertaining, a relaxed lounge area for socialising, and a cosy reading nook or work-from-home space. This would showcase how the apartment can seamlessly accommodate a busy lifestyle.
Add more photographs
The current listing lacks variety in its photos, making it harder for buyers to engage. Once staged, professional photography should capture different angles and lighting to bring out the best in the space.
4. Six-Bedroom House on The Lane, St John’s Wood, London, NW8 – £12.95M
Liv says this home ‘has all the makings of the perfect family home, with its grand proportions and elegant features, but it’s missing one crucial element: warmth’
Stepping into this property feels like a scene straight out of The Holiday – a unique blend of Cameron Diaz’s sleek LA mansion and the quaint, cozy charm of Kate Winslet’s English cottage, particularly in the garden area.
It has all the makings of the perfect family home, with its grand proportions and elegant features, but it’s missing one crucial element: warmth.
For a home of this caliber, buyers aren’t just looking for space – they’re searching for a feeling.
They need to envisage Christmas mornings here, relaxed Sundays in the cinema room, and lively family gatherings in the kitchen. The bones are there, but the emotional connection is missing. Here’s how I’d bring it to life.
Layer in warmth with textiles
The first layer of staging is complete, but adding plush cushions, textured throws, and soft rugs would make the space feel more inviting and lived-in.
According to the property stager, the home cinema should feel more ‘indulgent and cozy’ than this one currently does
Enhance the kitchen with thoughtful accessories
The kitchen feels too clinical. Introducing elegant accessories – like fresh herbs, wooden chopping boards, and ceramic vases – would soften the look and make it feel like the heart of the home.
Furnish the cinema room properly
A home cinema should feel indulgent and cozy, but right now, it lacks a comfortable focal point. Adding a deep, luxurious sofa or sectional would immediately make the space feel more enticing.
Interiors expert Liv Conlon, 26, runs two seven-figure businesses: multi-award-winning ThePropertyStagers that stages 400 properties a year; and StagerBoss – a coaching business teaching women how they can do the same.
