It doesn’t matter that most homes aren’t sold with all of the contents included; good decor helps prospective buyers fall in love with a property. That’s why staging real estate listings can be so powerful.

That power comes with a price tag, though. If you want to save money on professional staging and go the DIY route, there are two things you need to know:

• The best staging hacks and
• The best and most current decor trends.

In this post, we’re giving you the rundown on the top home decor trends of 2018 and how they can help you stage and sell homes faster.

1. Trays

In July 2018, American blind and shade company Next Day Blinds published the results of their research into the home decor items that Americans googled most in the last year.

The most searched-for item? Trays.

Wood trays that rest on an ottoman and contain a television remote, drink coasters and a photography book. Or lucite trays to hold a candle, matches and a notepad. Or gold-mirrored trays for bar supplies, like fancy cocktail glasses and chic napkins.

Trays like these are hot because they serve as both storage and a decor item that adds visual interest. They’re available in all kinds of aesthetics and at various price points, making them a flexible and accessible way to dress up various rooms in your listings.

2. Woven Textures

Wicker as a summer-only material? Not anymore.

Fringe, crochet and woven textiles are just bad 70s leftovers? No way.

Woven textures showed up in a big way this year. Think: fringed throw pillows, wicker storage baskets and nubby, vintage-inspired wall hangings.

Moderation is key here; try a large-scale wall hanging on a bedroom wall or wicker baskets containing a couple throw blankets in the living room.

3. Tropical Touches

Palms, monstera leaves and hibiscus motifs have showed up on everything from shower curtains to wallpaper to throw pillows to coffee mugs.

The tropical trend is a nice way to incorporate graphic touches without being too abstract. But it’s not for every home; a palm tree print will be out of place in a house otherwise filled with antiques, for example.

Turn to this trend when you’re selling a minimalist or austere home that could benefit from some warmth and personality. Tropical vibes can also be a great addition to an already maximalist or vibrant aesthetic.

4. Maximalism

Speaking of maximalism, it’s back after years of being overlooked in favour of minimalism.

We’re talking layered textures, colours and patterns – sometimes in surprising combinations. Forget less is more; we’re all about ‘more is more’ now.

The overall effect is whimsical and creative, which can feel inviting and warm.

It can be difficult (and expensive) to start creating a maximalist room from scratch, so save this trend for listings that already have the foundation of a maximalist aesthetic.

5. Plant Party

Houseplants never went out of style, but they’ve never been hotter than they are this year.

Whether it’s because of a desire to counteract our increasingly digital lives or simply because they’re relatively inexpensive and impactful decor, having an overabundance of house plants is a trend in and of itself.

We don’t mean a plant in each room; we’re talking rooms with plants on nearly every surface. Like maximalism, but with plants.

This trend can be applied in ways that achieve a myriad of looks. Add climbing vines and leafy palms to a maximalist artsy home. A more classic space, dominated by white walls, could be livened up with orchids in a variety of colours and sizes.

Summer is over, and so are your summer-specific selling strategies.

Backyard party open houses, listing descriptions focused on outdoor entertaining potential, or even filling front porches with lush and vibrant flowers — put those away now.

A new season = time for new tactics.

Today, we’re exploring five season-specific strategies to help you sell more homes this fall.

1. Be A Stickler For Lawn Maintenance

Keeping lawns and yards free of fallen leaves and debris is a daily challenge in the autumn months.

We might only rake our own properties once or twice in the fall, but when it comes to homes we’re selling, we gotta kick our raking game up a notch (or five).

As long as there’s a ‘For Sale’ sign in the front yard, the lawns of your listed homes should be as free of dead leaves as possible. If you’re having an open house, that same level of care should extend to the backyard.

Other outdoor maintenance to undertake or make clear to your seller: trimming back overgrown trees and bushes, removing withered summer plants and flowers, and removing any summer-y decor and furniture.

2. Set The Mood

When sweater weather approaches, everyone craves coziness. Appeal to that craving by creating fall ambience at your September to November open houses.

Light candles in each room.

But stay away from heavy scents; while some open house attendees may appreciate the vanilla-fig wafting through the house, others will be heading for the door.

Play mood music.

Reggae jams and the Beach Boys may have helped you create a relaxed, sunny vibe in the summer months. Now that we’re in fall, opt for an intimate, softer, maybe even folk-y soundtrack.

Great fall picks include Bon Iver, Damien Rice, Sarah Harmer, and Nick Drake.

Offer seasonal treats.

When it comes to the snacks and beverages you offer up during open houses, trade slushy summer drinks and fresh fruit for spiced tea, apple cider, and pumpkin-everything baked goods.

3. Create Curb Appeal

Just because summer’s brightest blooms have retired, doesn’t mean you should leave a home’s front porch devoid of any plant life and decor.

Colours play a role in the buying process, so just opt for fall-appropriate colours like bold reds, oranges, yellows and purples.

Marigolds, chrysanthemums and pansies are all perfect picks for the fall months. As Halloween approaches, you can accessorize with a pumpkin and various squash.

4. Swap Out Decor

With the help of a stager or on your own, make a few small decor changes to your listings to help make them feel more seasonally-appropriate.

Throw pillows.

Add throw pillows in rich fall colours and sumptuous fabrics, like velvet.

Install dimmers.

Lighting dimmers are very inexpensive and easy to install. Being able to customize the level of brightness helps create a cozy fall mood.

Dress up a fireplace.

If your listing has a functional fireplace, you probably don’t want to be bothered with lighting and maintaining a fire during an open house.

Instead, fill it — as a for-show fireplace — with lit pillar candles in glass vases.

5. Sell Coziness

You can tailor your listing descriptions and social media promotion to be fall-specific, too.

Is the house close to a forested trail system, or does it offer a view of trees? Mention the amazing fall colours.

If the home features a beautiful working fireplace, describe cozy nights spent in front of a roaring fire.

Even large kitchens and standout dining rooms can be a fall-selling feature.

Using storytelling techniques, set the scene for prospective buyers by describing a big Thanksgiving meal spent with family and friends.