Emily Henderson’s tips for staging a living room to sell a house

Staging a room—or an entire house—is one of the most important steps you can take when preparing to put your property on the market. Though it’s no secret that homes are meant for real-life living, you still want to put your best foot forward, which means keeping up the illusion that your abode exudes energy—without the clutter.

Here’s where designer and TV personality Emily Henderson comes in. Last week, Henderson, who recently sold her Los Angeles midcentury above asking, showed us how to transform a nursery into a stylish guest room to attract the most buyers. Today, she walks us through how to take a crowded family room and turn it into a fresh and contemporary den.

Eliminating clutter by swapping out bulky furniture for clean and simple pieces will create more open space. But you don’t want the room to feel like a museum, so add personal touches like art to imbue a little soul. Next, accessorize wisely—with books, textiles, maybe a houseplant or two—and lots of cushions.

“Here’s the key thing,” says Henderson. “You want it full of life, but not full of stuff.”

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