Staging Your Room? Look Up.

Selling your house is a giant undertaking. There are so many things to consider when getting it ready for the market. As any realtor or interior designer will tell you, first impressions count—you only get one chance to impress potential buyers.

Staging is all about highlighting the house’s strengths and downplaying any weaknesses. Big rooms and lots of space are at the top of every buyer’s list. You can’t change the footprint of the house, but you can make the rooms appear bigger. And that, surprisingly, can start at the ceiling.

Ceiling fans are not only an alternative to air conditioning, but they provide lighting and add personality and style to any space.

For example, this teenage boy’s room is a decent size. It has lots of floor space and a couple of windows. The ceiling fan, however, is way too big for the space.

Select A Fan Size

To determine the best size fan for any room, calculate the square footage by multiplying the length by width. A room measuring 145 to 225 square feet needs a 44-inch to 54-inch fan. Choose anywhere between a 50-inch and 72-inch fan for a larger room (225-400 square feet). Since the ceilings in this house are only eight feet high, a ceiling hugger is better than the original. You don’t want tall buyers to have to duck when walking into a room!

Think About Hardware And Finishes

I found a 44-inch fan in a brushed nickel finish with reversible blades. It’s like getting two fans in one! When shopping for your fan, pick a finish that coordinates with other hardware in room or house. Since this house is being staged for sale, I decided to stay neutral but still give it a little personality.

Get Creative

I didn’t want to do anything permanent while the house was on the market, so I chose washi tape. It’s a semi-transparent decorative tape that’s removable and repositionable. This diamond pattern in blue adds a little something to the blades. It goes with the room’s colors and can easily be removed by the new homeowner.

Another option is to paint the blades in a color that matches the room. Or, you could decoupage pretty papers, book pages or labels to go with the room’s decor.

The Importance Of Lighting

Lighting is another important component to consider when staging your house for sale. Good lighting makes a home feel inviting, welcoming and warm.

Open up draperies, curtains and shades to allow in as much natural light as possible. Place lamps in strategic spots in each room so that you eliminate dark corners, as light makes a space appear bigger. The same goes for your ceiling fan, too—be sure to install a light kit with high wattage bulbs. Bedrooms, bathrooms and hallways need plenty of illumination. Install dimmer switches so you can adjust the level of light.

The original fan had a glass bowl light with only one bulb—not enough for a bedroom. I chose a three-light fixture instead to provide more ambient light.

Keep these tips in mind when updating your home for a resell. A new or repurposed ceiling fan can put your home’s best foot forward by adding an energy-efficient cooling source and better lighting.

As a crafty interior designer, Merri Cvetan writes for The Home Depot about home decor and DIY projects. She provides tips like updating the lighting in your bedroom with a ceiling fan. Click here to see Home Depot ceiling fan options like the one Merri talks about in this article.