🪧 Rule #18 — Never put a sofa directly under a window if it blocks light
💬 “Stealing light is the fastest way to steal value from a room.”
🎯 Why This Rule Protects a Home’s Best Asset
Natural light is one of the biggest emotional triggers for buyers — it makes rooms feel larger, fresher, and more welcoming. Placing a bulky sofa under a low window blocks both light flow and view lines, shrinking the perceived space and dulling the room’s energy. If a sofa must go near a window, it needs to work with the light, not against it.
🛋️ How to Style Sofas Near Windows (Without Killing Light)
- Go low-profile: Use sofas with low backs or open frames that don’t interrupt sightlines.
- Leave breathing room: Keep at least 15–30 cm between the sofa and the window to allow curtains to drape naturally and light to spill down.
- Use lighter fabrics: Light-coloured upholstery bounces daylight instead of absorbing it.
- If in doubt, relocate: Position the sofa along a side wall and use the window zone for chairs, plants, or a reading nook.
Example: In a Waverton apartment, the owner had a deep, high-back leather sofa pressed against the only living room window. We replaced it with a lower linen sofa angled toward the glass doors. Result? More light, better photos, and a far more inviting first impression.
🧠 What Buyers Subconsciously Think
They won’t say:
“This room has a compromised light source.”
They’ll think:
“It’s a bit dark.”
And in staging, “a bit dark” often means scroll past. Keeping light sources unobstructed is a non-negotiable for premium appeal.
✨ Quick Transformation Snapshot
Before: Sofa hard against a window, heavy upholstery, curtains bunched awkwardly.
After: Low-back sofa pulled forward with soft sheers framing the light — bright, open, and magazine-ready.
🗣️ Agent’s Perspective
“In photos, blocked windows look like black holes. Buyers don’t even click through. The first inspection starts online — keep the light free.” — Jessica K., Ray White
❌ Mistake to Avoid
Don’t fake it with lamps. No amount of artificial lighting can replace the fresh, open feel of unobstructed daylight.
🧭 Styling Flow
◀ Previous: Rule #17 — Use sideboards to visually balance heavy sofas
▶ Next: Rule #19 — Keep major furniture away from door swing zones
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