Don’t Design for Potential Buyers!

Helen Powell of Design Hunter says, “Over the past few years ‘improve don’t move’ has become the mantra for many homeowners … and more and more people are starting to design their homes, and bathrooms, for themselves rather than with some hypothetical future owner in mind.” It makes me cry a little inside when I hear unsolicited suggestions for people to pick the bland option in case they want to sell in the future.

If this pandemic has taught us anything about interior design, it’s to create spaces you love in your home, which make you feel special, joyful and inspired. It’s fine to choose neutral if you’ve bought a doer upper and you know you are selling in a year or two, but otherwise design for yourself.

Don’t live in a home designed for imaginary potential buyers!

But what if your plans change? We thought we’d live in our previous home for 5 years or more, but then life changed, lockdown happened, and we decided to move after two and a half years. The fact that I’d decorated to suit my tastes meant we could ask £15k more than similar properties. It works for decorating properties to rent too – the buyer of my property had several asking price offers within 24 hours of advertising it for rent.

As 2LG Studio quite rightly say, “Clarity of vision, beautifully carried out, will always be an asset.” Buyers are put off by dilapidation or dated interiors. A tasteful, design-led interior is always going to add value compared to a ‘developer neutral’ home. Never live with a compromised space designed for an imaginary future owner – they don’t even exist!

If you’ve made ‘safe’ decisions in your home which don’t really reflect your taste, why not book a one hour Ask Me Anything consultation to discuss how you could make your home more ‘you’ in manageable and affordable ways?