These days, bedrooms are more than just a place to sleep.  Our bedrooms have become our sanctuary, our quiet space, an oasis to get away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the house and the world.  Does your bedroom reflect this?  What does your bedroom say?  Here are some ideas to make any bedroom a personal haven.

• Look at your bedspread with new eyes.  Do you need to invest in a new one?  Frequently deals can be found at linen stores, don’t forget to look for coupons in Sunday’s paper.  Many times, they will honor each others coupons.  This is an inexpensive fix that will give your bedroom a new, fresh look.  Those matching, decorative pillows make the bed look like a “spa hotel”.
• Clear off your nightstands and dressers except for a few decorative items.  Perhaps a few candles or a vase with fresh flowers would perk up the furnishings.  PLEASE pack away Grandma’s crocheted doilies.  She’ll understand!
• Hide books, nic-nacks and exercise equipment under the bed or in a closet.
• Speaking of closet, is it a time to cull the old clothes that don’t fit or are out of style?  Bag them up and send them off to a donation center.  If you haven’t worn them in a year, let someone else have a shot at fitting into them.  Do you have 500 wire hangers in there?  Get rid of them!  Some dry cleaners will take the hangers back.  Recycle if you can!  When showings are scheduled, keep the closets closed although buyers will look in there anyway.  Don’t leave your unmentionables laying around! 
• Hang up a nice big piece of art over the bed or a grouping of photos.  Try to pack away those personal photos.  Believe me, buyers do tend to linger around your personal photos and get distracted by your family portraits.  We want them to focus on the house and how lovely your bedroom is.
• Stand in the doorway of your bedroom.  What’s the focal point?  It should be your bed.  Some stagers love to put the bed at an angle in the corner with a large plant behind the bed.  See stagedhomes.com for more great photos and ideas.
• Does your bedroom smell like a wet dog or old gym socks?  Keep your laundry in the laundry room (better yet-wash right away), use plug-ins to neutralize the odors, banish the dog out of the bedroom, if possible or change the bedding at the very least to minimize Fido’s impact.  
• I don’t care for rugs on top of carpeting.  I do see this quite frequently, but it makes the room size appear smaller and buyer’s think you are hiding stains under there.  Are you?  If so, get the carpets cleaned.  You’ll need to address this eventually!  A exception:  Rugs can be an asset but only if in an extremely large bedroom to bring the room together. 
• Do your kids have 37 posters of Hannah Montana or Scooby Doo hanging in their room?  Bribe them into taking them down except for one or two.  Pack up most of their toys for the move.  Make it a rule that they make their bed every day until the house sells!  Promise them a treat if they meet the challenge.  Sorry, Dr. Phil, I’ve raised two kids and sometimes bribery works! 
• What do your curtains or window treatments say?  If they scream “I love the ’70’s” then we need to talk!  If you have heavy curtains that are making the room dark, you may want to consider replacing with some lighter sheers or maybe some 2″ wooden (or faux wood) blinds.  These look nice and aren’t very expensive.  Sorry, those metal mini blinds are dated.  Do your windows need cleaning?  If you haven’t opened those mini blinds since Ronald Reagan was in office, you might want to remove them (please!) and give them a good scrubbing.  Nothing sells like CLEAN!
• A brief word on updating:   Everyone has their own style and that’s what makes this world interesting.  I am not telling you how to decorate BUT how to STAGE TO SELL!  When you’re staging your home to sell, please understand that you want to appeal to the broadest group of buyers.  Example:  I had some clients who had a lovely, newly built home but decorated the home inside with very dated materials, ie. wall paper, window coverings and light fixtures.  When I gently tried to mention what may have prevented their house from selling (for almost a year) they dug in their heels and insisted that someone with their taste would come along and buy the house.  The chances of that happening are like a snowball in …..well you know what I mean.  Unfortunately, it did not sell and was taken off the market.  PLEASE understand that if your experienced real estate agent or stager gives you advise on what sells and what doesn’t, please listen!  We are not trying to hurt your feelings or insult you.  Remember that we do this EVERY DAY and know what turns buyers on and off.   Nuff said! 
• The Golden Rule of Staging:  Clean, Clean, Clean! 

I am a Real Estate Agent Stager and do not sell my services.  I provide them FREE of charge for my clients to help them sell their home faster and for more money.  For more FREE STAGING TIPS please visit my blog here:  www.beckyflores.com and be sure to visit our website at Stagedhomes.com to find an experienced Stager or Real Estate Agent Stager in your area.