How to Stage Your Las Vegas Home on a Budget

by Ryan Rose

Professional staging looks amazing. It also costs $2,000-5,000. Maybe you don't have that budget. Maybe your home doesn't need the full treatment. Good news: you can make a big impact without spending big money.

Here's how to stage smart and cheap.

Step One: Remove Half Your Stuff

I'm serious. Half. Maybe more.

You've been living in this house. It's full of your life. Books, photos, collections, furniture you've accumulated over years. All that stuff makes rooms feel smaller and distracts buyers from seeing the actual house.

Pack it up now. You're moving anyway. Get a head start. Rent a storage unit if needed. The $100/month is worth it.

Less stuff = bigger rooms = better photos = more showings.

Step Two: Deep Clean Everything

Not regular clean. Deep clean. The kind of clean you do when your mother-in-law announces a surprise visit.

Baseboards. Light fixtures. Inside the oven. Behind the toilet. Window tracks. All of it.

If you can't do it yourself, hire cleaners. $200-400 for a professional deep clean is one of the best investments you can make.

Buyers notice dirt. They might not consciously think "wow, those baseboards are grimy," but subconsciously they're forming opinions. Clean houses feel cared for.

Step Three: Neutralize

Your red accent wall is bold. Your collection of ceramic cats is charming. Your kids' artwork covering the fridge is adorable.

None of it helps sell your house.

Paint over bold colors with neutral tones. Gray, greige, white. Boring? Yes. Effective? Also yes. Buyers need to imagine their stuff in your space. Your personality gets in the way.

Remove personal photos. Religious items. Political stuff. Anything that makes a statement. You want buyers focused on square footage, not your vacation pictures.

Step Four: Fix the Free Stuff

Some staging is literally free:

Open all blinds and curtains. Light makes rooms feel bigger.

Replace dead bulbs. Every single one. Use the brightest bulbs your fixtures allow.

Make beds every morning. Sounds basic. You'd be surprised how many showings I've done with unmade beds.

Clear counters. Kitchen, bathroom, everywhere. Counters should be 90% empty.

Hide the trash cans. Under the sink, in the garage, wherever. Out of sight.

Step Five: Strategic Small Purchases

A few cheap items make a difference:

Fresh white towels for bathrooms. $30 at Target. Instant spa vibes.

New shower curtain. $20-40. Old shower curtains are gross. Everyone notices.

Simple greenery. A few plants or some faux greenery adds life. $50 total.

Matching hangers in closets. Seriously. It makes closets look organized and bigger.

What Not to Bother With

Skip the fancy throw pillows. Skip the decorative coffee table books. Skip the Pinterest-perfect tablescapes. These are the extras professional stagers add after the basics are done. You don't need them.

Focus on clean, decluttered, and neutral. That's 90% of staging impact for 10% of the cost.

The Bottom Line

Good staging doesn't require a big budget. It requires editing, cleaning, and getting out of your own way. Less is more. Cleaner is better. Neutral wins.

Want help figuring out what your Las Vegas home needs before listing? Let's walk through it. Sometimes fresh eyes catch what you've stopped seeing.

Budget Home Staging FAQs for Las Vegas Sellers

Q1: How much does it cost to stage a home on a budget in Las Vegas?

You can effectively stage your Las Vegas home for $200-500 instead of the typical $2,000-5,000 professional staging costs. This budget covers a storage unit ($100/month), professional deep cleaning ($200-400), fresh white towels ($30), a new shower curtain ($20-40), and simple greenery ($50). The majority of impactful staging—decluttering, neutralizing, and organizing—is completely free.

Q2: Do I really need to remove half my belongings when staging?

Yes. Decluttering is the single most important staging step. Removing at least half your belongings makes rooms appear larger, helps buyers focus on the home's features rather than your personal items, and creates better listing photos that attract more showings. Pack items early since you'll be moving anyway, and consider renting a storage unit temporarily.

Q3: What paint colors are best for staging a home for sale?

Neutral tones like gray, greige, and white are most effective for staging. While they may seem boring, neutral colors help buyers envision their own belongings in the space. Bold accent walls and distinctive color choices can distract buyers and prevent them from connecting emotionally with your home.

Q4: Is professional deep cleaning worth it when selling?

Absolutely. A professional deep clean costing $200-400 is one of the best investments you can make when selling. Clean homes feel cared for, and buyers notice details like baseboards, light fixtures, window tracks, and grout—even if subconsciously. Deep cleaning affects buyers' overall impression and perceived home value.

Q5: What are free staging techniques that actually work?

Several free staging techniques have major impact: open all blinds and curtains to maximize natural light, replace every dead light bulb with the brightest allowed, make beds daily before showings, clear 90% of counter space in kitchens and bathrooms, and hide all trash cans. These simple steps cost nothing but significantly improve how your home presents.

Q6: Should I remove family photos and personal items when staging?

Yes, remove all personal photos, religious items, political materials, and anything that makes a personal statement. Buyers need to imagine their own life in your space. Personal items create barriers to that emotional connection and distract from the home's actual features and square footage.

Q7: What staging items are worth buying versus skipping?

Worth buying: fresh white towels for bathrooms ($30), a new shower curtain ($20-40), simple plants or faux greenery ($50), and matching hangers for closets. Skip fancy throw pillows, decorative coffee table books, and Pinterest-perfect tablescapes. Focus your budget on clean, decluttered, and neutral basics rather than decorative extras.

Q8: Does budget staging really help sell homes faster in Las Vegas?

Yes. Budget staging focusing on decluttering, deep cleaning, and neutralizing delivers 90% of staging impact for only 10% of professional staging costs. These improvements lead to better listing photos, more showings, and stronger buyer interest. Clean, decluttered, neutral homes consistently outperform cluttered, personalized properties regardless of staging budget.

Q9: Why does professional photography matter when I've staged on a budget?

Even budget staging deserves professional photography because listing photos determine whether buyers schedule showings. Professional photographers know how to capture your staged home's best features, lighting, and angles. Poor photos waste your staging effort, while quality photos maximize the impact of your decluttering and cleaning work.

Q10: How empty should kitchen and bathroom counters be when staging?

Counters should be 90% empty. In kitchens, remove all small appliances, dish racks, and clutter except perhaps one decorative item. In bathrooms, clear everything except possibly a small tray with coordinated soap dispensers. Empty counters make spaces appear larger and help buyers envision their own items in the home.