Home Styling for Modern Buyers
Impress potential buyers with home styling trends that appeal to younger buyers. Styling a home for modern buyers is the process of making the home fall in line with contemporary modes of living. Millennial home buyers want flexible spaces and convenience. Sell quicker with amenities that make millennials swoon.
Buying and selling property is taxing and expensive. Professional home stagers are expensive (and often worth it). But there are measures you can take on without them. When it comes time to stage your home for sale, think about the buyers. If they’re younger, you’d do well to attract them with clean lines, home office space, and amenities that appeal to both gen Z and Millennials wants. An almost retired boomer or somebody who has raised three kids probably doesn’t share the same tastes as the younger generation of buyers, so follow this list to get it right.
Practical Staging Tips to Attract Millennial Home Buyers
No theory. No airy suggestions. And no hipster jokes. Don’t think of these as staging tips, think of them as directives. Just hard facts to attract millennial buyers. Practical tasks to get you max dollars on sale and as quickly as possible. Hey, budget constraints are fair limit
- DIY Accent Walls: Use paint or removable wallpaper to create an accent wall in the living room or bedroom, adding character and depth to the space.
- Repurpose Furniture: Give existing furniture a contemporary update with a coat of paint or new hardware. Think of converting an old dresser into a chic entryway piece. Repurpose junk into art. Some older furniture, especially from the mid-20th-century and earlier can be modified into some special stuff.
- Floating Shelves: Install floating shelves for an inexpensive way to add storage and display space, perfect for small plants, books, or art.
- Update Cabinet Handles: Swap out dated cabinet handles and drawer pulls in the kitchen and bathroom for modern, sleek designs.
- Refresh Tile Grout: Clean or re-grout bathroom and kitchen tiles to refresh the space without the need for full renovations. Some products and services can help you paint the grout. In any case, a clean-look bathroom sells. Everything else, smells.
Let There Be Light
- Strategic Lighting: Use a mix of floor and table lamps to create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Consider updating lampshades for a fresh look. Maybe go the full distance and install mood lighting by way of WIFI-enabled smart LED bulbs. Any tech is big with millennials.
- Rearrange Furniture Aiming for Openness: Optimize the layout of each room to create open, inviting spaces that allow easy movement and interaction. Promote flexibility. Does the couch in the office fold out making a guest bedroom? Tell buyers about it.
- Decorative Storage Baskets: Utilize stylish baskets to hide everyday clutter, especially in living areas and bathrooms.
- Minimalist Artwork: Choose simple, modern artwork to hang on walls. You can even create your own abstract pieces for a personal touch.
- Update Window Treatments: Replace heavy, outdated drapes with light, airy curtains or sleek blinds to let in natural light and enhance the sense of space.
Make a Bold First Impression
- Paint Front Door: Give the front door a fresh coat of paint in a bold color to boost curb appeal and create a memorable first impression. Staging for Millennial Buyers isn’t all new – this trick works on everyone.
- Cozy Throw Blankets and Pillows: Add texture and warmth to living areas and bedrooms with the use of throw blankets and decorative pillows.
- Refresh Bed Linens as part of your home staging tips to impress potential buyers.: Ensure beds are made with clean, modern bedding. Neutral colors with a pop of color in accent pillows can transform a bedroom.
- Organize Closets: Clear out excess clutter and organize closets to showcase ample storage space, a critical home staging tip. Use matching hangers for a cohesive look as a simple yet effective home staging tip.
- Enhance Curb Appeal: Tidy up the landscaping, mow the lawn, and add a few potted plants near the entrance for an inviting exterior. Nothing has to be Better Homes and Gardens, but aim for maintenance-free and tidy.
Steam, Bleach, Scrub All Things
- Deep Clean Everything: A thorough cleaning can make a home feel like new. Pay special attention to kitchens and bathrooms.
- Remove Personal Photos: Replace personal photos with neutral wall art to help buyers envision themselves in the home.
- Update Old Faucets: Installing new, modern faucets in the kitchen and bathroom can be a cost-effective way to modernize these spaces
- Create a Feature Nook: Identify a small, underutilized space and turn it into a feature nook, like a reading corner or coffee station. Home styling for modern buyers means changing your perspective, looking at things differently.
- Use Mirrors Strategically: Place mirrors opposite windows to reflect natural light and make spaces appear larger and brighter.
Go Green
- Indoor Plants: Incorporate greenery to add life and a touch of nature. Millennials are known for their love of indoor plants.
- Pet-Friendly Features: If possible, highlight pet-friendly aspects of the home, such as a fenced yard or built-in pet doors. Having kids is expensive, so many young couples see pets as family members while they save up for the big time. Staging for modern buyers is sometimes about catering to proclivities that will destroy capitalism.
- Update the Kitchen: It doesn’t have to be twenty or fifty thousand dollars worth of upgrades. Do it inexpensively in a way that appeals to buyers of all kinds. Make it neat and clean, comfortable and inviting. Kitchens are the hub of the home; buyers want a space that makes them feel enlivened. Get the cabinet doors refinished for pennies on what it costs to replace them. Refinished cabinets and new hardware are huge. If you are able, look at solid countertops. Avoid the big box stores. Look at the industrial parks to the smaller vendors who do the installations and can get the marble, granite, quartz, and Corian for much lower cost. Think fresh. Grout cleaning, wall paint, decluttering, and cheap accents could be enough to get .
- Yard Sales, Garage Sales, Thrift Stores, or Borrow: Selling your home is a temporary state of affairs. So don’t buy an original Matisse, grab a tasteful $2 glass vase and fill it with M+Ms (see research). Know your audience. Check your in-laws’ shed or crawlspace. Here’s betting there’s something you can arts and craft your way into utility.
Old Yeller
- Bathrooms Need to Look of this Century: A thirty-year-old rose porcelain toilet with fuzzy lid cover is not going to cut it. Carpet or cracked tile has to be replaced. Some old ideas like tuxedos and little black dresses are timeless; a pee-soaked rug in the bathroom is not. Flooring might be enough to get you over the hump, so look at options there if you think it would help. New faucets, a modern mirror, and a massively deep cleaning could do it. Oh and light, lots of light. If it is dark in there, people will wonder why.
- Energy-Efficient Light Fixtures: Carbon footprints are a justifiable concern for young prospective buyers. Little changes like efficient LEDs, especially if you were to take aesthetics into account, will appeal to the greatest number of buyers. Do those cheap light strips have a place accenting a particular hallway or in-cabinet or under-cabinet lighting? Their flexibility can raise the bar quickly and inexpensively.
If You Have Kids, You Know it All Comes Down to the WiFi
- Home Office/Workspace: Side hustles, hybrid work, or full work from home, they all need dedicated space. Space that resonates with younger buyers is flexible, properly-lit, and purpose-built. Maybe opt for a long table or an adjustable height desk. Make your home sing to buyers with a well appointed, multi-purpose workspace.
- Internet and WiFi: Our lives are, for better or worse, highly dependent on online services for banking, communication, entertainment – you name it. For Millennials, multiply the importance of this vital link by three. So highlight strengths such as good local internet options. Pro-tip: Consider installing a whole-home mesh WiFi network such as Amazon’s Eero system and consider including it in the sale. Silly little things like a three hundred dollar WiFi router setup with whole home coverage could be a difference maker.
- Make a Local Amenities Brochure: Gear it to the likes and needs of younger buyers. Do it in Word or Google Docs – it doesn’t have to be fancy. List local restaurants, maybe put a DoorDash or UberEats logo next to those that deliver. Add phone numbers and addresses. Consider putting a map to the nearest hospital or a map of highway options and drive times. Where’s the local transit station? Add available internet providers and speeds and numbers to local utilities. Note Tim Horton’s and Starbucks locations or movie theaters and golf courses. Home buying isn’t easy; do the buyer’s research for them to cut through the crowded market. First time buyers rely on their real estate agent; if the buyers themselves don’t want the brochure, give it to their realtor. They’ll know when to bring it up and will appreciate the info.
FREE as in Contemporary Paint Styling
- Neutral Paint Scheme: Go for high-quality paint in neutral colors throughout. These appeal to millennials’ desire for spaces that are both beautiful and practical.
| Color Scheme | Hex Codes | Description | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft Neutrals |
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This palette uses monochromatic shades that create a serene and cohesive look. The gradual transition from soft white to darker taupe provides depth and warmth, making spaces feel open yet cozy. | ||||||||||
| Cool Modern |
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Utilizing a cool-toned approach, this scheme incorporates shades of blue and grey to create a calm, sophisticated atmosphere. The use of analogous colors (blues and greys) ensures a harmonious space that’s modern and inviting. | ||||||||||
| Warm Earth Tones |
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Inspired by natural elements, this palette combines warm earth tones to create a welcoming environment. The colors range from soft ivory to dusty rose, offering a balanced mix of warm hues that evoke comfort and ease. | ||||||||||
| Minimalist Contrast |
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Emphasizing a minimalist aesthetic, this scheme pairs white and light silver with deeper greys for a striking contrast. This approach uses a neutral base with varying degrees of contrast to add visual interest while maintaining a sleek, modern look. | ||||||||||
| Subtle Blues and Greens |
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This color scheme combines cool blues and greens to create a refreshing and tranquil space. The progression from mint cream to deep sea green mirrors the natural world, promoting a sense of calm and rejuvenation. The analogous colors ensure a seamless flow throughout the space. |
Color Theory Explanations
- Soft Neutrals: Utilizes a monochromatic scheme for a unified and expansive look, making small spaces appear larger. The warmth of beige and taupe adds coziness.
- Cool Modern: The cool tones of blue and grey are known for their calming effects, making them ideal for creating serene, sophisticated spaces. The analogous color scheme ensures harmony and subtlety.
- Warm Earth Tones: Drawing from nature, the warm palette fosters a welcoming and grounded atmosphere. The combination of soft peach with muted terra cotta and dusty rose adds warmth without overwhelming, using a complementary approach to balance warmth with subtlety.
- Minimalist Contrast: Leverages a high-contrast, achromatic scheme for a bold, modern look that still feels accessible. The use of grey tones adds depth and sophistication, perfect for highlighting architectural features.
- Subtle Blues and Greens: An analogous scheme that brings the calming qualities of nature indoors, promoting relaxation and well-being. The gradual transition from light to dark mimics natural landscapes, creating a cohesive and peaceful environment.
These color schemes are designed to appeal to millennial tastes by combining modern aesthetics with psychological comfort, ensuring that the staged home feels both contemporary and welcoming. You have to stage in a way that allows buyers to imagine themselves living in your home, tailoring your approach to what millennials want. Don’t just add a coat of leftover paint from the garage. Styling for modern buyers isn’t a game – get strategic by making well thought out color choices for the living space!
In Conclusion
This generation of homebuyers is justifiably picky. Homes are expensive. Style your home in a way that shows millennials (and their real estate professionals) that your home is well considered and well maintained while highlighting its flexibility and suitability to a younger buyer’s lifestyle.
You don’t have to turn your place into a smart home to attract this generation of home buyers, but you do have to make your home look modern and functional. No list of home staging tips to attract and appeal to the Millennial generation would be complete without mentioning that millennials love low-maintenance lifestyles. So put away your top hat and unicycle and get to work!