Guest Blogger: Top 5 Staging Tips for a Disorganized Kitchen

When it’s time to sell your home, you might discover that the years have allowed for a lot more buildup of clutter than you realized, and even if you keep your kitchen relatively clean, you may still suffer from serious disorganization in this oft-used space. Paired with unsuitable storage, this could become a major problem when it comes to piquing the interest of buyers. While you don’t necessarily want to drop the dough for an overhaul that will create a more spacious and efficient kitchen, you can definitely make some cosmetic changes that will help to organize the space you do have and make it appear larger and more appealing. Here are just a few staging tips that are sure to make a difference and help you to sell your home faster.

Clear your counters when staging your kitchen

Image via: SVOYA Studio

Clear the counters

The first order of business when dealing with a disorganized kitchen is to clear out everything that isn’t absolutely necessary. You can start by packing up dishes and small appliances, leaving just a few items that you absolutely can’t live without (like the coffee pot, for example). This will help to make cupboards and countertops look a lot more spacious and less cluttered, as well as allowing prospective buyers to picture their own items in the newly-cleared space (instead of seeing only your possessions). You should also empty the pantry and fridge as much as possible, getting rid of anything expired, at the very least. And you might also reorganize every cabinet and shelf in order to make the kitchen appear neat and functional (even if it isn’t).

Deep clean

Perhaps the worst thing that potential buyers can be confronted by is a mess in the kitchen. And don’t think they won’t be poking around in cupboards and closets. You need to pull out everything and deep clean your kitchen before you start showing the house, and this includes wiping all the shelving, scrubbing the microwave, cooktop, and oven, and even cleaning behind the fridge and under the trash cans. It’s probably been a good long while since you got on your hands and knees to clean every nook and cranny, but with dirt, grease, and grime in this space it is imperative that you get the kitchen spic and span.

Paint

If you last painted your home when you first moved in several years ago then it’s probably time for a fresh coat all around, including the kitchen. This will allow you to select a neutral shade that brightens up the space, making it appear large and inviting. Or you might choose a trendy, modern color that compliments the other materials in the room, such as the cabinets, counters, and backsplash.

Ensure your kitchen has a deep clean

Image via: IKEA

Odor

The kitchen can harbor plenty of unpleasant odors thanks to splattered cooking grease, old garbage disposals, and of course, trash. You can combat these odors not only through rigorous cleaning, but also by replacing any linens (like curtains) that could hold scents, installing a new garbage disposal, and using deodorizing sprays in the trash area. You should also scrub with lemon-scented solvents for a fresh, clean smell and think about adding fragrant, flowering plants before an open home. Some people even bake cookies to give the whole house an attractive odor.

Accessories.

The accessories you choose to leave in the kitchen could affect how people see it, so before you decide to leave old blenders and toasters on the counter, consider what you might think if you walked into a home and saw these items. Your best bet is to keep such accessories out of sight (in cupboards or boxed up in storage) while decorating the space with herb trays, new linens, and a bowl of brightly colored, fresh fruits. These touches will make your kitchen appealing but generic, rather than imposing your personality on prospective buyers.

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