It’s common knowledge in the real estate world that buyers need to imagine themselves in prospective houses. Most realtors advise against showing empty homes.

Furniture, decorations, and other accessories make a house feel like a home rather than an empty, echoing space. At the same time, a house full of personal knickknacks can turn buyers away. Staging your home for sale is an important part of the marketing process, but in order to be effective, it needs to be done right. Take a look below at some home staging tips and mistakes to avoid.

Mistake #1: Imbalanced furniture and accessories

Oversized furniture in a small room creates a tight, crowded feel that most buyers will find unappealing. Too many accessories do the same. Surprisingly, however, emptying a room is not an effective way to create the illusion of more space. Empty rooms actually appear smaller because they provide no reference point for size. And when a large room is left too sparse, it will fail to create a sense of comfort and livability. A well-staged home strikes a balance between spaciousness and comfort with proportionally sized furniture, pleasing layouts, and strategically placed accessories.

Mistake #2: Incorrect color palette

Repainting the interior of your house is an essential step, particularly if you have bold colors on the walls. Neutral color palettes like linen white and soft beige are warm and welcoming, but using the same color on walls, floors, and furniture will create a “matchy-matchy” look that depletes the energy of the room. Opt for a range of harmonious neutral hues and provide strategic contrast with a balance of color with artwork, pillows, and simple accessories.

Mistake #3: Too many accessories

Artwork and accessories provide a great opportunity for contrast against neutral walls and carpets, but it’s important to avoid displaying too much. You want to select and place art and photographs with the intention of gently drawing the buyer’s eye around the room. Too much visual interest can create a dizzying effect. When it comes to accessories, follow the “3-to-5-foot” rule for surface décor and knickknacks: surfaces in the 3-foot to 5-foot range, such as coffee tables and credenzas, should have the right balance of accents but be clear of clutter.

Mistake #4: No area rugs or the wrong area rugs

Open concept floor plans are here to stay. Every buyer wants them, and most new homes are built with that in mind. But ironically, not everyone understands what to do with an open floor plan. Area rugs help show buyers what’s possible by defining areas within a room and pulling the furniture and décor together. They’re also a seller’s best friend when it comes to oddly shaped rooms in particular. Just like with furniture, however, it’s important to use area rugs strategically, as the wrong color, size, or placement can clutter a space or otherwise detract from its highlights.

Mistake #5: Not bringing the outdoors in

Houseplants bring a pop of color and a sense of life into a home, whether you use potted ferns or gorgeous orchids. Succulents are also a great choice—they’re available in a wide variety of colors and sizes and require little care. Moderation is important, however. You don’t want prospective buyers to think they’re adventuring through the jungle during their the open house.

Mistake #6: Hiding instead of removing clutter

Staging your home for sale is a great excuse to get packed up early, but don’t be tempted to simply hide your clutter away to sell the house fast. Storage space is a huge part of your home’s appeal, and buyers love opening closets. Be sure your cabinets and closets are either empty or sparsely filled and organized, not bursting at the seams with your belongings.

Mistake #7: Not staging to scale

Some home sellers try to trick buyers into thinking their home is more spacious by replacing furniture and décor with smaller items that are not to scale. Unfortunately, the odd proportions will stand out to buyers even if they can’t pinpoint what is wrong with the room, which will result in a negative impression of your home.

Mistake #8: Forgetting about curb appeal

You know how important first impressions are when you meet someone, and the same goes for prospective buyers “meeting” your home for the first time. Before they even enter your beautifully staged home, buyers will judge based on the front exterior, so make sure the yard is landscaped and free of weeds, windows are clean and sparkling, and the front door area is swept and freshly painted, if necessary.