We Gave a Stager $200 to Transform a Living Room — Here’s What She Bought at Anthropologie

When you want to give your living room a reboot, Rhea suggests looking for items that “can tell a story on your coffee table or in the room. Our favorite splurge is the Anthropologie candle,” she says. "They are known for amazing scents, and the vessel when empty makes a great vase, catch-all, or decorative item.” This candle, which comes in two sizes, features a sweet autumnal scent (perfect for making your home smell nice for buyers) and an attractively patterned glass vessel.

“Nothing is better than two to three layered bud vases on a tray on your table to add seasonal pops of color,” says Rhea. These ceramic vases come in white, pale lilac, and deep citron yellow, providing the perfect backdrop to a small bunch of wildflowers, a dramatic single rose or tulip, or your favorite dried flowers. If you’re not big on bouquets, you can creatively repurpose this bud vase to hold pens, incense, makeup brushes, or whatever your heart desires, which can also reduce visual clutter in your space during frequent showings.

Living rooms can easily accumulate clutter, which can be distracting, but you also don’t want to be constantly opening drawers and bins to get the things you use on a regular basis. “The best way to ground a table is with a tray,” Rhea explains, noting that trays don’t just help contain clutter but can also act as a coaster for drinks and a surface for plants. “I love this marble one for the elegance and usefulness it serves,” she says. Pop your TV remotes on it and you’ve also built a “home” for the things you use daily.

“Anthro offers a variety of beautiful books to decorate with and add texture,” Rhea says, whether you’re placing them on a coffee table, propping them up on a shelf, or even using one to “add height to a plant.” This one features one-thousand record covers, and can double as a way to playfully figure out what album to play for guests.

If your collection already includes some musical tomes, Rhea also recommends Icons (a hardcover book of 150 celebrity portraits through the decades) and Dior Lindbergh. It’s also a nice way to inject some personality in your space without giving potential buyers too much information about you — like family photos without the personal details.

Some people feel at ease around neutral color schemes, and living rooms and other spaces are often staged with warm neutrals in order to appeal to the widest array of buyers. If you’re not one of those people, or want to create added dynamism to your space, this pillow provides a nice pop of boldness.

Whether you go with the bright floral patterns or striking leopard and cheetah imagery, your couch (and living room) will “come to life,” says Rhea. And if you’re having an open house and want to tone things down just a tad, each version of this pillow has a slightly more neutral (but still unique and colorful) pattern on the reverse side.