We Gave a Professional Home Stager $35 — Here’s What She Bought at Five Below
When it comes to staging a home ahead of a sale, it’s no secret that hiring a professional can be a pricey endeavor. However, some of those star stagers rely on the same dollar store chains we all love to browse. Five Below is a popular discount store that sells items primarily under $5 (hence the name) but there are a few products that go up to $10. If you’re looking to spice up a space without breaking the bank, Five Below is a great spot to score some accents.
We asked Boston-based interior designer and home stager Jess Harrington of Jess Finessed Homes to head to Five Below with $35 in her wallet, and show us what items she chose as home staging necessities. Read on to see what bargains she picked to make her staging process go seamlessly.
Woven Basket
“When staging a home, every detail counts. Choosing stylish storage containers like this twisted rope basket over functional plastic bins can make a big impact. For vacant properties, these are amazing to style shelves with. In occupied jobs, there’s no better way to tame closet clutter — yes, prospective buyers will evaluate every closet in the house!”
Buy: Twisted Rope Paper Basket 12×8, $5
Bathroom Rug
“I like to keep it simple when it comes to the bathrooms. Buyers want to see a clean, bright bathroom that isn’t filled with clutter and debris. This rug adds a pop of fun color and texture in a bathroom with otherwise hard surfaces.”
Buy: Tufted Zig Zag Rug, $5
Faux Fur Pillow
“A lot of the condos we stage in Boston have exposed brick feature walls. You can balance out hard surfaces like brick with soft touches, like this faux fur pillow, for a comfortable, elevated look. These $10 fur pillows are a great luxe-for-less option that would fit in most homes.”
Buy: Luxe Collected Textured Faux Fur Pillow, $10
Jumbo Shopping Bags
“These totes are a must for de-stages. The zip top keeps my throw pillows and blankets from falling out on the truck or getting dirty during transportation. I bought five!”
Buy: Jumbo Shopper Tote Bag with Zipper, $2 apiece, $10 for five
Bed Canopy
“Staging playrooms in the ‘burbs is so much fun, but we often need something tall to balance out the small scale of kid-sized furniture. This canopy adds whimsy, fills a corner, and looks great in real estate photos!”
Buy: Bed Canopy Netting, $5