Owning a luxury home is a reflection of your personal style, but when it’s time to sell, those same choices can appeal to buyers or make it difficult for buyers to picture themselves in your space. Luxury buyers are looking for homes with character and flexibility where they can imagine living their own lives without feeling overwhelmed by someone else’s design.
We work with experts in the home staging world to provide expert insight on luxury home staging and how to showcase your home’s best features. Whether you live in a modern condo in Seattle or a historic townhouse in Boston, understanding how to maintain your favorite features while strategically updating is key to maximizing your home’s appeal and sales price.
1. Understand the luxury home staging market
The first step to balancing personal style and buyer appeal is understanding your market. Luxury buyers often appreciate a sleek, neutral design with a few distinctive pieces, and are drawn to homes that feel sleek, spacious, and move-in ready.
Research comparable luxury properties in your area to see which finishes, color schemes, and layouts sell consistently. This insight can help guide your design decisions, emphasizing the features that buyers find most desirable while sparing personal touches.
“I think what buyers want most is a home they can imagine themselves living in,” says Erin Hackett Nordholt, owner of Hackett House Studio. “I always recommend starting by giving each room a clear purpose, then layering in an aesthetic that supports its function. Psychologically, people are drawn to spaces that simply work well. You can change paint colors and furniture fairly easily, but a home that feels intuitive and purposeful leaves a stronger impression.”
Pro tip: Think of your home as a canvas with personality: Too much bold style in every room can make it hard for buyers to imagine themselves living there.
2. Express your personality without taking up too much space
The unique details of your home are part of what makes it special. The trick is to make the personal elements memorable, but not overwhelming or noticeable. When decorating your home, use artwork, designer furniture, and custom lighting sparingly to express your personality without taking center stage.
“As luxury stagers, our ultimate goal is to remove all traces of homeownership and create a fresh, stylish clean slate for buyers to imagine,” says Kelly Waterman of Luxury Staging Pros. “Achieving this successfully, while respecting the emotions that arise when letting go of a primary home, often requires a delicate dance between the homeowner, agent, and stager.”
“In luxury homes, overly unique finishes, bold color palettes, or highly themed spaces can limit buyer appeal.” CCS Interior Design Group CEO Cynthia Bolton-Smith recommends homeowners “maintain your personal style by expressing it through art, accessories, and layered details while keeping architectural elements and key finishes timeless and neutral.”
Artem Kropovinsky, founder and lead designer at Arsight Studio, agrees that buyer hesitation often stems from spaces that feel overly personal. “Personal touches just need to be thoughtfully placed. When personality comes through in art, textiles, or sculptural accents rather than permanent finishes, the home feels unique and malleable. Keeping core elements gentle and timeless allows buyers to connect emotionally without feeling overwhelmed by someone else’s tastes,” he says.
3. Strategic staging to appeal to buyers
Professional staging can make a big difference in how potential buyers perceive your home. A skilled director can help you balance your personal style with clean, open arrangements that highlight space, light, and flow in your room.
Amy Cukor, design director at down2earth Interior Design, emphasizes that first impressions are extremely important when it comes to staging your home. “It sets the tone for the entire buying experience,” she says. “So don’t skimp on curb appeal, whether it’s landscaping, flowers in a vase near the front door, or a punchy door color. Create a ‘wow’ moment in your entryway that visitors see as soon as they enter the space. ”
Temporary updates like replacing quirky furniture or overly bold decor can make a space feel more inviting and universally appealing. Even small changes can help buyers focus on the home itself rather than the previous owner’s tastes.
“Updated kitchens and baths almost always make a good impression,” says Kelly of Luxury Staging Pro. “Even if the finishes aren’t exactly what the buyer chose, there’s a timeless appeal to a recently renovated kitchen or bathroom. Especially in the high-end market, buyers want their home to feel ‘move-in ready,’ knowing they can customize the style over time to reflect their personal tastes.” ”
Lorla, owner and lead designer at Lorla Studio, agrees. “When staging, it’s important to show buyers how they will actually use the space, which is especially important in the case of unusual layouts or oddly shaped rooms. It may seem counterintuitive, but empty rooms often appear smaller than they really are. Staging with furniture and lighting gives potential buyers a better idea of the home’s size and livability.”
4. Prioritize a neutral look that appeals to more buyers
For luxury homes, it’s important to create a less personal, more neutral look and feel when preparing your home for sale.
“The more neutral and inviting the space, the more appealing it will be to buyers,” said Ellyn Bailio, owner and designer of Ellyn B. Designs – Decorating Den Interiors. “Overly customized rooms, heavy window treatments, and messy, outdated finishes can quickly deter potential buyers. These elements can make a home feel personal, outdated, or difficult to adapt to. Fresh paint, removing heavy curtains, updating light fixtures, and improving the landscaping can dramatically change the perception and perceived value.”
“Removing old wallpaper and repainting your current color can go a long way in updating the look,” says Rebekah Wiley, owner of Design To Market Home Staging. “Even in high-end homes, people live less formally. Creating a warm, inviting, and easy-to-use environment in every room of your home can be a great strategy. Changing more formal furniture and accessories to a high-end, yet comfortable look can make a difference.”
Far Studio’s Brittany Hakimfar agrees: “If every room has a strong theme or a very specific color story, buyers will have a hard time finding themselves in it. You don’t have to strip your home of personality. All it needs is balance. “I’m telling people to keep the overall story simple while keeping the really important parts. Maybe it’s one great vintage piece instead of five, or art that adds personality without dominating the room. When a space feels calm and cohesive, people instantly connect with it.”
“Updating the kitchen in a style that clashes with the rest of the home or ignores the overall beauty of the property is one of the quickest ways to turn a buyer off on a luxury property. Buyers often want consistency in what is often their largest purchase,” says Bobby McGrath, owner of Successful Staging. “While new paint and updated lighting can help create consistency, I focus on a staging approach that uses carefully selected furniture, accessories, and neutral, warm design elements to visually connect the space to the rest of the home to create a more consistent overall impression.”
5. Avoid trend-driven designs to make your home timeless
Glenn Gisler Design says avoiding flashy trends when decorating your home will appeal to a wider range of buyers. “We want to make sure that five years from now, or more, our clients don’t regret the choices we made for their homes.”
“We often see trend-driven designs become less appealing to buyers when they feel locked into a specific era rather than layered over time,” said Jasmine Artis, owner and lead designer at J’Miracle Designs. “Bold choices can make an impact, but they’re most successful when they’re anchored by timeless fundamentals. Buyers respond best to homes that feel current yet enduring, rather than defined by a moment in design.”
Principal designer Jarrett Yoshida agrees that one of the most overlooked strategies is avoiding a single-era look. “If all the furniture, lighting, and decor are from the same era, buyers will subconsciously assume that the home itself hasn’t been updated since.” “You don’t need a complete redesign. Just incorporating some contemporary lighting, updated textiles, or updated design can help your home feel maintained, relevant, and ready for its next owner.”
6. Highlight lifestyle characteristics
Luxury buyers aren’t just buying square footage; they’re buying a lifestyle. Show off features that enhance your daily life and entertainment, including a spa-like bathroom, chef’s kitchen, home gym, outdoor entertaining area, wine cellar, and more. Neutral, sophisticated décor highlights these amenities and allows buyers to imagine their own lives in the space.
Remember, luxury homes are successful when they feel both aspirational and livable. Design choices should draw attention to the lifestyle possibilities, rather than distracting from them.
7. Know when to compromise
A personal touch can add value, but it can also limit your buyer pool. Identify what elements make your home special and which elements can be polarizing. For example, custom cabinetry and high-end appliance packages are often selling points, while overly bold wallpaper or highly personalized art may need to be temporarily replaced.
Small, neutral updates like paint, lighting, and landscaping can greatly increase the appeal of your home without sacrificing its character. Strategic compromises like this can help preserve the essence of your home while attracting more buyers.
8. Work with a professional luxury home stager
Real estate agents are your first guide, offering insight into buyer preferences and comparable luxury sales. Interior designers and stagers can advise on how to keep your home stylish and flexible, and professional photographers can capture the balance of personality and broad appeal.
By working with a professional, you can ensure that your home’s presentation maximizes buyer interest while preserving your home’s unique features.
Luxury home staging: the finishing touches
Balancing personal style and buyer appeal in a luxury home is about highlighting what makes your space special while creating a flexible and inviting environment. Start by understanding your market and using small, targeted updates and expert guidance to increase buyer interest without sacrificing your favorite characters. With these strategies, you can confidently prepare your home for sale and attract the right buyer at the right price.
