For many, selling a house appears to be a simple sequence: decide to move, list it online, host viewings, and accept an offer. However, the reality is often more complex, and your personal taste in interior design could be the very thing deterring potential purchasers.
The Property Staging Expert's Warning
Liv Conlon, a 27-year-old originally from Glasgow who now resides in Marbella, has built a highly successful career as the CEO of the multi-award-winning firm, ThePropertyStagers.co.uk. She specialises in creating the 'wow factor' that helps properties sell. Liv has now highlighted a series of major interior design blunders that can repel even the most open-minded buyer, ranging from gothic-inspired rooms to overly suggestive bedroom decor.
'When selling a property, homeowners need to realise that they are selling a blank canvas upon which the new homeowner can imagine their own take on a room,' Liv explains. She has witnessed shocking examples of what not to do on listings for portals like Rightmove, from garish paint jobs to novelty furniture, and believes we can all learn from these errors.
Top Décor Faux Pas That Sabotage Sales
Monochrome Madness: Painting your entire home in one single colour might seem cohesive, but it can make spaces feel smaller and monotonous. Liv warns that even neutrals can become cold and uninspiring if overused. Bold colours like purple can make a house feel 'sponsored by Cadbury,' while red or green may seem perpetually festive. Her advice is to introduce contrast or use varied shades of a colour to give each room its own unique personality.
Quirky Furniture Fails: While a stiletto-shaped bath might be a fun personal statement, it's unlikely to appeal to the mass market. Liv recalls seeing exactly this in a property listing. Themed or novelty pieces, especially large items like beds or baths, are divisive. She recommends sticking to welcoming, stylish furniture and storing overly personal items during viewings.
Over-the-Top Themed Rooms: A small collectible is one thing, but Liv has encountered a full-size Tardis in a home. Film or TV-obsessed interiors, such as Star Wars-themed rooms or spaceship concepts, distract from the property's actual features and prevent buyers from visualising their own life there.
Niche Hobby Rooms: Converting a spare room into a dedicated skate park or a 'man cave' overflowing with beer bottles is a common mistake. Most buyers are looking for a functional spare bedroom or home office. A simple desk, chair, and lamp can effectively showcase that potential.
Kitsch Garden Disasters: First impressions from the curb are crucial. While a tidy lawn and fresh paint help, garish garden gnomes, oversized ornaments, or poorly placed ponds can instantly undo that work. The goal is a welcoming and neutral exterior.
Creating a Buyer-Friendly Canvas
Offensive Art & Label Overload: Risqué artwork or cheeky slogans can alienate viewers. Similarly, plastering every surface with designer logos, like Chanel, can appear tacky rather than luxurious. Liv advises removing divisive art and choosing one statement designer piece instead.
Bizarre & Gothic Themes: While certain design themes work, turning your home into a doll's house, circus, or—worse—a 'house of horrors' with black walls and skulls will shorten viewings dramatically. Bright, light spaces appeal to the widest audience.
Bedrooms with Too Much 'Personality': Mirrored ceilings, revolving beds, or overtly suggestive decor have no place in a sales campaign. Bedrooms should be presented as calming, boutique-hotel-style retreats to help buyers imagine a restful night's sleep.
Ultimately, Liv Conlon's expertise underscores a key principle in property sales: depersonalise to maximise appeal. By presenting a neutral, bright, and spacious canvas, sellers allow potential buyers to project their own dreams onto the property, which is the fastest route to securing a successful sale.
