How to Remake a Bedroom

A Realtor with whom I have worked for many years asked me to meet with the owners of a cute, Arts and Crafts period home. They wanted to maximize their sale price so they could invest in a larger home in another state, and they knew they'd need to take care of some deferred maintenance and stage it.

Their home was charming but small, and it had some architectural details that are not found in most homes of today: hardwood doors and trim, curved archways leading from one space to another, and original hardwood flooring from the '20s. We made a list of repairs that needed to be done, minor updates that would give them a big return, and suggestions for curb appeal. I also let the homeowner know what furnishings to leave, and selected art and accessories from amongst their treasures to use in the staging.

The family moved out, and the Realtor coordinated and supervised all the work in their absence: painting the entire house, coating the asphalt driveway, major garden work, lighting and appliance installation, hardwood floor refinishing, clutter removal and various inspections. It was a lot of work! But the Realtor knew that every dime the family spent would make their home more marketable and increase their selling price.

After several weeks of intense work, the house was ready for the final staging. I showed up with my tool kit and found the Realtor with his sleeves rolled up, ready to help me move furniture. The homeowners had left behind odds and ends of for this small bedroom. My job was to charm potential buyers with this spacious and pleasing bedroom.

Before
• This bedroom had a difficult floor plan and was very small. It had a door connecting it to a "Jack and Jill" bathroom (to the left) and a door out to a hall (behind and to the right). We needed to minimize the difficult traffic pattern and make the room look as large as possible.
• A room with too much furniture looks unpleasantly overcrowded, but a room with too little looks incomplete and sterile. We needed to have just enough furniture to make the room look complete.
• There was no decorative theme yet. Charm was required.

After
• The room looked largest when the bed was pushed to the far right. This also let the traffic flow easily between the doors. Adding eye-catching elements to the bed area drew attention away from the odd traffic pattern.
• Staging tip: All a small bedroom needs to look complete is a bed and a nightstand. (A larger bedroom might also need a dresser). As Goldilocks would say, this room looks "just right."
• I searched through what the homeowners left behind and found a quilt, some antique books and framed art, which all country style to them. Just these few accessories added charm to an otherwise sterile space. Another tip: Don't bother putting sheets and blankets on beds - no one is going to look under the covers!
The Realtor sent digital photos to his clients and they were delighted with the house. The Realtor's efforts really paid off - the house sold in a matter of days, and for more than the asking price.

Kit Davey, an interior designer based in Redwood City, Calif., helps clients redecorate their homes through the creative use of their existing furnishings. E-mail Kit your questions: kit@ctwfeatures.com
Copyright © CTW Features