Selling a home is no easy task, and it comes with a to-do list a mile long. Between working with your agent and finding your own next home, staging may be the last thing on your mind. Fortunately, there are three very simple and effective concepts to keep in mind when it comes to staging: your home should be simple, clean, and fresh.

Simple: Don’t Overdo It

One of the biggest mistake’s homeowners can make when it comes to staging their homes involves trying to keep too many things in too small a space. Simplicity is key, so take a good look around each room and think about what the space truly needs. If you have excess furniture, consider moving it into a storage unit for the time being. If you’re a collector of any kind and you have all your prized possessions on display, think about putting those in storage, too.

Ideally, the goal here is simple: if it adds eye appeal but serves no real function, move it into storage and leave only the most basic pieces of furniture behind. This makes the rest of the staging process simpler, and it also gives prospective buyers the opportunity to re-imagine the space as their very own.

Clean: Be Meticulous

After you’ve stripped each room down to the bare necessities, look around at what needs to be cleaned and maintained. Do you have indentations in your carpet from furniture? Has dust accumulated along your baseboards? Think about these things and go over everything with a fine-tooth comb. To make things even easier on yourself, consider closing off areas like guest bedrooms and guest baths during the selling process. This way, you should only have to clean once or twice and there won’t be any extra work.

Cleanliness is vital to staging. It shows prospective buyers what their new space should look like and what they can expect when they make it their own. Even simple things like those indentations in the carpet can be put-offs to buyers, so be sure to take everything into consideration.

Fresh: Add the Finishing Touches

Once you’ve removed unnecessary furniture and accessories then cleaned each room carefully, it’s time to freshen up. You may be tempted to reach for aerosol or plug-in air fresheners, but these should be avoided in favor of fresh flowers or perhaps some lightly-fragranced potpourri, instead. You might also consider removing any personal items from the home that may prevent buyers from seeing it as their own. Things like family photos, monogrammed wall hangings, and personal artwork may be sentimental to you, but they will do very little to help sell your home.

By opening the blinds and drapes, allowing some fresh air to circulate, and perhaps even adding some light, all-natural fragrance, you can make your home far more appealing.

Staging a home does not have to be about creating a “fake” living space for you and your family. In fact, it’s typically the exact opposite. The goal here is to minimize your space by moving unnecessary furniture, clean everything from top to bottom, and then freshen up. These will allow potential buyers to see your home for what it is – their own blank canvas to decorate any way they’d like.