A Fresh Take on Staging a Rental Property


Putting your time and effort into staging your home will not only bring you top dollar when you sell it, but it will also give you great benefits if you’re a landlord trying to rent it out. If the latter is your case, staging your rental is the ace up your sleeve that can give you the advantage over your competition and attract the right tenants.

Staging your rental will require some initial investment, but it will be money well spent, as it’s the crucial factor that will keep your property from being vacant for too long. Whether you’re planning short-term or long-term renting, the following home staging tips will help you stay in business.

Choose neutral colours

Surveys show that people are more open and accepting of spaces with a neutral colour palette than the ones with unusual and bold décor. It’s important to stage your rental in the manner that appeals to the majority, so after you remove the furnishings, your tenants will still have the opportunity to add their personal touch to the space and decorate it to their own taste.

Keep it clean and clutter-free

When you plan your rental staging, keep the amount of furniture and accessories to a minimum. More is not always better, and in this case, it’s more likely that too much furniture and too many knick-knacks around will make the space closed in. It’s better to declutter the space and opt for key furniture pieces that are light and sleek.

Another essential tip is cleanliness. Nothing puts off tenants more than signs of previous renters. Stains, dirt, holes and damage will make the space feel used and unappealing, so make sure you deep clean the property after each tenant and repair any visible damage.

One of the best investments you can make that will also make this whole process easier is a good-quality floor covering. By accessorising your rental interior with captivating modern floor rugs you’ll add texture and colour to the space and leave a positive impression on your future tenants. Trusted vendors will even offer you styling advice, which will facilitate your staging efforts even further.

Define each space clearly

Renters can frequently misjudge the space at first glance and decide against it if it seems undefined and poorly laid out. If you can’t change the footprint of your property, you can make an effort to give clear definition to each part of it.

Take advantage of each space and demonstrate how useful it can be. An unused space by the window can be staged with a comfortable armchair and a side table for reading, or with a desk and a chair as a home office. Bar stools at the kitchen bar will turn it into a breakfast area, and a small table and two chairs on the balcony will show another potential place for enjoying and relaxing. With these clever staging tricks, you’ll be able to open the eyes of your potential renters to the true possibilities of your space.

Add comfortable and luxurious details

It’s the little things that are vital for the overall design, so make sure you include details that provide comfort and a sense of luxury to renters. If you save on the big things, you’ll be able to afford a few fancy details such as a nice set of mugs and coffee on a tray, clean white bedding in the bedroom, a couple of white robes in the bathroom, a caddy on the tub with toiletries, a high-quality mat by the shower and a dining room table set.

It’s these small details that can leave a strong impact on potential renters, make the space seem more valuable and attractive, and give them a feeling of home and cosiness.

Give the space local character

Especially for short-term and seasonal rentals, it’s a clever move to incorporate some authentic local elements into the existing décor that will remind the tenants where they are. For instance, if your rental property is located near the beach, dress up the place with a few coastal elements or, if it’s a mountain or lake lodge, put up art paintings of the surrounding landscape and add a few rustic pieces to warm up the space.

In the rental business, first impressions count immensely, so however big or small your initial investment might be, you’ll need to spend money in order to make money. By incorporating these tips when staging your rental property, you’ll leave your potential tenants truly impressed and fighting for the lease!