Bre Tiessi, star of the latest Selling Sunset season, is not someone who is used to luxurious multi-million dollar homes. In Los Angeles' highly competitive real estate market, homes play an important role for elite clients and need to stand out.
I was curious to know what modern interior design styles are the most popular and have proven to be the most successful in getting these homes off the market.
Bre Tiessi, the Los Angeles real estate agent best known for starring in the latest season of Selling Sunset, may be the best person to tell us why some of the world's best homes sell. And in his exclusive interview with Livingetc, Bre gave us some tips on how to spruce up your home without having to rely on his staging experts on speed dial.
Decorating in a minimalist style will help your home sell faster
(Image credit: Marco Ricca. Design: Ali Budd Interiors)
Since everyone's interior tastes vary so much, it can be difficult to assess what potential buyers want when preparing to sell your home. It is necessary not only to witness the lives of the current inhabitants, but also to create a space in which they can project themselves.
Bre Tiessi, a Los Angeles real estate agent with some of the most discerning and hard-to-convince clients (aka the rich and famous), says there's one style that brings in the most sales.
“Aesthetically, I think a clean, minimalist look is probably what I see the most. It's pretty consistent, especially in the staging.” It gives us such a lofty look. Masu. It's very clean and you can clearly see the space you're looking at. And I think that makes a big difference,β she told me.
The appeal of minimalism in interior design is that it looks bright, airy, modern, and makes spaces seem more expensive. If you look carefully and pay attention to detail, your space has a much better chance of appealing to high-paying customers.
Price: $1,729
The rounded shape and pure white sofa create a sense of luxury.
It's all in the details and here's what to look for
(Image credit: Gieves Anderson, design: Justin Charette)
Bure says details matter, and it's obvious when homeowners are reluctant to invest and want to make small changes. The idea is that the more high-quality materials are used in a home design, the more likely buyers are to understand the price tag and think the investment is worth it.
She explains that in any home, you look at the appliances and wonder if the floors are wood or laminate, and if the surfaces are real marble. Because this is what her clients end up wondering too.
“I do that all over the house. Some clients ask, 'Is this important?' Let's say an incident occurs and something needs to be replaced. Clients ask themselves, βCan I have this again?β High-quality materials that are durable and easily replaceable if necessary are very important factors when customers evaluate whether a property is worth the price.
Price: $33
A small, simple side table is both understated and practical. Buy black for a little contrast with the overall neutral colors of your minimalist design.
What is the appeal of minimalist style to potential buyers?
(Image credit: Marco Ricca. Design: Ali Budd Interiors)
Bre believes that the reason the minimalist style is so appealing is because it makes it easier for buyers to view the home, rather than getting distracted by unnecessary details. “When it comes to staging, minimalism makes the house look very presentable. It has the right furniture and art to make it look 'lived in', but nothing distracts from the actual space.” And I think that's really important when you're trying to buy something. β
Bure also advises owners to completely remove their property to make way for a home once the home is on the market, as this greatly increases the chances of it being sold faster. “We've seen a huge difference between leaving the house as is and getting it on the market for a year versus up to three to six months with staging.”
Price: From $1,298
Adding textured materials makes a minimalist color palette interesting.
Conclusion when complete home staging is not possible
Whether or not you can completely clean out the inside of your home ready for the stage, the idea is to remove unnecessary details that draw the viewer's attention away from the home, allowing them to project themselves into the home instead. It is to do so. Minimalist style calls for a neutral color scheme with fewer visible items, creating a more inviting space that allows potential buyers to design their home in their mind.
Odeon side & coffee table
Price: $1,112
This minimalist coffee table will enhance the look of any living room. Just add an art book on top of it and you're ready to go.