Angling for a good first impression

After: Uncluttered to show off floors and windows

Last update: September 26, 2008 - 9:14 AM

The room: Guest bedroom of a house in Uptown Minneapolis.

Strengths: Large walk-in closets, original wood floors and a "gentleman's balcony" overlooking the back yard.

Weaknesses: Too much furniture and too many distractions hiding the room's charming features. "The best features of a room should be immediately visible from the doorway," said Lori Matzke of Centerstagehome.com. "That's how you get buyers interested in seeing more." And buyers were inter- ested. The house sold in three days for more than the list price, with multiple offers.

Here's what Matzke did:

Excess items were boxed and stored, including a bright pink throw rug, small side table, extra lamp and wastebasket.

Open house tip: A jewelry box was packed up. You never know who will be coming through your house, so tucking valuables out of sight is always a smart decision. Matzke also advises boxing up easy-to-reach collectibles and breakables.

Removing one of the beds gave the room more visible square footage and made it easier to see the original wood floors.

Removing heavy drapes filled the room with sunlight. And removing the sheer panel from the exterior door revealed the quaint little balcony and original wood door.

To create better access to the balcony, the dresser was moved down the wall to the opposite side of the closet door.

Positioning the bed at a slight angle eliminated crowding around the radiators and directs the view toward the windows and balcony.

A bright red quilt warms the room and plays up the red tones in the floor. The lamp on the dresser adds a soft glow to the space. A small throw rug at the foot of the bed brings in a touch of color without hiding the floors.