Home Staging Ideas
(partner post to 4 Budget Friendly Home Staging Ideas)
When it comes to home staging, I’m usually the gal who wants to save money – not spend it. There is such HUGE value to be found in decluttering, repositioning and a little spit n’ polish that I don’t get too caught up in the whole ‘rented furniture’ thing and there’s 2 reasons for that…
#1 – Nanaimo doesn’t have a great supplier for home staging supplies (other than my garage). Vancouver does, but I’ve done the math and it’s actually more affordable to purchase pieces for the short/long-term than it is to rent them.
#2 – Homeowners rarely want to spend money and they CERTAINLY don’t want to spend it on new furnishings, whether they are rented, bought or stolen.
However, once in a moon with a slightly blue undertone, I come across a client who says, ‘hey, let’s do it and let’s do it right’ (referring to staging – not my alternative profession.)
So, along with sharing some great photos with you, I’m also going to give you some home staging ideas that you can apply to your home whether you choose to rent furniture, buy some new pieces or use your existing furnishings.
So blah blah blah – ON TO THE PHOTOS ALREADY!
Home Staging Idea #1 Add Some Bling Baby!
A low-light room (or any room really) can benefit from reflective surfaces as they amp up the energy level. You don’t want to overdo it, but repeating a shiny finish 3 times in a room is a great way to add a positive energy and flow.
Great ways to add bling
- Use glass topped tables
- Find a few key pieces with chrome or brass details
- Add a mirror (acts like a window)
- Get a sugar daddy
Read more: Home Staging – 4 Rules to Follow
Home Staging Idea #2 Keep Things Balanced
Balance is key when you want to give buyers the impression that the home is easy to decorate and comfortable to live in. When things are off-balance and not centered a room can look cluttered and awkward.
Where is balance the most important?
In the living room. Some layouts are hard to achieve balance in, but wherever possible you want to use pairs of items and place them in similar positions (ie: side tables/accent chairs/lamps)
In the bedroom. When staging you should have 2 matching side table with 2 matching lamps on either side of the bed. The bed should also be centered on the main wall with an organized toss cushion display.
Home Staging Idea #3 Colour Repetition
Colour repetition is a great way to reinforce a style and to keep things simple. It’s best to repeat a colour 3 times in a room so that your eye picks it up in a variety of places and uses it to get an overall impression of the room.
A few ways to add colour
- Toss cushions and throws
- Artwork
- Accessories such as vases and decorative pieces
- Fabric (drapes/chair seats)
Read more: Home Staging – 5 Key Rooms
Home Staging Idea #4 Make it Personal
I’m sure you’ve heard a million times to take the ‘personality’ out of your home – no family photos, no personal items, etc… First of all, I’m not always a believer in this as sometimes it’s the heartfelt pieces that make it ‘feel’ like a home and secondly, there are ways to make things ‘personal’ without scaring off potential buyers and the best way is to find out your target market.
Figure out what the target market is for your home and then find out the styles that are popular in that age group.
This home was built to appeal to the younger/first time buyer so it made sense to add things that felt ‘personalized’ with writing (as it’s a huge trend right now). I also added accent pieces including owls and a French bulldog, which are also popular in the younger decorative world right now.
Home Staging Idea #5 Make it IMpersonal…in the bathroom
While it’s okay to add some personality to other rooms, bathrooms are sacred ground when it comes to personality.
So what does this mean?
- No toothbrushes and toothpaste – even if they are in a pretty cup
- Hairbrushes and personal products put away
- Nobody wants to see your bra hanging on the back of the door, bong, fur coat made of your dog’s shavings, blow-up doll or box of extra large condoms – and yes I have seen all of these in my client’s homes and yes I am slightly traumatized.
Chat soon,
Check out my Online Consulting for a Personal Decorating Consultation
Read more
4 Budget Friendly Home Staging Ideas
The Best Light Paint Colours for Home Staging
Kylie M Interiors Interior Decorating, Design, Home Staging, E-Decor, E-Design and Affordable Online Consulting Services based in Nanaimo BC, serving Vancouver Island and the World!
HI Kylie,
Would you be able to tell me what grey paint was used in the bathroom photo under Home Staging Idea #5 Make it IMpersonal…in the bathroom? I’d greatly appreciate knowing. Thanks!
Laura
Author
Hi Laura! It was a few years ago now, but I believe it was SW Dorian Gray!