Staging a home to sell is a somewhat different animal when you are dealing with a historic or period home. While you want to make it appeal to the widest audience possible, you have to realize that most of the people interested in buying that type of home are attracted to historically decorated interiors. Most historic homes sell to a specific kind of buyer who is looking for character and architectural details that will make them fall head over heels.
Here are ways to put the focus on a historic home's distinct architecture and appeal to the most likely buyers.
1. Choose classic wall colors. If you need to paint the walls, choose a color from a period-inspired palette. Use fresher, cleaner historic options, such as Benjamin Moore's Palladian Blue, Adams Gold or Georgian Green.
I love the way the homeowner painted the undersides of the sink and bathtub in this vintage bathroom. This kind of color placement draws attention to the unique selling points of the home.
2. Clear out the clutter. Historic homeowners tend to be collectors and don't always tune in to the crowded look that can create over time. Clear away clutter and create symmetry in the furniture arrangements, and buyers won't miss your home's good bones and architectural gravitas.
3. Emphasize the architecture. Put the focus on the architecture by toning down the patterns and ornate decor. Effective use of color keeps the attention on the fabulous architecture of this room: the coffered ceiling, the trim and the cabinetry.
4. Maintain a functional kitchen. Even a charming period kitchen needs to appeal to 21st-century buyers. Make sure your kitchen provides plenty of storage and boasts up-to-date appliances. With period charm in the mix, old house lovers will be sold after viewing a kitchen like this one.
5. Exaggerate space. A period home doesn't often measure up to new-home room proportions. Make the most of your square footage by mixing painted finishes with traditional dark wood finishes to expand the impression of space.
6. Keep window treatments simple. Remove fussy window sheers and heavy draperies from the windows in your historic home — gone are the days of elaborate festoons, jabots and swags. By taking down heavy window treatments, you reveal the beauty of the window trim and make the rooms appear bigger by letting in more natural light.
Tell us: Do you have any experience with selling a historic property? What advice can you share when it comes to marketing a period home?
