For Sale: 8 Tips for Brightening Up Your House for Successful Viewings

For Sale: 8 Tips for Brightening Up Your House for Successful Viewings

We all know that a bright and sunny home can charm potential buyers when they visit a house for sale. If your property is lacking in this area, know that you can remedy the situation.

Some houses are lucky enough to have large windows that let in lots of light. Others have been positioned in such a way that their interiors are bathed in sunshine. If this is not the case for your home, here’s a game plan to make it brighter … and attract buyers!

1 – Say No to Dark Curtains

Remove opaque curtains and dark coloured drapes that block outdoor light! Instead, install thin white sheers that let the sun in. You can even cover the entire wall if you buy them large enough and make the room appear more spacious. Leave them open during the visit if the view is attractive; otherwise, draw them closed and the room will still be sunny. 

2 – Open Up the Windows (Completely!)

Is your couch placed in front of a window? Does your desk conceal a part of the outside view? Have you lined up decorative items along the edges of your windows? If you answered yes to one of these questions, you could let more light into your home by uncluttering the windows. Every centimetre counts!

3 – Add Mirrors

To reflect daylight inside a room, place mirrors on the wall opposite the windows. As a bonus, these decorative objects also have the power of creating the illusion of a larger room – two birds with one stone!

4 – The Power of Pale Colours

White surfaces reflect light, which is why we love to use them in dark rooms. Whether it is the walls or furnishings, paint them in a light colour (prioritizing white) to brighten up a gloomy space. 

5 – Layer Light

Of course, artificial light is not as effective as natural light, but it can make a difference. During a visit, turn on as many light fixtures as you can: recessed lights, floor lamps, desk lamps, hanging lights, etc. Even in the daytime, they can make a dark room bright and friendly while distracting potential buyers from the fact that very few of the sun’s rays normally make it in.

6 – Lighten Up the Floor

Is your dark-toned flooring (wooden floor, ceramics, etc.) bringing the room down? A carpet in a pale shade might save the day! Lay one anywhere: under the living room coffee table, at the foot of the bed or even under the dining table. The bigger it is, the stronger the effect.

7 – Are the Windows Dirty?

Windows that are not sparkling prevent light from penetrating. This may seem like a trivial matter, but dirty windows have a significant impact on how much light comes through as grimy glass blocks sunlight. Psst! Washing the interior and exterior of windows is not enough: hard-to-reach surfaces must be cleaned by disassembling the windows.

8 – Favour Sunny Days for Visits

 A last piece of advice: if at all possible, have potential buyers come over on days when the weather is at its best to put the odds in your favour.

Most of these tips require that you carry out some home staging, but they will certainly be able to help you sell your property more quickly. A bright home is a major selling point!

RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

A leader in the real estate industry since 1982, the RE/MAX network brings together the most efficient brokers.