As most of you know, we just wrapped up a 3 day sink-or-swim staging training. It was so motivating to be there learning and growing with other staging entrepreneurs, but it was also a little like drinking from a firehose with a wealth of information and knowledge being thrown at you. Lucky for you, we are here to give you the highlights! So, for anyone out there with a house, apartment, condo, hut, or cardboard box, here are our top staging tips for getting your house ready to sell or even tweaking your house to dwell.
Top 10 Staging Tips + Tricks
1. Declutter!
Friends, hear me out- If all you do is declutter your home, you are 70% staged already.
2. Wall Decor
Hang your artwork or wall decor 63-65 inches from the floor to the middle of the piece. Shouldn't be too high or too low. This will give you that comfortable middle ground that is appropriate for all heights.
3. Three is the Magic Number
Group things in threes. If you have a tray with a plant and a candle, add a book or small accessory to round it out and make it pleasing to the eye. When items are paired in twos, it feels like something is missing.
4. Dining Fixtures
Hang dining light fixtures 34-36 inches from the top of the table to the bottom of the fixture. This will ensure everyone sees your fabulous fixture but can still see each other at your 6 course meal that I am sure you have every evening like me.
5. Space Saver
If you remove the "captain chairs" or chairs at the head of the table from your dining table, it will save you space and make your room to appear larger. Try it, trust me.
6. Area Rugs
This is important. Very important. Area rugs in the living room should be large enough for the front legs of all of the furniture in the group to touch. Meaning, if you have a couch, a coffee table, and a chair in your living room all grouped together, the front legs of all of those pieces need to be on the rug. If that is not possible, you may need a bigger rug.
7. High-Medium-Low
When decorating, you want to give a variety of heights in order to encourage the eye to move around the space. Make sure you have something high and low to draw your buyer's eye upward and downward.
8. Gimme the Greenery
Every room should have some sort of greenery. Brining nature in instantly breathes life into your space. Faux plants are ok too! Just make sure they look real and when in doubt, stick to faux greenery like a small succulent or leafy potted plant. Go ahead and pass on the fake trees.
9. Less is Mas
This is true. When wondering if you have too much in a space or too many decor items on the wall, the answer is probably yes. {See tip #1.}
10. Respect the Pathways
Remember to leave pathways open walking from room to room. Stand in the doorway and look for accessible pathways. If you have to walk around furniture or squeeze by a chair, you should consider rearranging. Space and accessibility is value when buyers come to view your house.
Happy staging!
LD