Updated November 6, 2024

Get Ready to Sell: Five Spaces to Showcase in Your Home

So, it’s happened! You’ve found your family’s new dream home, and now it’s time to prep your current home to sell.

During your own home search, it’s likely that you visited a model home or two that motivated and excited you. Channel some of that interior design inspiration to make your home as alluring as possible to prospective buyers, so they can more easily envision living in the home.

Here are several ways to highlight some of the most popular home spaces buyers are seeking.

A model home’s kitchen with luxury wood-look plank flooring, leather upholstered stool seating pushed up to the white quartz-topped center island, a rich blue backsplash above light gray lower cabionets and clean, white upper cabinets that extend to the ceiling, including glass-fronted upper cabinets back-lit and displaying a variety of decorative pottery pieces.

The Gresham model home by David Weekley Homes is anchored by this beautiful open kitchen

The Kitchen

From getting ready in the morning to relaxing into the evening and preparing for special occasions, the kitchen is central to how many families live in a home.

Cleanliness is key when showing a kitchen. The floors, countertops, sink and stove top should be spotless, and everything needs to be freshly dusted. Keep the countertops clutter-free, leaving only minimal kitchenware out, such as a fruit bowl or the ever-present salt-sugar-flour jars.

Do your best to make a bar or dine-up island charming with comfy barstools. Use any open-front shelving to display cookbooks or your most decorative plates, and stash bulky appliances, like slow cookers or air fryers, out of sight in the cabinets.

An open-concept office space with white walls, a blue ceiling, built-in shelves and cabinets at the back of the room, hardwood floors, two upholstered chairs facing a center table, and a wood chair pushed up to a black desk opposite the large front windows.

An exquisitely furnished study in The Fairbanks model home by David Weekley Homes

The Home Office

With more and more people working from home, a sophisticated study or functional home office is more important now than ever before.

If you have a study, remove all the clutter, and place an emphasis on updating its look to be on-trend while still flowing with the rest of your home’s décor. You may even want to invest in built-in bookcases on the main wall.

If you don’t currently have a home office, consider converting an existing bedroom, dining room or other available space to temporarily serve as an office while selling your home.

Tall potted plants, a round table surrounded by wood chairs, an outdoor coffee table and paired lounge chairs, and a set of wall-mounted potters bring a warmth and welcoming atmosphere to this modestly sized covered back porch.

Simple decorative and functional touches make the covered porch of The Kepley model home by David Weekley Homes especially inviting

The Porch

As the trend continues for outdoor living spaces to become an extension of the home, having a covered porch, patio, deck or lanai really makes an impact with potential buyers.

Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report for 2024 indicates that, on average, you can recoup approximately 82% of the cost of a deck addition. It may also be the detail that pushes a potential buyer to make an offer.

If you already have a deck or patio in place, be sure to merchandise it so it looks inviting. Invest in some plants and flowers in containers, purchase a firepit to place at center stage, make sure your throw pillows and outdoor umbrella are in excellent shape, and clear out any toys that might make it look cluttered or messy.

Make sure everything is sparkling clean, so it looks like a place they’d be happy to hang out right away, not a chore they’d have to tackle after moving in.

Blue and white checkerboard-pattern tiles support the classy black cabinetry with brass fixtures and white countertops, where retro laundry canisters and glass jars filled with powdered detergent give a classic flair and frame the sparkling clean front-load washer and dryer at the center of the frame.

Cleanliness and light decorative flair make the utility room shine in The Caulfield model home by David Weekley Homes

The Laundry Room

To make the most of your existing space, you will want to make sure the laundry room looks tidy and fresh.

Consider dressing it up with an accent wall or laundry-related signage to make laundry time less of a chore. Take it a step further with a new countertop to instantly maximize efficiency when folding clothes, as well as shelving for all those laundry essentials.

If you don’t currently have a room devoted to wash day, you may want to consider ways to maximize your current setup by adding shelves or opting for the pedestal base available for washers and dryers.

Light checkerboard tiles, off-brown shelving and green walls frame the interior of a walk-in closet, where a few pair of shoes, hanging garments and raffia baskets show off what each type of fixture can be used for without making the space appear stuffed or messy.

The uncluttered walk-in closet of The Leeward model home by David Weekley Homes showcases possibilities rather than putting capacity to the test.

The Walk-in Closet

A walk-in closet is a big draw for some, especially first-time Homebuyers who may be moving out of an apartment. Be sure to focus your energy on making the walk-in closet as organized and attractive as possible so buyers can envision their own wardrobe within.

Built-in shelving will make this space even more tempting, and you may want to invest in matching sets of shoe and sweater boxes to organize any loose items that might add to the clutter.

If you only have a reach-in closet and a walk-in expansion is not possible, you may want to consider adding a closet system – complete with shelving units and hanging rods.

With a few simple updates and a focus on on-trend interior design, it just might make all the difference in how quickly you can start packing those moving boxes. For additional advice, be sure to take a look at our expert home staging tips.