While many home sellers prioritize the inside of their home when preparing to list and market, it’s the outdoor spaces of a home that can truly create a lasting impression on buyers. Putting equal consideration into the outside of your home as well as the inside creates not only first-look appeal for anyone visiting, but creates a cohesive feel throughout the entire property that buyers notice. Today we look at some simple tips and tricks that top stagers use to spruce up any outdoor space, any time of year.

Clean, Declutter, and Minimize

As with the inside of your home, the first step to preparing your property’s outdoor spaces for listing is a deep and thorough cleaning. Use this opportunity to clean out any rain gutters, clean shutters and windows, and sweep or pressure wash your home’s siding, walkways, deck or patio, and fencing. Then make a thorough inspection of all outdoor areas to ensure that any unwanted items are removed and that no personal items are left outside. If you have extra time and funds, a quick repainting or restaining of any exterior surfaces that are weather-worn can do wonders for sprucing up the look and feel of the property.

Landscaping Check-Up

While a professional landscaper can make quick work of reimagining your outdoor spaces for listing, you don’t necessarily need to hire outside help in order to clean up your home’s landscaping. If you’re up to tackling this task on your own, start by making sure that any bushes, hedges, and trees are trimmed regularly, and give the lawn surrounding your home a fresh mow before each showing.

Next, inspect any garden areas and weed out intruding plants as well as dead or sickly plants. Consider planting new pre-grown flowers in these areas for a fresh look. If your home doesn’t have space for a garden or you need a less time-consuming solution, potted plants are an excellent alternative and can be placed almost anywhere. Finally, consider adding or replacing simple edging or stone borders around your home’s walkways, trees, gardens, and water features for an instant landscaping upgrade.

Define Living Areas

Every aspect of your home should look as inviting as possible to new buyers, and outdoor spaces are no exception. Take some time to define places on your property where living areas will be established. Then place appropriate seating for each area: on a deck or patio, stick to comfortable seating and consider adding a dining table, side tables, or ottomans to show how the space could be utilized. For areas in your yard such as a fire pit or pool, lightweight and foldable seating with a picturesque viewing angle can do wonders for the imagination of potential buyers.

Create an Atmosphere

Finally, put yourself in the mind of a prospective buyer and think about what feeling your home’s outdoor spaces should evoke for them. Little details are key in producing an expertly staged and picturesque home, so focus your attention on bringing in thoughtful items or features that all contribute to a specific concept that exudes feelings such as relaxation, luxury, mindfulness, family bonding, entertainment, and more.

Pick a color scheme that incorporates your home’s existing colors as well as its plants and flowers, and choose outdoor decor such as throw pillows, blankets, and candles that fit this theme. Alternate textures and materials to create visual interest in sitting areas and use layout wisely to make the most use of any space. Take stock of your current outdoor lighting scheme and replace bulbs and fixtures where needed, or consider adding string lights or outdoor lamps for an extra touch of warmth.

Interested in more outdoor decor and landscaping tips? Check out our full Design Tips series for more valuable resources.