Interior styling and decoration can significantly improve the selling price of your home, especially in the top 10 priciest U.S. real estate markets, including New York City, according to recent research.

Even seemingly minor design enhancements can significantly elevate the look of a home and its buyer appeal for selling, according to the study by Level Frames.

It found that in some of the country’s most competitive markets — including New York City — this additional appeal can translate into tens of thousands of dollars more on the sale price of a home.

In fact, the study found that in these markets, sellers added between $24,000 and $42,000 to their home’s value with the simple changes to interior design.

Interior specialists Level Frames, a professional framing company, have analyzed average property prices across the states to uncover where home staging offers the greatest potential return on investment.

The data shows that well-executed staging, including a few specific changes, can add an average of around $18,500 to property values across the country.

Making the following changes can add up to big bucks, a potential increase in sale price of 5%.

Natural light

Natural light makes spaces feel larger, inspiring potential buyers about what they could do to make the space their own.

Natural light also contributes to sustainability, reducing the reliance on artificial light sources, which is a big focus for many modern homeowners. When staging your home, clean your windows and make sure that furniture isn’t blocking natural light sources, the designers say

Neutral palette

Neutral color palettes are a great way of highlighting your home’s versatility and timelessness, the designers at Level Frame found.

Giving your home a paint job is one of the best ways to boost its value, they found. A white kitchen has been found to be a sure way to increase value, the researchers said.

Neutral accents, including wall art, are a great way to enhance the room’s decor.

On a tighter budget? replace dark or busy accents in a room with neutral shades on throw pillows and bed linens and towels. Muted sofa throws and cotton accent blankets or are an easy way to accomplish bring in the new, softer-hued palette.

Framed artwork

No surprise given the study was done by a frame company, but according to Level Frames, well-displayed artwork makes an impression on buyers.

The size and placement of framed artwork are important in home staging—it should be proportionate to the wall and furniture, and hung at eye level to ensure it’s visually accessible and enhances the room’s balance, the designers said.

Opt for museum-quality custom frames for a true high-end feel. This will elevate your space, driving the price up, the researchers said.

High-quality matted artwork, too, may draw a buyer’s attention.

And those on a limited budget can frame treasured photos or works of professional-quality frames, like those available on Amazon.com, themselves.

Landscapes and nature themes lend themselves to neutral shades naturally.

Small investment, big payoff

So, which regions of the country enjoyed the biggest property-value jump with some well-chosen decor?

Here are the top 10 regions that could potentially see the biggest profit on their home after staging by designers, according to the study:

San Jose, California — $76,000 San Francisco , California — $65,000San Diego, California — $51,000Los Angeles, California — $48,000Seattle, Washington — $44,400Long Branch, California — $42,742New York City — $38,000Boston, Massachusetts — $37,580Oakland, California — $37,580Washington, D.C. — $30,294

Researchers at Level Frames used a seed list based on the 50 most populous cities in the United States and a separate ranking for U.S. states.

Using Zillow, they found the average house price in each city and state, taking the average home value over the past year. These prices are accurate as of June 5, 2025, according to the researchers.

They used the estimated staged home increase statistic (up to a 5% increase) from the National Association of Realtors Research Group 2023 Profile of Home Staging to calculate how much higher the average house price could be when investing in home staging.

All data was collected in May 2025 and is correct as of then.

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