6 Home Decorations That Can Boost Your Property Value (and What Staging Data Says)

Updated October 2026. Six decorating upgrades that can make a home look worth more, checked against NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Staging and its outdoor features research. Sources were read on October 28, 2026.

Decorations raise home value mostly by changing how buyers see the house, not by adding square feet. In NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Staging, 29% of agents said staging led to a 1% to 10% increase in the dollar value offered, and 49% of sellers’ agents said it cut time on the market. Water features, flower gardens, a fire pit, wall art, a chandelier and a fireplace are six of the upgrades that photograph and show well (data read October 2026).

Jump to: 🏠 Outdoor decor · 📸 Indoor decor · ⏱️ Fireplace · 💲 Staging data · 🤝 What to leave · ❓ FAQ

Decor is personal, and that’s the problem when you sell. A buyer walks in and sees your taste, not their future. The six ideas below work because they’re broad: most people like moving water, color in the yard, a warm light and a fire. Pick one or two that suit the house, do them well, and skip the rest.

Which outdoor decorations add the most appeal?

1. Water features. A fountain by the entry or on the patio adds sound and movement, and it covers road noise. These backyard decorations are among the most popular additions owners make. Building some easy to maintain outdoor water fountains into a garden bed will catch the eye of more than one buyer. Pick a recirculating model with an outlet nearby, and keep it clean; green water reads as neglect.

2. Flower gardens. Color near the front door is the cheapest curb appeal there is. NAR’s outdoor research found 97% of members think curb appeal is important in attracting a buyer. Plant in groups of three to five of the same flower, edge the bed, and add fresh mulch the week before photos. For lawn basics, see improving your lawn to reach a better market value.

3. A fire pit. A ring of pavers, a few chairs and a fire pit turn a plain yard into a place to sit after dark. Check local burn rules and keep it well away from the house, fences and trees. Our guide to building a homemade fire pit has the safe distances and steps.

Which indoor decorations make a home feel worth more?

4. Wall art. Big, simple pieces make a room look finished. One large print over the sofa beats ten small frames. Hang art so its center sits near eye level, and leave a hand’s width above a sofa back. Mirrors do a similar job and bounce light around; here are the rules for hanging mirrors so they don’t look off.

5. A chandelier. A statement light in the dining room or entry is a fixture buyers notice in photos. It doesn’t have to be crystal. A clean modern fixture on a dimmer can replace a dated builder-grade dome for a few hundred dollars. Decide early if it stays with the house, since fixtures usually convey with the sale unless the contract says otherwise.

Rugs pull a room together too. A rug that’s large enough for the front legs of every chair makes a living room look bigger, as our guide to choosing a living room rug shows. For a simple, yet attractive, addition in a new home, browse these interesting decor ideas.

6. Does a fireplace add value to a home?

In colder places, often yes, and even in warm states a fireplace makes a living room feel like the center of the house. If you’re looking for ways to raise the appeal of your home, adding a fireplace is a big option. It’s a real construction job: a chimney or vent, clearances, and a permit.

Cheaper paths exist. A direct-vent gas insert or an electric unit set into a built-in wall gives the look for less. If you already have a fireplace, have it cleaned and inspected before you list. Buyers’ inspectors check the flue, and a clean report removes a question.

What does the staging data say about decor and price?

NAR surveyed Realtors in February 2025. The results back the idea that decor matters most in a few rooms and in photos.

Buyers’ agents also said staging helps value most when it’s decorated to match buyers’ tastes (32%). That’s the case for neutral over personal. If you can’t stage the whole house, start with the living room, the primary bedroom and the kitchen. Virtual staging is an option for empty rooms, and our 10 home staging tips are ordered by the same NAR data.

How much staging do sellers actually do? Less than you’d think. NAR found 21% of sellers’ agents stage every listing before it goes up, 10% only stage homes that are hard to sell, and more than half (51%) don’t stage before listing at all. That leaves room for a seller who does a little. A $40 bouquet, clean counters and one good rug can make your living room the one buyers remember from a Saturday of six showings.

Set a budget before you shop. We’d spend on what shows in the first three photos (the front of the house, the living room, the kitchen) and leave the rest. Borrow pieces from friends, or rent them, rather than buying furniture you’ll move twice. And take the family photos and the fridge magnets down; they pull a buyer’s eye away from the room.

Which decorations should you leave or take when you sell?

Anything attached usually stays: built-in fountains, a mounted chandelier, a fireplace insert. Freestanding pieces like art, rugs and a portable fire pit go with you. If you want to keep the chandelier, swap it before photos, or write the exclusion into your listing and the contract so nobody’s surprised at the final walk-through.

Then show it off. Good photos carry the decor; see home photos that upgrade your listing, and mention the fountain or fireplace in your listing description. Beycome lists on the MLS for a flat fee in 17 states and DC: Basic $99 or Enhanced $399, $0 due to Beycome at closing. A pro photo option is $189 on Basic. Concierge gives full support from experts while you keep control, at $999 until November 2, 2026 (list price $1,399). From November 2, 2026, Concierge is $1,399 and Basic is $129 in California and Illinois.

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