Staging is what can take a bathroom from okay to glamorous. It can make a room look complete and help buyers visualize themselves living in the space. 97% of real estate agents we surveyed agreed that staged homes positively influence buyer decisions.1 While this is good in and of itself, some agents think that staging may also lead to more quantifiable results. According to our survey, some agents believe that staging may help homes sell faster, for more, and over asking.1
For bathrooms specifically, staging can be incredibly important. Bathrooms are private and intimate spaces. Most buyers do not want to think about others using this space, especially in their potential future home. Staging a bathroom can help depersonalize these rooms and make them feel less lived in. Both can help buyers overcome any mental hurdles they may have about using someone else’s bathroom once they move in.
How to Stage a Bathroom When Selling
A staged bathroom could make a big difference when buyers are comparing homes. But if you don’t know where to start, the final product could fall apart. Follow these tips on staging a bathroom to ensure these rooms are market-ready.
Clean
The first thing you need to do to properly stage a bathroom is to do a deep clean. Wipe down the counters and sink. Clean the toilet thoroughly. Swab the tub. Mop the floor. Clean the mirrors. Scrub the grout. Dust the light fixtures. By the time you are done, you want the bathroom to look as immaculate as a five-star hotel.
Declutter/Depersonalize
Bathrooms are private, intimate spaces, and buyers do not want to think about other people using their future bathroom. Along with cleaning them, you also need to declutter the space. Remove all personal care items like makeup, lotions, hair accessories, hairbrushes, toothbrushes, and shampoo from the countertops and the shower.
Better yet, clean out the room completely if you can. Some buyers will open drawers and medicine cabinets, so move any personal items in these areas elsewhere for the time being.
Use Neutral Colors
An important staging tip for bathrooms is to use neutral colors. Neutral colors like white, gray, and beige tend to appeal to most buyers. White also gives a clean and pristine look that buyers are looking for in spaces like a bathroom. If the bathroom is currently full of bright colors, it is time to mellow down the space.
Clear the Countertops
When thinking about how to stage a bathroom counter, it is important to choose the right decor. Think simple, elegant, and clean for a spa-like appearance. Less is usually more in a staged bathroom, so a few plants, candles, or a small basket will often do.
Check the Lighting
Bathrooms often have less natural lighting than other rooms in the home, but that doesn’t mean they should be dark. To make a bathroom more inviting, make sure the lighting is in order. Not only should all lights be on, but all the lightbulbs should have matching wattage for uniformity.
Be Mindful of the Shower Curtain
A shower curtain can help tie in all the elements of a staged bathroom, but it can also detract from the space if it is dirty or an unappealing design. If you want to keep the shower curtain, clean both sides as people may pull the curtain to the side. You could also ditch the curtain altogether.
Stage the Towels
An important part of bathroom staging is the placement and color of towels. Staging bathroom towels is not as hard as it seems. All towels should be matching and neatly placed. White towels are preferable for their impeccably clean look, but another neutral color will do. Hand towels can be hung nicely over a bath towel on the towel rack or rolled and placed purposely on the counter.
Draw Attention Away from the Toilet
The toilet is a necessary part of a bathroom, but it isn’t exactly something buyers want to think about. When you stage a bathroom for an open house or showing, you do not want to draw attention to the toilet. Make sure the toilet is spotless. Clean the bowl, seat, lid (both sides), rim, and base. You should also keep the toilet seat down. Finally, remove unnecessary items that allude to the toilet’s use such as a cleaning brush or plunger.
Ditch the Bath Mats
Another bathroom staging idea is to remove the bath mats. While bath mats may be able to add a bit of color, they often end up being more trouble than they are worth. They can easily get dirty or wrinkled, especially with buyers trampling through the space. The exceptions to this rule are if the flooring needs to be covered or if bath mats help tie in all the design elements in the room.
Use Wall Art
When you prepare a bathroom for a showing or open house, you may want to get a few pieces of wall art to complete the look. Think simple, classy, and elegant designs that add to the modern feel of the room. Avoid wall art that is loud or could be controversial.
Hire a Professional
When in doubt, hire a professional stager to stage your bathroom and other rooms in your home. They are the experts for a reason. While these bathroom staging tips can help, a professional will have the best idea of how to market your space so it appeals to the most buyers.
Get Professional Photos
Staging is only half the battle. Once the bathroom is staged, it is important to get professional photos of the finished product. Photos of staged bathrooms, and any other rooms for that matter, should be added to the listing. They are what can help get buyers through the door.
Go Beyond Just Staging
While staging a bathroom is good, it is just scratching the surface. There are plenty of other ways to update a bathroom on a budget and get it in tip-top shape before it hits the market. Minor updates like painting cabinets or updating light fixtures can go a long way.
Sources:
Curbio (2022). Preparing to Sell: 2022 Home Improvement Report