When it comes to selling or renting a property, the photos are often the very first viewing. Potential buyers and tenants form an impression in seconds, long before they arrive for an in-person visit. In today’s online-driven property market, a well-staged home doesn’t just look better — it performs better, attracting more clicks, more enquiries and ultimately better offers.
Staging for property photos is not about creating a perfect, unrealistic showroom. Instead, it’s about presenting the space in a way that allows viewers to imagine themselves living comfortably within it. With thoughtful preparation, your home can appear brighter, larger and more appealing — all through the lens of the camera. Below, we break down how to stage your home effectively to maximise interest and set your listing apart.
The first and most important step in staging is to remove as much clutter as possible. Everyday personal items — from family photos to hobby collections — make a house feel lived-in, but they can distract viewers who are trying to visualise their own belongings in the space. Clearing surfaces, organising shelves and reducing furniture instantly creates more breathing room, which makes rooms look larger and more inviting in photographs.
Deep cleaning is equally essential. Dust on skirting boards, streaks on windows or stains on carpets can show up prominently in high-resolution photos. A sparkling kitchen, freshly wiped worktops, polished taps and clean bathroom tiles all signal that the property has been well cared for. Cleanliness not only improves the aesthetics of a photograph but also reassures potential buyers or tenants that the home has been maintained to a high standard.
Neutral décor is one of the most effective tools for broadening your property’s appeal. Colours such as whites, soft greys and beige tones create a timeless background that photographs beautifully and suits a wide range of tastes. If walls are painted in bold or very personalised colours, a fresh coat of neutral paint can transform the atmosphere of a room instantly and help photographs appear cleaner and brighter.
Even though neutral tones form the foundation, it’s important to add a few touches that give the home warmth. Carefully chosen accessories — such as a vase of fresh flowers, a bowl of fruit in the kitchen, or a couple of strategically placed cushions — can soften the space and enhance its visual appeal. These details should be subtle and sparingly used, offering a sense of lifestyle without overwhelming the viewer.
One of the most common mistakes in property photography is leaving rooms multifunctional or undefined. If the spare bedroom has become a mixture of storage, office and gym, it becomes difficult for viewers to understand the room’s true potential. For photos, it’s best to establish a clear, single purpose for each space. Bedrooms should look like bedrooms; dining rooms should look ready for meals; living rooms should feel open and welcoming.
Furniture placement is also crucial. A thoughtful layout guides the eye, highlights the room’s best features and showcases how the space naturally flows. For example, positioning seating to face a fireplace or a large window creates a focal point that instantly draws attention in a photograph. Balanced arrangements, such as matching bedside tables or symmetrical sofa cushions, give photos a more polished and professional look.
Light is one of the most powerful tools in property photography. Natural light makes rooms appear larger, brighter and more cheerful, so opening blinds and curtains, cleaning windows thoroughly and removing heavy furniture blocking the light can dramatically improve photos. Mirrors can also be strategically placed to reflect light and enhance the sense of space.
If certain rooms lack natural light, use indoor lighting to create a warm, even glow. Lamps, overhead lighting and accent lighting can all help eliminate dark corners and ensure the camera captures a welcoming environment. Small details, such as a healthy houseplant or a well-arranged bookshelf, add life to a room without creating clutter. These finishing touches work beautifully in photos and suggest a home that is cared for and comfortable.
The exterior of the property is just as important as the interior, and in many cases, it is the very first image people see when browsing listings. Taking the time to tidy the entrance, sweep the pathway, refresh any peeling paint and clean the front door can elevate the property’s perceived value before viewers have even stepped inside. Simple additions, like a neat door mat or a small potted plant, make the entrance more inviting and photograph well.
Outdoor areas such as gardens, patios and balconies should also be staged. Even a small outdoor space has selling potential when it is presented properly. Neatly arranged outdoor furniture, trimmed hedges and a clean seating area can help buyers and tenants imagine how they would enjoy the space. A well-presented exterior conveys care and adds cohesion to the overall listing.
Staging is more than a cosmetic enhancement; it is a powerful marketing tool. Properties that are thoughtfully staged tend to receive more online engagement, more enquiry emails and more viewing requests. They also help set higher expectations, which can lead to better-quality tenants or stronger offers from buyers. In the rental sector especially, good staging often results in quicker lets and fewer empty periods — something every landlord wants to avoid.
Staging offers an additional advantage: it helps present your property as a well-maintained, desirable home. Tenants who see this level of care tend to feel more motivated to treat the property with respect, which can contribute to smoother tenancies and positive long-term outcomes.
Whether you are selling your home or preparing to rent it out, staging makes a noticeable difference in how your property is perceived online. With simple, thoughtful preparation — from decluttering and cleaning to arranging furniture and enhancing natural light — you can transform your listing into one that attracts the right attention quickly.
Abolish section 21 evictions and move to a simpler tenancy structure where all assured tenancies are periodic – providing more security for tenants and empowering them to challenge poor practice and unfair rent increases without fear of eviction. We will implement this new system in one stage, giving all tenants security immediately.
Ensure possession grounds are fair to both parties, giving tenants more security, while ensuring landlords can recover their property when reasonable. The bill introduces new safeguards for tenants, giving them more time to find a home if landlords evict to move in or sell, and ensuring unscrupulous landlords cannot misuse grounds.
Provide stronger protections against backdoor eviction by ensuring tenants are able to appeal excessive above-market rents which are purely designed to force them out. As now, landlords will still be able to increase rents to market price for their properties and an independent tribunal will make a judgement on this, if needed.
Introduce a new Private Rented Sector Landlord Ombudsman that will provide quick, fair, impartial and binding resolution for tenants’ complaints about their landlord. This will bring tenant-landlord complaint resolution on par with established redress practices for tenants in social housing and consumers of property agent services
Create a Private Rented Sector Database to help landlords understand their legal obligations and demonstrate compliance (giving good landlords confidence in their position), alongside providing better information to tenants to make informed decisions when entering into a tenancy agreement. It will also support local councils – helping them target enforcement activity where it is needed most. Landlords will need to be registered on the database in order to use certain possession grounds.
Give tenants strengthened rights to request a pet in the property, which the landlord must consider and cannot unreasonably refuse. To support this, landlords will be able to require pet insurance to cover any damage to their property
Apply the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector to give renters safer, better value homes and remove the blight of poor-quality homes in local communities.
Apply ‘Awaab’s Law’ to the sector, setting clear legal expectations about the timeframes within which landlords in the private rented sector must take action to make homes safe where they contain serious hazards.
Make it illegal for landlords and agents to discriminate against prospective tenants in receipt of benefits or with children – helping to ensure everyone is treated fairly when looking for a place to live.
End the practice of rental bidding by prohibiting landlords and agents from asking for or accepting offers above the advertised rent. Landlords and agents will be required to publish an asking rent for their property and it will be illegal to accept offers made above this rate.
Strengthen local authority enforcement by expanding civil penalties, introducing a package of investigatory powers and bringing in a new requirement for local authorities to report on enforcement activity.
Strengthen rent repayment orders by extending them to superior landlords, doubling the maximum penalty and ensuring repeat offenders have to repay the maximum amount.
Whilst the proposed bill still progressing to become a reality, it has already passed through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords and currently awaiting Royal Assent. Reform is coming and long overdue. While this may feel like added pressure, it also provides an opportunity to professionalise your processes, attract more reliable tenants, and safeguard you and your portfolio.
