I Sent a Stager Photos of My Bedroom Layout — Here’s How She Rearranged It

My family moved a lot when I was growing up. I have distinct memories of trying to style my bedroom to showcase my personality before house showings, only for my mom to sweep through and simplify everything. Now I understand why: It’s not about me, it’s about potential buyers.

Fast forward to today and sometimes I wish I lived in a staged home. That may seem a little extreme (okay, it is), but once you have kids, something about a generically enjoyable space sounds pretty relaxing. Curious about what I could do to make my bedroom feel the same way it did when I was younger — because right now it reads as just empty and basic — I reached out to Sarah Yeager, staging consultant at Mombo Interiors in Austin, Texas. I sent her some photos of my bedroom and its layout, hoping some of her staging wisdom could spruce things up. (As a caveat, I want to say that I know I need to finish painting my room. What can I say? The space is a work in progress!)

Yeager always aims to make the bed the star of the show, and I was thrilled that she approved of all of my bedding — with some restyling, naturally. She suggested putting the waffle blanket on top of the sheets, adding the duvet, and then folding the duvet back so you can see the layers. In front of the standard and euro pillows I already have arranged, she recommended two navy throw pillows to pull the color from the lamps and the existing throw pillow next. As a finishing touch, she told me to add a blue throw at the end of the bed. I know my room is in dire need of some color, and these feel like super-easy ways to incorporate more.

Above the bed, she said, art is needed — two blue or complementary pieces framed in wood to match the nightstands. Her team typically goes for something modern, textured, botanical, or patterned that won’t alienate buyers. I’m all for this because I’ve been searching for the perfect headboard, but art might be easier for me to source.

Yeager only puts a stack of two books or a small faux succulent on nightstands, which I appreciate the simplicity of. Based on the size of my lamps and the necessities I like to keep close at night, it’s more functional for me to continue to keep them clear. The dresser, however, is a different story. On the right side, I was instructed to keep the tray the same and just add some greenery in the vase as an extra pop. On the left, Yeager wanted me to stack a couple of pictorial coffee table books. Above the dresser, she recommended a gold mirror. The last suggestion was super validating because it’s exactly what I was thinking about doing, and now it’s expert-approved.

Instead of our laundry basket in the corner, she recommended opting for a blanket ladder with neutral or blue throws, or a faux fiddle leaf in a big pot to balance out the visual weight of the dresser. Or, alternatively, nothing at all. These suggestions actually surprised me — I thought she’d tell me to add a chair to encourage relaxation or something similar — but I’m all too happy to save money and just leave the corner empty.

Overall, my favorite part about Yeager’s recommendations is the approachability. Even with the most basic interior design knowledge, it all sounds pretty intuitive. All of the decor she mentioned can be easily found on the cheap somewhere like HomeGoods, but I could also splurge at West Elm or Pottery Barn, too. This has also been a lesson in how little adjustments can make a big difference. I often put off decorating decisions, thinking I need to figure everything out at once, but it’s actually not necessary — and when you’re decorating for the long-term instead of just photos and showings, you have plenty of time to find what you really love.