We all live in our homes, and items tend to pile up over time. That's normal. But if you use these 10 home staging tips to help get your home "sale ready," your home may sell quicker and for more money over an unstaged home. 

1. Curb appeal

First impressions matter. Clean up your landscaping, mow the lawn, and repair broken or damaged windows, screens, shutters, steps and other exterior items. Give your front door a fresh coat of paint, and add a potted plant and a new welcome mat to up the curb appeal.

2. Clean environment

Keep your home squeaky clean when it's for sale, including the kitchen and bathrooms. Dirt in any form doesn't appeal to a future homeowner. Clear all surfaces and tidy up storage areas. 

3. Neutral wall colors

Neutral wall colors provide a pleasant backdrop for your home's furniture and accessories. If it's been a while since your walls have been painted, staging your home offers an ideal time to cover them with a fresh coat of paint. Choose a calm, neutral hue.

4. Minimalist mindset

Think minimalism when staging your home. Store everything that fosters a cluttered appearance, including toys, books, small electronics, decorative items, cookware, medicines, personal hygiene articles, etc. Less is more.

5. Generic friendly spaces

Make your home as generic as possible for staging purposes. For example, pack up your family photos, sports memorabilia and other personal paraphernalia. A generic-friendly space allows a home buyer to have a clearer vision of your home becoming their home.

6. Furniture layout

A well-designed furniture layout should showcase a spacious, organized, functional home. Remove furniture pieces that are crowding the walkways, blocking the windows or overpowering a room. Leave a 3-foot wide path for major walkways throughout your home and a minimum 2-foot clearance around beds.

7. Clutter-free walls

Edit the amount of artwork on your walls, as it can close in the space. Be sure to fill in the nail holes with spackling compound, and touch up the blemishes with paint that matches your existing wall color.

8. Sunny spaces

Let natural light flood your home. Remove dark drapes, raise the blinds and pull your curtains wide open. Wash the windows and sills. 

9. Neat bedrooms

Part of staging your home is neatly making all the beds every day. Fluff bed pillows, and return all clothes to closets and drawers.

10. Home maintenance 

Show prospective homebuyers that you've cared for your home. Fix squeaky door and cabinet hinges, tighten wobbly doorknobs, and nail down loose porch or deck boards. Replace any light bulbs that aren't working and keep your home free of unpleasant odors by emptying your indoor trash cans often. Always keep your home organized, clean and clutter-free.