How to stage your home.

The bedroom is often a room neglected by homeowners when getting their home in shape before the sale campaign.

Rescuing the abandoned shoes from under the bed and piling everything into the wardrobe is not enough.

Just as with any other room, you need to create a room plan to ensure you are making the most of the available space.

The location for the bed is the first issue to be decided upon. A number of factors will influence the decision about where to put it.

If possible, a double bed should allow access for two people, so crammed up against a wall is not a good idea. If this is not possible, consider downsizing to a single bed. Access for power points, aerials and phone sockets should also be considered. Next thing to consider is the door. Try avoid placing the bed in the opening arc of the door.

Similarly, the bed should not be in the arc of doors from wardrobes or storage units.

When the room is laid out you can get to the fun stuff.

Bed linen can really make or break a bedroom. A stylishly dressed bed can make even a small dark room look good. Throws, scatter cushions and interesting bedside lamps can be used to create a cosy environment and need not cost an arm and a leg.

Less is more when it comes to bedroom furniture. Only consider a dressing table if the room can really really take it. While a bedside table with lamps on both sides of the bed creates a lovely sense of balance, it may not be possible in a small room, and maybe you should consider a space-saving shelf running above the bed or to each side.

If you are blessed with a large room, upholstered chairs or a chaise longue in the bedroom can create a lovely focus and add an inviting and personal touch to a room.