What is Home Staging
Home staging is not decorating, which is reflective of your personal style. Home staging is merchandising your home for sale. A house is brought up to a level to appeal to the most potential buyers. A professional stager uses their knowledge of design trends, real estate ethics, and property renovation solutions to accomplish home staging before the house is listed on the market.
A number of tools go into the preparation and showcasing of a house. These may include fresh paint, simple hardware updates, and other necessary cost effective changes to increase the perceived value of the product.
The elements listed below all go into staging a house for sale, i.e. the showcasing. Color, number and placement may vary based on the individual needs on the house. These may include architectural features, undertones, finishes, etc.
The home staging tips below assume casegoods (furniture) are already in their proper places. You’re now ready to showcase the product.
Element 1 - Art Work
Inclusion of art work is used for vignetting. Vignettes use a group of items to create a focal point in a room. Focal points help an eye land on a particular area of the room. Art work may be neutral or colorful; once again, depending on the needs of the house. Different types of art work include painted art, woven baskets, mirrors. Make sure art work is sized appropriately for the space. Art work may also be used as a jump-off point for a color scheme. Art work is a very important element of staging a house for sale.
Element 2 - Textiles
Textiles are various fiber-based materials. Some examples of textiles include towels, throws, and pillows. These items would be found in the kitchen, bathroom, living or family room and bedroom(s). Use fluffy white towels and add in other towels in your complementary color. Coordinate your pillows to your throws. Patterned pillows help pull together your color scheme and add dimension and texture.
Element 3 - Kitchen Decor
Kitchen decor includes items generally found in the kitchen. Some examples are spices, wooden spoons, tea kettle, ceramic or glass jars, etc. Use kitchen items sparingly to not distract from a beautiful counter top. The goal is to enhance the space and guide the eye, not to overwhelm.
Element 4 - Plants
Plants or greenery please, in abundance, and faux only. Keep in mind that a gardener will not be tending to your plants while the house is listed for sale. Plants bring life to a space albeit perceived. Greenery brings the outside in. Plants need to be varying heights in distinct locations and serving a purpose. This may include a 5′ olive tree in the corner, near a window, in the dining room. As you place your greenery, keep in mind if the “plant” is getting adequate sun light as you want their placement to be as realistic as possible. Plants too are used in the creation of vignettes.
Element 5 - Bathroom Decor
Bathroom decor includes things to create that spa experience. Remember the last time you enjoyed spa day, or visited a resort, or a luxury hotel. What items did you find that shouted luxurious: comfortable, elegant, enjoyable? White fluffy towels, flameless candles, lovely scented soaps, classic art work, gold-trimmed mirrors, and glass decanters filled with personal care items are examples to be used as bathroom decorations.
Element 6 - Decorative Vases
Decorative vases come in several types of materials: ceramic, metal, glass. In the home staging industry, they are known as “smalls”. Smalls are used to create vignettes. Decorative vases lead the eyes to land on a particular area.
We hope you’ve found this information helpful. If, after reading this, you’ve decided not to go it alone, please contact Marie for a home staging consultation or to have any specific questions answered.
