By Terri Steffes
I am going out on a limb here and assuming that if you have been on this blogging journey with me for a long time, you might remember way back in January 2009... I was struggling (and I mean struggling!) with our master bedroom makeover. I posted asking for decorating advice because I was trying to balance my love for "English Cottage" layering with Bob’s… well, Bob’s love for keeping things exactly the same!
Back then, I wrote about how English Cottage meets Bob Steffes. We compromised on everything from the "green plaid" bedspread I bought to the "drab" wall color Bob insisted on keeping. I layered in my David Winter cottages, the lace doilies Bob’s mom made, and a romantic candle sconce to make it feel like us.
But now, as we prepare to sell, I have to do the hardest thing a homeowner can do... I have to undo all those layers. I have to stop decorating for us and start staging for them.
Here is how we are tackling the emotional process of "un-decorating" to get market-ready (wish us luck!)...
1. The "Bob" Compromise (Round 2)
In 2009, Bob won the paint war. He loved that dark, cozy bedroom color. But today? The market wants "bright and airy".
So, we had a family meeting (much like the ones we used to have when he was a Principal!). We agreed that the "drab" color had to go. We are repainting the main rooms a fresh, neutral greige.
However... one thing hasn't changed: Bob still refuses to let me put a dust ruffle on the bed! It is a "no go" on the ruffles. He still loves the wood frame, and honestly, showing off the floors is a good selling point, so that stays.
2. Packing the "English Cottage" Away
This was the emotional part. You know I love my collections. In that 2009 post, I shared photos of my Thomas Kincade and David Winter cottages and asked you where to put them.
The answer for 2025 is... In a box.
To sell a house, you have to create "visual silence". I carefully bubble-wrapped the cottages and the sentimental lace doilies Bob’s mom made. It felt like packing away a chapter of our lives, but I know that clearing those surfaces will help buyers see the room's size rather than my collections.
3. The "Reverse Engineering" Strategy
As a teacher, I always tell my students to read the questions before reading the passage. You need to know what you are looking for!
I realized I was looking at our house with "Seller Eyes" (seeing memories), but I needed to see it with "Buyer Eyes" (seeing flaws). I found a comprehensive guide on Buying a House and decided to use it as a checklist to grade my own home.
The guide highlighted things I hadn't even thought about, like "Storage Solutions" and "First Impressions". It made me realize that my stuffed closets were a red flag (oops!). It validated our decision to pack up the cottages—not just to declutter, but to prove to buyers that this home has ample storage.
We are essentially taking the "Final Exam" before the buyers even walk in the door!
4. Lighting: From "Romantic" to "Real"
In my 2009 update, I raved about the candle sconce over the bed because it created a "romantic mood". While I still love it, I’ve learned that "mood lighting" can look like "dark corners" to a buyer.
Taking a cue from that buying guide’s advice on "First Impressions," we are upgrading the bulbs in our lamps and overhead fixtures to brighter LEDs. We want the house to look happy and energized, not sleepy.
[Insert Photo: A bright, well-lit corner of the home]
5. The Smell of "Home"
Since I’ve packed away the visual clutter (the cottages, the plaid throws, the excess pillows), I didn’t want the house to feel sterile. I’m using scent to bring the warmth back. Instead of visual layers, I’m using olfactory ones.
Before a showing, I’ll be baking my classic Island Banana Bread. It’s a scent that says "welcome home" without cluttering up the countertops.
Moving On...
Un-decorating is harder than decorating. It requires letting go of the things that make a house yours. But looking at the clean lines and the bright walls, I’m starting to get excited about the next blank canvas we get to paint (and yes, I’ll probably try to sneak a dust ruffle in there too!).
Tell me... Have you ever had to "neutralize" a home to sell it? Did you struggle to pack away your collections? Let me know in the comments!
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