At Corum, we know that selling a home is about more than just price; it’s about presenting a space that captures buyers’ imaginations from the moment they step inside. To help our clients make the best possible impression, we spoke with property stager Karen Welstead, whose expertise transforms homes into inviting, stylish spaces that appeal to a wide range of buyers.
From prioritising repairs and decluttering to adding thoughtful finishing touches, Karen shares her top tips for preparing a home for the market and explains how professional staging can significantly impact both sale price and time on the market.
Whether you’re looking to sell, let, or simply elevate your space, her insights offer practical, achievable ways to showcase a property at its very best.
By
Halliday Hemmings
“I always speak to the selling agent to get a sense of who is buying the home…”
“I always speak to the selling agent to get a sense of who is buying the home…”
Tell us a little about Interior and what inspired you to start the business.
I have had a circuitous route to running my own business, via Investment Banking, but I have always been interested in property and passionate about Interior Design. After having kids, I worked with builders renovating properties to rent or flip, and I would stage them to make sure the renovation process was completed. Letting agents and estate agents who saw my work asked if I could do it for their clients.
When preparing a property for sale, what are the most important areas to focus on first?
There are three things I would focus on.
Solving any problems. Fix anything which is broken, freshen up silicone in bathrooms and change lightbulbs.
Make space. Clear surfaces, store or put away anything which might interrupt the flow of movement around your home. De-clutter.
Make it beautiful. I always prefer clean white sheets in a property, make the beds, clean the kitchen and bathrooms, and add some nice cushions and throws. But you don’t need to go mad. Supermarkets and the high street have lots of bargains to stage your own home.
How do you tailor interiors to suit different target buyer demographics?
I always speak to the selling agent to get a sense of who is buying the home and then try to tailor the property with that in mind. Sometimes a property will be popular with different types of buyer, and a classic high-end look with neutral colours usually does the trick across the board.
“A great interior makes you feel good, be that relaxed, cosy or even energised by a bright space. “
“A great interior makes you feel good, be that relaxed, cosy or even energised by a bright space. “
In your experience, how does professional staging impact sale price and time on market?
We find that staging makes an impact on every stage of the process. It improves the marketing photos, which increases footfall, which can increase the number of offers, and usually we find the properties which are staged receive significantly higher offers than similar properties which have not been staged.
What are the key design elements that create strong first impressions in property listings?
I think you need to allow your property to be shown in its best light. Clear anything that hides original features and make sure viewers can access parts of the home which offer views, for example. Then look at how your furniture is set out in the home to allow movement and a feeling of space. A sofa bang in front of the telly might be the way people live, but it will not sell the home.
What does the process look like when you work alongside an estate agent like Corum?
Usually we are connected to the seller via Corum and then visit the property, speak to the agent about who is buying the property and produce a proposal on that basis. If a property is already furnished, we can offer a consultancy service or even partial staging, which might mean only staging one or two rooms and adding accessories.
Finally, what does “great interior” mean to you?
A great interior makes you feel good, be that relaxed, cosy or even energised by a bright space. When selling your home, viewers should feel good in your home, and that they want to buy it.