Whether you’re a seller looking to sell your home or a buyer looking for that special place to call home, good design and decorating always play an important role. Let’s face it, whether it’s intentional or not, your home is a reflection of your personal style.

As a seller, you should be very aware of your home’s appearance and people’s perception of it. Remember, buyers are looking at your home through their eyes. They are trying to imagine living there with their family and belongings occupying the space.

It is with that knowledge in mind that you, as a seller, should be keeping most in mind when trying to understand the demographics of potential buyers. You should also be “staging” your home directly to these demographic groups to expedite the sale process.

I wish I had a dollar for every time someone said to me, “You CAN’T paint my solid wood kitchen cupboards!” Equally, I wish I had a dollar for every time I responded, “Why not?”

Take a look at the following picture of a kitchen I recently updated for some clients. It used to have medium-stained oak wood cupboard doors with matching oak and discoloured brass handles. (Sound familiar?) When I suggested painting it a creamy white with stainless steel pulls the client was horrified.

After several weeks of “negotiating” the client finally agreed but insisted I wait until they left for their annual 6-month visit to their home in Florida. They could not bear to be there during the process as they were too nervous & were convinced they would have to replace their entire kitchen when the idea failed.

Upon their return, I received a phone call from a jubilant client who was literally “squealing” on the phone. She could not believe the results. (Oh, I also replaced their tired vinyl flooring and worn carpet in the adjoining family room with 16” square laminate floor tiles made to look like ceramic but that’s another item for another feature article.)

Their exact words were “This reminds us of our home in Florida. It’s so bright and uplifting. I can’t believe we lived with that dark kitchen for 20 years without even realizing it was dark!” (A surprising comment considering I remember thinking the first time I saw their house “beautiful home but too bad the kitchen is so dark!)

Also, take a look at the lighting in the kitchen. This flexible halogen track (purchased at Ikea for under $100) replaced a yellowing “sunshine Ceiling.” (Also sound familiar?) By removing the plastic panels and fluorescent tubes, it heightened the ceiling creating almost a “coffered” effect. Not only did this update the kitchen but it improved the lighting (not to mention how much better you look under halogen lighting vs. fluorescent). Now the clients can direct the lighting where they need it most. This is known as “task lighting.”

You will also notice the simple halogen pendant lamp over the sink and matching lamp over the table (purchased at Home Depot for $70 each). These simple yet dramatic lights create an entirely new mood in the room while providing much better lighting.

This specific example cost the homeowner less that $1000 (including lighting and handles, excluding flooring). It could have been even less expensive had they painted the cupboards themselves rather than hiring a painter.

Just remember, if you’re going to do this, give the cupboards a thorough cleaning with tri-sodium phosphate (TSP), followed by one or two coats of a good quality latex primer. Finally, the finish coat (or coats depending on colour and coverage) should be carefully applied also using latex paint.

Stay tuned for my next feature article where I discuss see-through staircases!