Nurseries That Nurture and Sell
If the mere thought of a baby’s nursery gives you the warm and fuzzies, join the crowd! Nurseries are one of House Dressings favorite spaces in a home and are super easy to sell! Parents with newborns spend huge amounts of time with their sweet bundles of joy in the nurseries. Potential buyers – whether they already have children or plan to one day – can quickly sense the emotional significance of a well-styled nursery and the role it plays in a family home.
We’re sharing the love in February – Baby Love and offering helpful tips to sellers for this sweet and special space. We’ve recruited some of HD’s own moms, family members & friends (thank you Lizzie, Fallon and Liz!!) to give us best hints from their own experience while also giving us a glimpse inside their nurseries:
Make them swoon! Favorite nurseries are well-styled and totally adorable. Imagine the room photographed, find inspiration from Pinterest (or HD’s look book for sellers!) and dip your toe in to create a space that will make buyers truly fall in love with your home.
Keep it simple. Top nursery ingredients include a crib, small wall-mounted shelving, changing/console table (keep the diapers and wipes out of view!), rocking chair, neutral rug, and a few fun accessories. Remember – you’re moving soon so no need to overdo the furniture to sell this space.
Calming colors soothe both baby and buyers. Neutral easy-on-the eyes hues work better than bright colors, especially for potential buyers without children. If your nursery is decorated with gender-specific colors, try toning it down by putting away any bright colored rugs, bedding or accessories (hiding them in the closet is fine, as long as it stays neat and organized!).
Make the most of the space and sell square footage. Nurseries typically occupy the smaller bedrooms, so we suggest using a few simple techniques to make the room look bigger. Keep those draperies/window panels pushed to the sides and let that light shine through! Remove unnecessary items from the floor - we sure don’t want potential buyers tripping over toys! Additional lighting also helps this space feel lighter and more spacious - turn on a lamp, use white light bulbs in fixtures, and even consider removing blinds. And finally, what about the walls? Too much art and vertical distractions makes the room feel tight.
Organization is absolutely the key! Maximize space and reduce clutter by using furniture with drawers, wall hooks, organizational crates and baskets, baskets, baskets (great for toys, shoes, clothing, diapers, wipes, lotions, etc.). Don’t forget the closet – having a good closet system will help you declutter for last-minute showings.
It’s okay to get personal - but not too personal! Adding sweet baby clothes hanging from a shelf, books on a wall rack, and a fewtoys (we don’t want to clutter the room!) can help potential buyers see themselves reading to their baby or playing with them in what could possibly be their future nursery. What to avoid? Any décor items with first names, initials and personal photos.
Keep it squeaky clean and smelling fresh. No dirty diapers! Spraying the room and/or furniture with a lightly-scented room spray is a great tip just before showings. Wipe down surfaces and store launder hampers, soiled sheets, rugs, etc. that may distract buyers!
Flex space is big with buyers. Imagine optional uses for your nursery -- an office, workout room, play room (for older children), guest room etc. Then declutter and accentuate the key features of the space (flooring, windows, lighting, closet, etc.). This is especially helpful for buyers without children.
