The process of staging your home is
all about illusions, so to speak. It is more than just cleaning and decorating,
it’s about preparing the home for sale and creating and perfecting moods. Staging
is the part that takes place AFTER
you have done all of your cleaning, de-cluttering, painting, and minor repairs.
When you stage your home it makes your home look bigger, cleaner, brighter,
warmer, and most of all it makes buyer want to buy it. The key is adding the
small details, for example: that perfect amount of lipstick/lip gloss, light
mascara, and a stunning single strand of pearls. It’s simple, yet elegant.
Secrets of a Professional
Home Stager
Professional
Stagers possess the skills of a top-level designer and they create dramatic
scenery that appeals to all five senses. Here are some of their secrets:
- Arrange sparse pieces of furniture in an appealing grouping known as a vignette
- Showcase a generous usage of soft fabrics such as silk and satin
- Display unusual knickknacks in units of 1, 3 or 5
- Drape window coverings with simple lines
- Add unique elements to shelving, bookcases and fireplace mantels, which draw attention to predetermined areas
What Accessories Does a
Stager Use?
Stagers
bring in a vast array of items to spruce up the house. Here is a small sampling
of items professional stagers often use to dress each room. How they are
utilized is limited only by the creativity and vision of the stager.
- Mirrors
- Plants
- Silk Flowers
- Floor & Table Lamps,
- Area and Throw Rugs
- Small Love Seats
- Ottomans
- Afghans
- Pillows
- Inflatable Queen-Size Beds
- Baskets
- Plastic Tables & Chairs
Professional Staging
Tricks & Tips
I spoke to
a few stagers in my area and they offered this practical advice for making your
space sparkle:
- Apply orange oil to cabinets that appear dry, which will renew their original luster
- Put out large bowls of fruit such as polished apples, bright oranges, luscious grapes
- Arrange colorful and fun cookbooks on the counters
On stager
had a “green thumb” and loved bringing the outdoors inside through the use of
greenery and plants; in creating clean, crisp spaces and arranging furniture
with plenty of room to walk around. Another stager mentioned that bathrooms are
essential to dress well. Bathrooms should look open, airy and delightful. One
of her favorite tricks is to add baskets filled with spa treatments such as:
- Towels, tied with ribbons
- Scented soaps
- Creamy lotions
- Moisturizing & Facial jars
Just
because we stage the house doesn’t meant that the back yard doesn’t need
staging too! For patios and decks, bring in plants and potted flowers, and add
additional color by setting the picnic table with bright, plastic dinner
plates.
How Much Does It Cost?
Prices
vary depending on where you live and the local demand for professional home
staging. I believe that vacant homes show better with staging, however, fees
range from $500 to $5,000 or more, depending on square footage and the number
of rooms staged. It is not a requirement to have a professional stager. Based
on the tips that I mentioned in this post coupled with your creative sense of
design you very well may be able to create a beautiful “illusion” to your
buyers. Good luck!!
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