7 Things Potential Buyers Don’t Want to See in Your Living Room
Show off your home to its best advantage by avoiding these pitfalls
Victoria Harrison
26 July 2018
Editor, Houzz UK and Ireland
Living rooms can go a long way towards persuading people to take the plunge on a house purchase. So if you’re selling up, check out how to show your house to potential buyers, and see if there are any changes you can make to your living space to get the offers flowing in.
More in this series: 7 Things Potential Buyers Don’t Want to See in Your Kitchen l 12 Things Potential Buyers Don’t Want to See in Your Bathroom
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
More in this series: 7 Things Potential Buyers Don’t Want to See in Your Kitchen l 12 Things Potential Buyers Don’t Want to See in Your Bathroom
This article is from our Most Popular stories file
An oversized TV
A very large television can be dominating in a small room, so if yours is an eyesore rather than a feature, try to soften its visual impact before you let visitors into your home.
In this smartly designed living room, the TV slots neatly into the alcove storage units and the dark paint colour allows the screen to blend into the background when it isn’t in use.
Try to tuck yours out of sight, or place a plant or colourful vase of flowers nearby to draw the eye away.
Considering built-in alcove units? Read reviews of carpenters and joiners in your area
A very large television can be dominating in a small room, so if yours is an eyesore rather than a feature, try to soften its visual impact before you let visitors into your home.
In this smartly designed living room, the TV slots neatly into the alcove storage units and the dark paint colour allows the screen to blend into the background when it isn’t in use.
Try to tuck yours out of sight, or place a plant or colourful vase of flowers nearby to draw the eye away.
Considering built-in alcove units? Read reviews of carpenters and joiners in your area
Other people looking in
If your living room faces a busy street or has an ugly view, draw a pretty veil over it with a window solution that allows light in while hiding an unattractive scene (or nosy neighbours).
Window film or a café-style blind can screen the lower portion of a window, allowing light to come in through the top section. As shown here, it can create a feeling of calm in a ground floor living room.
If your living room faces a busy street or has an ugly view, draw a pretty veil over it with a window solution that allows light in while hiding an unattractive scene (or nosy neighbours).
Window film or a café-style blind can screen the lower portion of a window, allowing light to come in through the top section. As shown here, it can create a feeling of calm in a ground floor living room.
Ugly radiators
Dated radiators, peeling paint or scruffy pipes can really bring down the tone of a room, so it’s worth casting a critical eye over your rads before opening up your home for a viewing.
If yours have seen better days but updating them is out of budget, radiator covers can go a long way to making a room feel cohesive and well-considered.
Dated radiators, peeling paint or scruffy pipes can really bring down the tone of a room, so it’s worth casting a critical eye over your rads before opening up your home for a viewing.
If yours have seen better days but updating them is out of budget, radiator covers can go a long way to making a room feel cohesive and well-considered.
A dingy room
Space and light are top of most people’s wish lists when it comes to choosing a home, so a small, dark living room is likely to detract buyers.
Make yours as light and bright as possible by flinging open the curtains, polishing the windows and opening doors to allow in as much light as possible.
Mirrors are a good quick fix to increase the feeling of space in a small room. If you position one opposite a light source, it will bounce rays into the room, doubling the effect.
Space and light are top of most people’s wish lists when it comes to choosing a home, so a small, dark living room is likely to detract buyers.
Make yours as light and bright as possible by flinging open the curtains, polishing the windows and opening doors to allow in as much light as possible.
Mirrors are a good quick fix to increase the feeling of space in a small room. If you position one opposite a light source, it will bounce rays into the room, doubling the effect.
Clutter
This is no-brainer, but getting rid of clutter and streamlining your living space will make your home instantly more appealing to potential buyers.
Cast an objective eye over your living space (it can help to take photos and view it that way) and get rid of any piles of magazines and papers, tidy away toys, mugs and stray items, and limit the number of ornaments and objects on shelves.
Potential new homeowners need to imagine moving their things into your space, so try to empty it of personal family items in particular.
Make sure windowsills are clutter-free, then give all surfaces a dust and polish.
This is no-brainer, but getting rid of clutter and streamlining your living space will make your home instantly more appealing to potential buyers.
Cast an objective eye over your living space (it can help to take photos and view it that way) and get rid of any piles of magazines and papers, tidy away toys, mugs and stray items, and limit the number of ornaments and objects on shelves.
Potential new homeowners need to imagine moving their things into your space, so try to empty it of personal family items in particular.
Make sure windowsills are clutter-free, then give all surfaces a dust and polish.
Uncomfortable sofas
Even though new buyers will probably bring their own furniture with them, a house viewing is the one opportunity they’ll have to visualise themselves living in your home, so creating a welcoming space with a comfy sofa or armchair will help them to settle in mentally.
If your sofa is less than appealing, add a cosy throw and a couple of squishy cushions as a quick fix to make it look soft and inviting.
Shop for a new sofa today
Even though new buyers will probably bring their own furniture with them, a house viewing is the one opportunity they’ll have to visualise themselves living in your home, so creating a welcoming space with a comfy sofa or armchair will help them to settle in mentally.
If your sofa is less than appealing, add a cosy throw and a couple of squishy cushions as a quick fix to make it look soft and inviting.
Shop for a new sofa today
Harsh lighting
A living room is a place to unwind, so harsh overhead lighting can ruin the mood.
Floor and table lamps are a softer option, so invest in a couple, or bring them in from other rooms, and build up cosy layers of light to envelop your viewers as they walk through.
Even if viewings are held in daylight hours, it will still help to set the scene and make potential buyers feel the space is somewhere for rest and relaxation.
Browse floor and table lamps in the Houzz Shop
Tell us…
Have you sold your home recently? Share your experience in the Comments section.
A living room is a place to unwind, so harsh overhead lighting can ruin the mood.
Floor and table lamps are a softer option, so invest in a couple, or bring them in from other rooms, and build up cosy layers of light to envelop your viewers as they walk through.
Even if viewings are held in daylight hours, it will still help to set the scene and make potential buyers feel the space is somewhere for rest and relaxation.
Browse floor and table lamps in the Houzz Shop
Tell us…
Have you sold your home recently? Share your experience in the Comments section.
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And finally the daytime shot......;o)
The wall is a bit darker in reality.....
well...i going to buck the trend here a little, I love our big tv. Its state of the art, and sits very nicley beside the window. Its not the first thing you see in the room as the fireplace has a statement mirror and eyecatching wallpaper. I would love, in an ideal world, to have a room just for the tv, but thats not going to happen.
soozmacrae, of my friends who have TV rooms, they are nothing spectacular. One has it in her laundry room, to watch while she does the ironing, and the other in what used to be her daughter's bedroom as her son's former bedroom is now the spare room. In the end, though, it makes no difference at all to anything a potential buyer doesn't want to see since none of the personal effects will remain after completion!