Real Estate Feng Shui: The Best RoomIn real estate feng shui, the room of first impression is the most important room for staging. This is the room that sells the house. The buyer steps into into this room and they will decide whether or not they like the house. This may be a very conscious "aha" experience, or a more subtle, unconscious acceptance. Every other room in the house will confirm this initial impression. Select the Best RoomIf the view is one of the biggest selling points for this property, then select the room with the best view. Make sure that the buyer can walk unobstructed right to the view window or out to the deck or balcony. Thus the buyer gets instant fulfillment for what they came to see: the view.You can reflect the view into the house by using a mirror, or art framed in reflective glass, on the wall opposite the view. This way, the view becomes more omnipresent. When the buyer turns away from the window, the view is still there reflected on the opposite wall. Do this not only in the room of first impression, but throughout the house wherever possible. When your promotional material for a property emphasizes the great room, gourmet kitchen, or family game room, then this will be the best room of first impression. When selling points are easily seen and readily accessible, the buyer's expectations will be satisfied and they will immediately feel at home. Direct the Buyer to the Best RoomYou want to lead the buyer to the room of your choice. If the entry/foyer opens equally to two different spaces - for example, a living room and a kitchen, or a family room and a living room - then you must direct the buyer to the best room of first impression. This can be done in a number of ways, depending on how the space presents itself.A runner rug leading the buyer to the best room of first impression is an obvious choice. Another technique is to move a dramatic piece of art or sculpture to pull the eye of the buyer in the intended direction while downplaying the less desirable direction. Front doors that open in the way we wish to direct the buyer are perfect. If the existing door does not do this, consider flipping the door or installing a new one. The most important factor is getting the buyer into your choice of room of first impression as easily and effortlessly as possible. Set up welcoming furnitureWhen the buyer moves from the entry to the room of first impression, they should have a clear path. That is, the buyer has a direct path into the room without having to walk around a chair, table, or other obstacle.Place a large chair, couch, or loveseat directly opposite and facing the entry path into this room. It gives an open-arms welcome to the buyer, and says "Come on in, there's a place for you here!" Walking into the back of a couch will simply bounce the chi, and the buyer, right back out of the house. Walking into a welcoming furniture arrangement will give the buyer the feeling that they are home. It is very important to remember that we are dealing with form over function in staging real estate with Feng Shui. The primary concern is the impression the room gives, not its actual functionality for the seller. For example, the seller's favorite TV chair may have to be shifted in the interest of creating a welcoming effect for the buyer. Open up small areasYou also want to arrange the furniture to make the room appear as large as possible. Open up small, cozy areas that may have served the seller, but now tend to break up a large room into small spaces. Where there might have been two seating areas, create one large open space.Avoid using area rugs, as they also tend to break up larger spaces into smaller ones. Fewer, larger pieces of art are preferable to numerous small ones to make walls appear spacious. Many times this room simply has too much furniture in it. Thin out the extraneous pieces and store or move them to other rooms. Remember, you are not selling furniture here, you are selling the house. Often rooms can look like beautiful furniture showrooms, but you cannot appreciate the size of the room. In some cases, the furnishings actually detract from the view or other important selling points. Make sure that valances do not cover windows. Move them up above the glass to give the appearance of larger windows. Good light, natural and artificial, makes a room feel bigger. Uplighting with sconces or torchiere lights can lift low ceilings and expand dark corners. Use Inviting ColorColor will lift the chi of the room and make it more lively and inviting. If the room is done in neutral colors, add bright pillows on couches and chairs and choose lighter and brighter artwork.Painting an accent wall in the room of first impression can give it a nice dimension. If the room lacks windows or just feels like a box, then an accent wall can open it up. The best wall to paint is the one directly across from the entrance. A bolder shade of the existing wall color can be used, or emphasize a color that is already present in furniture or art. If the walls and ceiling are the same color, either (1) paint the ceiling lighter than the wall, or (2) paint the wall a deeper, bolder color than the ceiling. The contrast between the wall and ceiling will create the effect of lifting the ceiling, creating more circulation in the room and making the room feel larger.
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