BLOG interiors + staging + lifestyle
5 Home Staging Trends to Watch - REALTOR® Magazine
How has the pandemic influenced home stagers? Staging professionals offer up ideas for prepping properties
© Dasha Petrenko - AdobeStock
Staging professionals offer up ideas for prepping properties
September - October 2020 REALTOR® Magazine
How has the pandemic influenced home stagers? Bloggers from REALTOR® Magazine’s Styled, Staged & Sold team of staging professionals offer up ideas for prepping properties.
Send cozier vibes. “Cozy is the new ‘luxury.’ We’re using more place settings on tables, setting up a coffee station with a tray, mugs, and napkins, displaying magazines and books on coffee tables, and draping fur throw blankets over beds—all of this conveys a more homey feel. Outside, we’ll have a fire pit surrounded by chairs or a hammock on the lawn.” —Krisztina Bell, No Vacancy Inc. and Virtually Staging Properties Inc.
Give prominence to the home office. “We’re seeing the home office as an area to stage. We either stage a room that was clearly built as an office or we create a space for use as an office. The rise of people working from home means showing a space that can be used for that purpose. We’ve invested in more desks and office items to support the growing request.” —Jennie Norris, International Association of Home Staging Professionals
Spotlight outdoor living. “The ‘bonus room’ may now be your livable outdoor space. Home staging will not stop at the back door. From pretty porches that offer an optimal first impression to an outdoor haven that expands the home’s living space—staging in 2021 will embrace the entire property.” —Julea Joseph, Reinventing Space
Bring on the natural light. “The pandemic has created a higher level of anxiety. Studies suggest that natural light from great windows or enclosed outdoor spaces can boost people’s mood and, over the long term, improve mental health.” —Karen Post, Home Frosting
Offer contactless services. “We’ve offering our staging clients a safe and cost-effective way to enhance their property’s appeal and engage buyers with new virtual staging consultations and ‘staging box’ services. After our experts take a virtual tour of the seller’s home,, we provide ‘staging box’ options with front-door delivery. The box includes things like sofa pillows, rugs, wall art, lighting, bedding, and tabletop accessories, with detailed placement instructions and other guidance as needed.” —Patti Stern, PJ & Company Staging and Interior Decorating
Reprinted. For digital article https://magazine.realtor/home-and-design/feature/article/2020/09/5-home-staging-trends-to-watch.
5 Easy Updates - Home Staging Advice
She enlisted my help with making just the right choices and improvements to take the home from bland to grand.
My interior design client Susan bought an investment property a few months ago. She plans on renting the condo, and really wanted to make this home a winner on the rental circuit. The condo is in a great location, is close to the train, and has good bones, but just needed a shot of decorating Botox. She enlisted my help with making just the right choices and improvements to take the home from bland to grand.
GOAL: Make simple, dramatic changes to this space to get it rental ready, and set it apart from other properties in the area.
With simple changes, the space went from kind-of dated, and definitely boring, to a front-of-the-line rental, with a fresh and airy style.
BEFORE: (Photo: Source)
AFTER: (Photo: Beacon James )
PAINT TRIM & WALLS: Want to appeal to everyone? Paint the trim. By painting the trim, the entire space expands, making the home feel large and airy. I picked white dove paint color by Sherwin-Williams. Paint the Walls one color. We painted all the public spaces one color choice - Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray HC-173 -one of my go-to Home Staging paint colors. The result is a move-in ready space; one that feels large, open and ready for the new renters decorative personality.
PAINT CABINETS: Just like the trim and walls, painting the cabinets will give you the same result and improvement. In this project, we chose two colors. Black on the bottom, white on the top. This makes the existing floor tile and lighting work, adds height to a galley kitchen, and creates a super high-end style. I chose white dove paint color by Sherwin-Williams on the upper cabinets, Iron Ore paint color SW 7069 by Sherwin-Williams on the bottom cabinets. Note: The cabinet pulls didn’t even have to be changed. Bonus!
“Contrasting colors that sell include “tuxedo kitchens,” where the upper and lower cabinets are painted in two different colors; these add a $1,547 premium. White cabinets contrasted by a dark navy blue or black kitchen island were some of the most common tuxedo kitchens in top-performing listings.”
NEW LIGHTING: Dated light fixtures make a home look dark, dull and tired. Look for trend forward, space functional, but budget friendly new light fixtures. In the dining room, I choose a modern statement making fixture. Lowes, Catalina Sputnik Chandelier.
NEW COUNTER TOPS: If the counters are beat up, a dark color, or really dated, new counters are an important upgrade. Since counters are used to prep foods, or for personal care - by replacing the counters with a new product, it gives the new homeowner a clean, fresh slate. We choose a Quartz counter in a white.
HIGH-END LOOK DETAILS: A few high-end details will elevate the property to a new level. These all don’t have to be expensive, they just need to LOOK expensive. These lifestyle design upgrades, take the home to a whole new level and really connect emotionally with the potential renter (buyer).
HERE ARE SOME OF MY IDEAS TO MAKE THE SPACE REALLY GO FROM BLAND TO GRAND!
-Beef up the base trim. Add an additional trim piece above the base board to desired height - paint all the trim color, trim, drywall, base board.
-Trim out the door opening. We did the opening to the bedroom spaces - this became a focal point of the space. By just doing this one opening, it makes the home feel very custom.
-Add a fun, tile back splash in the kitchen sink area. Just enough to add a splash of chic, bring the entire black and white theme together. Cement tile look - Encaustic tile from Lowe’s.
-Replace the wood blinds with fabric Roman Shades. Everyone would do a basic wood look blind, instead, a fabric Roman Shade gives the makeover a custom, high-end feel.
-Add a one-of-a-kind piece. Another one of my clients was getting rid of a buffet island. I had just been to her home, and thought the piece would be perfect for Susan. Just the right size, painted to match the lower cabinets, it made for the needed extra counter space.
High End details: Beefing up the base board, adding custom trim around the large doorway elevates a space.
HIGH-END details - Added fun, black and white concrete tile back splash behind the sink area. Which pulls all of the elements of the room together.
HIGH END Details: Fabric Roman Shades, One-of-a-Kind Custom Re-Purposed piece make the home inviting and custom.
ONE-OF-A-KIND- PIECE: BEFORE: The mother of reinvention - Another client’s discard turned into just the right custom piece to make the kitchen shine.
The results of Susan’s changes are exciting and I can’t wait for her text that her new investment property is quickly leased to a great renter. Need helping get a space pull together? - I offer both in-person and remote consultation services to make the most of your home. Call or text 708.543.8597.
Why Empty Homes Don't Sell
An empty home leaves an empty canvas to paint negative thoughts on – Prospective buyers will find imperfections and not interested or wanted features. An empty home amplifies negative thoughts.
Every morning on my Chicago area social media feed, I see acres and acres of empty rooms posted by Realtors. So many empty dining rooms, breakfast rooms, kitchens, living and bedrooms. Do I stop and click on the photo, intrigued to have a look at the room, the house, the property? No, I just scroll on by... Do I read the eloquently written description? Do I appreciate the professional photography? No, I just scroll on by... Why? It's that they all look the same; devoid of any senses, any flavor, any style.
WHY?
#1. An empty home leaves an empty canvas to paint negative thoughts on – Prospective buyers will find imperfections and not interested or wanted features. An empty home amplifies negative thoughts.
#2. Empty homes lack a vision of its layout (What is this room?) A Staged homes explain how the home flows and how each space can be used.
#3. An empty home is void of imagination and feeling. People buy homes on emotion. An empty property is just a HOUSE, a staged property becomes a HOME. Home Staging creates the emotion that your prospective buyers envisioned.
#4. The National Association of REALTORS 2015 Profile on Home Staging found that 81% of buyers find it is easier to visualize a property as a future home when it's Staged.
“A staged home may seem like it has furniture that’s fixed in place; but what is going on in the buyer’s mind is a very kinetic process. With a home that is staged, they see a family - celebrating home.”
Does House Staging Work - YES it Does! -NAR 2015 Profile of Home Staging Report
2015 Home Staging Report by National Association of REALTORS
The spring housing market has just started and there is good news when is comes to Realtors knowing that HOME STAGING services are an important factor in showcasing a home.
The National Association of REALTORS, NAR recently released a report about Home Staging. The report, 2015 Profile of Home Staging surveys both seller and buyer's agents about the effectiveness of the Home Staging process. The 1st of its kind, the report shows that Realtors see the value of the art and marketing of Home Staging. 96% of Buyer's agents said that Home Staging has an effect of how a buyer views the home.
The NAR's Infographic below is a summary some of the key statistics gathered from the survey.
Whether your are a home seller or REALTOR, home staging is an essential factor when selling the most expensive investment a homeowner has ever made.
For Chicago area Realtors interested in receiving more education on Home Staging, Mainstreet Organization of Realtors offers a Home Staging course for Realtors. The Certified Staging Consultant (CSC) Course - is not only an IAR C.E., but also a MORe Certification. The course is very popular and is now offered at all 4 of MORE's Chicagoland offices. The course too can be hosted off-site by an office or brokerage. For more information, visit my site's Home Staging Education page or call 708.448.7500.
Also, few more past posts on Home Staging.
The Often Forgotten Pre-Photo Shoot Styling
10 Home Staging Tips to Make Your Listing Look Like a Model Home
Staging Tips: Styling for the Photo Shoot
Home Stagers are experts in styling homes for photo shoots. In a few hours, we can whip and flip a home into a stunner. Your on-line photos are the #1 advertising element of your for sale home.
You have worked tirelessly preparing your home for sale. Don’t let all your hard work fall short with the often forgotten, most overlooked step in a great home staging – The Pre-Photo Shoot Styling. Before those photos are taken, your home needs one last interior makeover before making its grand debut on the internet. I often compare it to going to the hair salon before a big event, getting a great color, cut and style, only to go home and wash it. Don’t stop short right before you publicly introduce your home to potential buyers by not making it perfectly groomed for its Internet close-up.
Home Stagers are experts in styling homes for photo shoots. In a few hours, we can whip and flip a home into a stunner. Your on-line photos are the #1 advertising element of your for sale home.
Here are a few of our tips and techniques.
-Remove all scatter rugs from floors. Have cleared counters and make the space extra inviting with a bowl, vase or pot of something fresh.
HOME STAGING TIP: Room look bigger and spacious in photos without rugs or counter clutter breaking up the room's lines or distracting the eye.
-Set a spectacular bed. Perfectly tucked, primped and pampered - the bed is the trophy of every bedroom.
HOME STAGING TIP: Create added interest on a bed with a colorful accent pillows and textural throws.
-Every bath needs fresh, clean, fluffy towels, a seat down, glistening surfaces, and not a personal product present.
HOME STAGING TIP: Nothing says fresh and super clean than a stack of fluffy white towels.
-Light it right. Showcase rooms and the home by making sure the space is lit well by turning on light, opening shades and pulling back drapes.
HOME STAGING TIP: Photograph the home at the time of day that allows just the right light in.
Getting your house ready for the market? Squeeze the most equity out of it by utilizing our design to sell -Home Staging services. From pre-photo styling to giving sage update advice when just starting - we help capture a home’s equity that would otherwise be overlooked.