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Create the look of a professionally styled home with these tips

If you’ve been to an open home in the past few years you’ll no doubt have noticed that the decor is almost always perfect — and in many cases, this is the result of input by home stagers, working in an industry that’s recently become big business.

From artfully placed cushions and throws, to that Annabel Langbein cookbook casually left open on the benchtop, their influence is easily recognisable and many agents firmly believe that this extra attention to detail draws buyers in and helps homeowners sell their properties.

So, can you achieve this effect yourself at home — to sell — or just for your own pleasure and comfort? And does it need to be expensive?

The answers are yes and no respectively.

Many home stagers buy their props at stores such as Kmart and Farmers, where homeware offerings are regularly updated and reasonably priced.

They’re often themed, taking in current trends in colour and texture and fashions — such as the present popularity of botanical style, where vases, pots and hanging baskets bursting with very tasteful, realistic artificial foliage add a garden- room flavour throughout the house.

Look at real estate adverts online and when you find a home with decor you like, get ready to adapt it for yourself. Start by taking everything out of the room you’re working on, then gradually add things back to achieve the effect you’re looking for. As an added bonus, you can use this operation to get rid of things that are old or out-of-date.

Make a good first impression with a large mirror, console and not much else in your entranceway.

In kitchens, ensuring a lack of clutter is the key to getting that sleek, streamlined glossy-magazine-look. Put as much as you possibly can out of sight in cupboards, keeping items on the benchtop to an absolute minimum.

Home-staged bathrooms almost always look like something from a luxury hotel and you never, ever, see toothbrushes on show. Get the same result by decluttering first then add neatly-rolled quality towels — perhaps in a small basket, a scented candle, and your favourite skincare

Another good idea is to add a couple of table lamps to help create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Make something such as a plant, or vaseful of flowers, the focal point on your coffee table, along with interesting bowls and some art, design or travel books.

Don’t push all your furniture up against a wall. Letting some pieces ‘float’ can give a sense of more space.

Bedrooms can also benefit from cushions and throws but keep furniture to a minimum — especially if the room actually is quite small. Of course, this tip applies throughout the house. Choose soft, neutral colours and stand pillows up rather than lying them flat in order to get that showroom look.

Some home-staging jobs even include artwork and with low-priced canvas offers abounding online, it’s easy to create your own using photographs or scanned artwork. Big and bold is best and less is always more.