7 Tips for Interior Styling: How to Prepare Your Home for Photography

Wether you're selling your property, renting it out or you've just finished your home renovations, prepping your space for the photographs can require more than a quick run around with the hoover and making the bed. Before the photographer arrives here are seven ways to prepare your home so the day can be stress free and your home can look its very best.

1) Preparation is key - Set aside a few hours the day before to get your space photo-ready, last-minute jobs will cause you and the photographer unnecessary stress on the day which will likely translate in the final images.

2) A thorough clean and tidy first - Everything you can see, the camera can see. Dust under cupboards and cabinets and clear under the beds; clean windows inside and out, and be mindful of what's beyond those windows too - bins, goal posts and trampolines can quickly ruin the vibe you've worked hard to create inside.

3) Edit your things - Personality is wholly encouraged but keepsakes and collections should be thoughtful and refined. Pop your personal photographs in a drawer for the day, certificates and rosettes too.

4) Signs of Life - The idea is not to strip out everything that you own, it still needs to feel like you live there; sometimes a hot cup of coffee, a candle burning or a book open is all you need to suggest someone is around.

5) Flowers and plants - Unless you have an exceptionally realistic faux plant, I'd recommend using real foliage and flowers over plastic renditions every time. If you're staging your home for sale or renting it out, consider using dried options like twigs or preserved leaves that will last through the viewings.

6) TV and Tech - Wires and cables should be hidden as much as possible, chargers and toasters can always be plugged back in after the shoot. If and when removing the TV from it's position, it works to replace it with art, a lamp or a plant, so there's not an obvious empty spot where the TV would live. 7) Pets - bowls, cat trees, beds and toys (unless being used as a design feature) should be taken out of shot where possible. We love pets and they often deserve a feature in the shoot, but most of the time pet paraphernalia looks a little messy.