Top 10 Decluttering Tips Before Your Perth Open Home
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Selling a home can be exciting, but preparing it for an open home can quickly become overwhelming. Before potential buyers arrive, every room should feel clean, spacious and easy to navigate.
One of the most effective places to start is decluttering. Removing unnecessary belongings can help buyers focus on the property’s features rather than the amount of stuff inside it.
If you’re preparing to sell a Perth property, the following 10 decluttering tips will help you create a more appealing and organised home before your open home.
a home for sale involves more than simply cleaning and adding a few decorations. Effective staging presents the property in a way that feels clean, spacious, functional and welcoming.
This house staging Perth checklist covers the practical steps you can take before listing your property, from decluttering and cleaning to furniture placement, styling, photography and home opens.
The goal isn’t to make every property look the same. It is to highlight the home’s strengths and help potential buyers understand how they could use and enjoy the space.
Why Is Decluttering Important Before a Perth Open Home?
Decluttering isn’t simply about making your home look tidy. It is about presenting the property in a way that allows potential buyers to understand its space, layout and functionality.
Too many belongings can make rooms feel smaller, block natural pathways and make storage areas appear less useful. A more organised home, on the other hand, can make it easier for buyers to appreciate the property’s features.
Before you begin, it helps to understand the difference between the main preparation tasks:
- Decluttering: Removing unnecessary, unused or excessive belongings.
- Cleaning: Removing dirt, dust and marks and making the property hygienic.
- Styling: Arranging furniture and décor to improve the home’s appearance.
- Staging: Preparing the property strategically to appeal to potential buyers.
The best approach is usually to declutter first, then clean and focus on presentation.
10 Decluttering Tips Before Your Perth Open Home
1. Remove Excess Furniture to Create More Space
One of the quickest ways to make a room feel more spacious is to reduce unnecessary furniture.
Large or excessive furniture can make even a reasonably sized room feel cramped. It can also make it harder for potential buyers to walk around and understand the room’s layout.
Walk through each room and ask yourself:
“Does this piece of furniture help show the purpose and space of this room?”
If the answer is no, consider removing it temporarily.
Consider removing:
- Extra chairs
- Oversized coffee tables
- Unused side tables
- Duplicate cabinets
- Bulky shelving
- Exercise equipment
- Unnecessary children’s furniture
- Furniture blocking windows or walkways
You don’t need to make the room completely empty. The objective is to leave enough furniture to demonstrate how the space can be used while maintaining plenty of visible floor space.
Quick tip
Take a photo of each room before and after removing furniture. Looking at the room through a photograph can help you spot clutter that you may not notice when you’re standing inside it.
2. Clear Your Kitchen Benchtops
The kitchen is often an important part of an open home, and cluttered benchtops can make the space look smaller and less functional.
Instead of allowing appliances and everyday items to cover every surface, remove anything that isn’t necessary for the presentation.
Consider putting away:
- Toasters
- Kettles
- Blenders
- Coffee machines
- Cooking utensils
- Food containers
- Dish racks
- Cleaning products
- Excess appliances
You don’t need to remove every item. A few carefully chosen appliances or decorative pieces can make the kitchen feel practical and lived-in.
The goal is to create clean, open surfaces that allow buyers to appreciate the kitchen itself.
Don’t forget the refrigerator
Remove excessive magnets, notes, children’s artwork and other items covering the refrigerator door. A simpler appearance can make the kitchen feel more organised.
3. Declutter Wardrobes and Storage Areas
Don’t make the mistake of only decluttering what buyers can see immediately.
During an open home, potential buyers may want to understand how much storage the property provides. An overflowing wardrobe can make even a spacious storage area appear too small.
Start by:
- Removing clothes you rarely wear
- Packing away seasonal clothing
- Organising shoes
- Removing empty boxes
- Sorting accessories
- Folding and arranging remaining clothing
- Removing unused storage containers
- Leaving some visible shelf and floor space
You don’t need to leave wardrobes completely empty. Instead, aim to make their capacity easy to see.
Why does this matter?
When a wardrobe is packed tightly, buyers may focus on the lack of visible space rather than the actual size of the storage area.
A more organised wardrobe allows buyers to see where their own belongings could go.
4. Reduce Excess Personal Items
Your home should feel welcoming, but it shouldn’t be so personalised that potential buyers struggle to imagine themselves living there.
You don’t need to remove every personal item. Instead, reduce the amount of highly personal material on display.
Consider temporarily putting away:
- Large collections of family photographs
- Personal documents
- Excess souvenirs
- Children’s artwork covering walls or refrigerators
- Large collections
- Highly personal decorations
- Items with strong personal associations
The goal is less personal, not completely impersonal.
Keep a few tasteful photographs and decorative pieces if they contribute to the home’s warmth.
Think like a buyer
Ask yourself:
“If I didn’t live here, would these items distract me from noticing the property?”
If the answer is yes, consider packing them away until after the sale.
5. Simplify Your Bedrooms
Bedrooms should feel calm, comfortable and spacious.
Avoid allowing bedrooms to become temporary storage areas just because you’re preparing other parts of the house.
Start with visible surfaces such as:
- Bedside tables
- Dressers
- Desks
- Shelves
Remove unnecessary:
- Books
- Chargers
- Clothing
- Cosmetics
- Toys
- Paperwork
- Decorations
- Exercise equipment
Keep beds neatly made and minimise the number of items visible around them.
If you have excess clothing or belongings that you won’t need before moving, pack them early.
This can make the bedroom feel less crowded while also helping you prepare for the eventual move.
6. Declutter Your Bathrooms
Bathrooms can become cluttered surprisingly quickly because they contain many small everyday items.
Before an open home, remove as many personal items as practical.
Put away:
- Toiletries
- Cosmetics
- Hair products
- Cleaning products
- Medicines
- Toothbrushes
- Personal grooming products
- Excess towels
Keep bathroom surfaces relatively clear.
Fresh towels, an organised vanity and clean surfaces can create a more polished appearance.
Remember: decluttering isn’t cleaning
Once you’ve removed unnecessary belongings, clean:
- Mirrors
- Vanities
- Showers
- Baths
- Sinks
- Floors
- Fixtures
Decluttering and cleaning work together to create a stronger first impression.
7. Don't Forget the Garage
The garage is one of the easiest areas to overlook when preparing for an open home.
However, it can be an important part of the property’s storage and functionality.
If the garage is packed from floor to ceiling, buyers may struggle to understand how much usable space is available.
Sort through:
- Old furniture
- Cardboard boxes
- Broken tools
- Unused sporting equipment
- Gardening equipment
- Old appliances
- Children’s toys
- Items you’ve been meaning to discard
Try to create clear walking areas and make as much of the available floor and wall space visible as possible.
Avoid this common mistake
Don’t simply move your indoor clutter into the garage.
If the garage becomes a dumping ground, you’ve only moved the problem rather than solved it.
8. Tidy Outdoor and Entertaining Areas
Decluttering shouldn’t stop at the front door.
For Perth properties, outdoor spaces can form an important part of the overall presentation. Patios, gardens, balconies, pool areas and entertaining spaces should be considered as part of the open-home preparation.
Look at:
- Patios
- Balconies
- Gardens
- Pool areas
- Outdoor entertaining spaces
- Driveways
- Garden sheds
Remove unnecessary items such as:
- Broken outdoor furniture
- Children’s toys
- Unused gardening equipment
- Excess pots
- Old decorations
- Empty boxes
- Unused outdoor appliances
At the same time, don’t remove everything.
If you have an attractive outdoor entertaining area, appropriate furniture can help potential buyers understand how the space could be used.
The aim is to make the area feel clean, functional and enjoyable.
9. Create Clear Walkways Throughout the Property
Take a walk through your home as though you were a potential buyer seeing it for the first time.
Ask:
“Can I move easily from one room to another?”
Furniture, boxes, toys and decorative items can easily obstruct natural pathways.
Pay particular attention to:
- Entryways
- Hallways
- Staircases
- Doorways
- Living rooms
- Bedrooms
- Outdoor paths
Clear walkways can make the layout easier to understand and help the property feel more open.
You should be able to move naturally through the home without having to walk around unnecessary furniture or belongings.
10. Use the “Keep, Pack, Donate or Discard” Method
Once you begin decluttering, the biggest challenge can be deciding what to do with everything.
A simple four-category method can make the process much easier.
Keep
Keep belongings that you regularly use or that contribute positively to the presentation of the property.
Pack
Pack things you want to keep but don’t need while your home is being marketed.
This could include:
- Seasonal clothing
- Collectibles
- Extra kitchen equipment
- Books
- Decorative items
- Personal possessions
Donate
If something is still useful but you no longer need it, consider donating it rather than allowing it to take up valuable space.
Discard
Dispose of items that are:
- Broken
- Damaged
- Expired
- Unusable
- No longer worth keeping
The important thing is to make a decision about each item.
Moving unwanted belongings from one room to another isn’t decluttering.
What Should You Declutter First?
If you’re short on time, don’t try to tackle your entire property at once.
Start with the areas that create the strongest first impression.
A practical order is:
- Entryway
- Living room
- Kitchen
- Main bedroom
- Bathrooms
- Wardrobes
- Outdoor entertaining areas
- Garage
- Other bedrooms
- Storage areas
Once the most visible areas are under control, move on to less obvious spaces.
Should You Remove Family Photos Before an Open Home?
You don’t necessarily need to remove every family photograph.
However, reducing excessive personal displays can help create a more neutral environment.
For example, if you have dozens of photographs throughout the property, consider keeping a small number and packing away the rest.
The objective isn’t to make your home feel empty or sterile.
Instead, you want potential buyers to focus on the property, its features and the lifestyle it could offer them.
Do You Need to Declutter Your Wardrobes?
Yes.
Wardrobes are part of the property’s storage offering, so buyers may want to see how much space is available.
If a wardrobe is completely packed, it can be difficult for buyers to appreciate its actual capacity.
Remove belongings you don’t regularly use, pack away seasonal items and organise what remains.
Try to leave some visible shelf and floor space so the storage feels accessible and functional.
What If Your Open Home Is Tomorrow?
Don’t panic.
If you only have one day, don’t try to reorganise every drawer and cupboard.
Instead, focus on visible clutter and high-impact areas.
Your 24-Hour Decluttering Plan
First 30 Minutes: Remove Obvious Rubbish
Walk through the property and remove:
- Empty packaging
- Broken items
- Old paperwork
- Unused containers
- Anything clearly ready to be discarded
Next 30 Minutes: Clear Visible Surfaces
Focus on:
- Kitchen benches
- Coffee tables
- Dining tables
- Bedside tables
- Bathroom vanities
- Desks
Next 30 Minutes: Reduce Furniture
Remove furniture that:
- Blocks walkways
- Makes rooms feel crowded
- Doesn’t contribute to the room’s purpose
Final 30 Minutes: Organise Storage
Quickly review:
- Wardrobes
- Cupboards
- Garage
- Storage areas
Then walk through the property one more time.
Ask yourself:
“What would I notice if I were seeing this property for the first time?”
Fix the most obvious issues first.
Where Should You Put Your Excess Belongings?
One common mistake is simply hiding clutter.
Putting everything into wardrobes, cupboards or the garage may make visible areas look better temporarily, but overflowing storage can create another problem.
Depending on your circumstances, consider:
- Packing belongings into labelled moving boxes
- Using a storage facility
- Asking family or friends to store selected items
- Donating unwanted belongings
- Selling items you no longer need
- Disposing of broken or unusable belongings
If you’re already preparing for your move, packing non-essential belongings early can solve two problems at once.
Where Should You Put Your Excess Belongings?
If you’re preparing your property for sale, you may wonder whether decluttering is enough or whether you should consider house staging in Perth.
These approaches are related, but they have different purposes.
Decluttering involves removing unnecessary possessions.
Cleaning involves making the property clean and presentable.
Styling involves arranging furniture, décor and other visual elements.
Staging takes property presentation a step further by strategically preparing the home to appeal to potential buyers.
You may be able to achieve a significant improvement through decluttering and cleaning alone. In other situations, professional styling or house staging in Perth may be worth considering if you want a more polished and cohesive presentation.
10 Common Decluttering Mistakes Before an Open Home
1. Hiding Everything in Cupboards
Buyers may look inside storage areas, so don’t turn cupboards into temporary dumping grounds.
2. Keeping Too Much Furniture
Furniture should demonstrate how a room can be used without overwhelming the available space.
3. Ignoring the Garage
A cluttered garage can make available storage and floor space difficult to appreciate.
4. Forgetting Outdoor Areas
Don’t focus entirely on the interior. Outdoor areas should also be clean, organised and functional.
5. Removing Too Much Personality
A completely empty and sterile home may not feel welcoming. Keep some tasteful décor where appropriate.
6. Leaving Boxes Everywhere
If you’re already packing, keep boxes organised and out of sight where possible.
7. Starting Too Late
Decluttering can take longer than expected. Starting early gives you more time to sell, donate, store or dispose of belongings.
8. Moving Clutter Instead of Removing It
Moving the same items between rooms doesn’t solve the underlying problem.
9. Buying Too Many Storage Products
Don’t spend money organising belongings you don’t actually need.
10. Focusing Only on Cleaning
A spotless but overcrowded home can still feel cluttered. Declutter first, then concentrate on cleaning and presentation.
Pre-Open-Home Decluttering Checklist
Inside the Home
- Remove unnecessary furniture
- Clear kitchen benchtops
- Organise wardrobes
- Minimise personal photographs
- Clear bathroom surfaces
- Simplify bedrooms
- Remove unnecessary decorations
- Organise visible cables
- Clear hallways and walkways
- Pack away excess belongings
Garage
- Remove rubbish
- Organise tools
- Remove unused furniture
- Clear unnecessary boxes
- Make floor space visible
- Create clear walking areas
Outdoor Areas
- Tidy the garden
- Remove broken items
- Organise outdoor equipment
- Arrange outdoor furniture
- Clear patios and balconies
- Remove unnecessary children’s toys
- Tidy the pool area where applicable
Frequently Asked Questions
Ideally, start as early as possible, preferably before professional photography and open homes begin. Starting early gives you time to decide what to keep, sell, donate, store or discard without rushing.
Start with anything that makes rooms appear crowded or overly personal. This can include excess furniture, unnecessary decorations, piles of paperwork and belongings covering visible surfaces.
Yes. Organised wardrobes with visible storage space can make it easier for buyers to appreciate the property’s storage capacity.
You don’t have to remove every family photograph. However, reducing the amount of highly personal décor can help create a more neutral environment for potential buyers.
Prioritise high-visibility areas first, including the entrance, living room, kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms. Remove obvious rubbish, clear surfaces and reduce excess furniture before moving on to storage areas
Start by removing excess furniture and unnecessary belongings. Clear walkways, reduce visual clutter, open up surfaces and make storage areas easier to see.
Final Thoughts
Preparing your home for an open home doesn’t mean removing everything you own.
The goal is to create a property that feels spacious, organised, welcoming and easy to understand. A well-presented home can help buyers visualise themselves living in the space and make a stronger first impression.
Start with the areas buyers are most likely to notice, remove unnecessary belongings, organise your storage spaces and don’t forget your garage and outdoor areas.
If you’re looking for the best house staging Perth has to offer, professional guidance can also help you present your property in the most appealing way. Perth Staging Crew can help transform your home with thoughtful furniture placement, styling and presentation designed to showcase its best features.
Most importantly, try to look at your property through a buyer’s eyes.
Ask yourself:
“Can a potential buyer easily see the space, storage and lifestyle this property offers?”
If the answer is yes, you’re already on the right track for a successful Perth open home. And with the right house staging Perth approach, your property can stand out and create a memorable impression with potential buyers.
