Bathroom Staging Ideas to Win Over Potential Buyers

Guest Post by Elizabeth Pandolfi 

Now that your house is on the market, you may be wanting to overhaul your bathrooms to boost resale value, but is now really the time? It’s understandable to want to start bathroom demolition day, but a complete remodel is typically not the most cost effective way to boost your home's value.

On average, homeowners spend between $9,600 and $11,000 on a remodel — typically spending more money on the rennovations than what the added value to the home would be. Most real estate agents agree that doing a full bathroom remodel is not always the most cost effective nor the most time-effective option. Instead, opt to make your bathrooms clean, updated, uncluttered — these are the types of things a buyer wants to see when they tour your home, and you don't have to break the bank to do it.

Since bathrooms are one of the most important rooms in the house to convince potential buyers to make an offer, agents generally advise home sellers to start by working with what they have. Opt for the small scale facelift verses an entire reconstruction. There are easy ways to transform the look of your bathroom if you focus on three things: fresh, clean, and functional. If you keep your bathrooms spotless, smelling fresh, and functional, you can’t go wrong. 

Here are a few easy, cost-effective bathroom staging ideas that will help you win over potential buyers. 

Scrub, scrub, scrub

The number one thing you can do to give your potential buyers a good impression? Clean! It’s an investment that will pay off in spades — in fact, the ROI on a deep cleaning when it comes to selling your home is more than 900 percent!  

This is especially true in a bathroom, where dirt and grime can make the space feel not only dingy, but unhygienic. 

Just take a look at this video from HomeLight to see how important a clean and inviting bathroom can be for your home sale. 

Remove all personal items

No matter how attractive that toothbrush holder is, buyers won’t want to see your personal grooming items when they’re touring your home. 

Just like with any room in your house, buyers need to be able to see themselves in the space — not the former owners. Seeing your mouthwash or shampoo in the bathroom will make it that much harder for them to imagine their family living there, which can negatively impact the likelihood they’ll make an offer.

Choose white, textured towels and linens

You can never go wrong with fresh white towels and linens. By purchasing some new, inexpensive linens specifically for staging your bathroom, you’ll give the whole room a fresher look. 

Pay attention to texture, too — soft, fluffy textures will create a more luxurious look and appeal more to buyers than flat ones.

Update bathroom fixtures

Outdated hardware in your bathroom can give a dated, tired look. Invest a bit of money in new hardware, and you'll be surprised how such a small detail gives the illusion that your bathroom is years newer than before. Hardware doesn’t have to be anything super high-end either — just stick to a simple, modern, neutral design and you’ll have a winner.

Add minimalist decor

Once your bathroom is spotless and clutter-free, it’s time to add in a couple of minimalist decor touches. A small vase of pale flowers or greenery on the countertop, an unobtrusive botanical print on the wall, and perhaps a lightly scented candle should do the trick. These elements make the space feel homey and inviting, but not overly personal with too many tchotchkes. Remember, the more stuff you put in your bathroom, the smaller and more cramped it will feel. Let the room open up and breathe by keeping items to a minimum.

Whether you are staging your home for resale, a vacation rental, or a quick spruce up, these staging hacks are quick and easy solutions to cure your bathroom blues.  

Elizabeth Pandolfi is a writer and journalist based in South Carolina.