New interior Design Psychology ideas help you sell your kitchen. You may ask: "Sell my kitchen?"

Yes. Kitchens sell houses. Therefore, prepare your kitchen with home staging ideas for a top-dollar sale.

Seven Interior Design Psychology Home Staging Strategies for Kitchens:

1. Light up dark areas. For a thrifty solution to brighten dark counters, use plug-in night lights. Also, a small lamp looks great on a countertop because the warm pools of light feel "homey."

2. Soften the hard surfaces with fabric, including window treatments and new hand towels.

3. Remove all appliances from the countertops. This one step, clearing counter eye-clutter visually expands your kitchen. Each item on the countertop stops the eye for a second. Fewer accessories let the buyers' eye roam freely and they get the impression of a large countertop expanse. If needed, use a bowl of fruit or flowers to brighten the space.

4. If you decide the kitchen cabinets must be replaced, choose light wood or white finish to reflect light in a dark kitchen. White cabinets convey a sense of cleanliness and spaciousness. Wood cabinets in major cities recover 90-130% of the cost to put it in when you sell.

5. For a moderately priced home, laminate countertops mimic limestone or granite and provide a smooth surface. Upscale buyers prefer granite countertops, but large-scale ceramic tiles with small grout margins produce an effect similar to granite for a fraction of the cost.

6. Luxury home buyers look for walk-in pantries, wood or stone flooring, built-in wine coolers, water-filtration systems, built-in microwaves, and custom lighting. All buyers expect a garbage disposal, a dishwasher, and a ventilation system over the stove.

7. Modern, sleek kitchens don't need softening of the all-hard surfaces (countertops, flooring, cabinets, etc.). However, homes showcasing a relaxed, inviting atmosphere benefit from visually softening additions like new colorful hand towels, a carpet under foot at the sink, and pot holders on hooks near the stove.

No matter your budget, prepare your home for a top-dollar sale. Little home staging strategies entice a buyer to say, "This is my new kitchen."

Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved. (You may publish this article in its entirety with the following author's information with live links only.)