This Home Stager Shows Bigger Is Better in a California Primary Bedroom

published Sep 11, 2022
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Credit: Previews First

A charming 1948 bungalow in Southern California underwent a total renovation in the early 2000s, turning it into a bright, airy, and clean-lined space. It was a beloved home filled with meaningful furniture and collected pieces, but to give it a new life for potential new buyers, the homeowners and agent Jessica Miller of Coldwell Banker Realty brought in home stager Meg Marie Pearson of Boheme Home Staging.

Pearson gives properties across Los Angeles an approachable bohemian style that resonates with homebuyers. She mixes trendy pieces with inviting textures, like in this listing. Everything from the furniture to the textiles to the styling is welcoming and warm. Rather than stage for a specific persona, Pearson infuses each home with her distinct colorful style and tailors it to the character and location of the house. 

In the primary bedroom of this California home, Pearson says, “The goal was to brighten up the space, bring in some color and simplify the decor, helping the primary suite feel large and relaxing.”

The homeowners moved out before Pearson got to work, giving her a completely blank slate to work with. As is often the case, staging involves removing pieces rather than adding. “Most of the time, scaling down the number of pieces in a room will help it breathe and allow potential buyers to see the space better,” says Pearson. She says one of the best things a homeowner can do is declutter, declutter, and declutter some more. Buying a house is stressful enough — a lack of stuff will help buyers feel at ease.

But scaling down doesn’t necessarily mean scaling the furniture down. Pearson came in with a surprise hot tip, explaining that she always places a king bed in the primary bedroom, assuming it doesn’t overcrowd the room. She says, “Many people assume a smaller bed will make a room feel larger but, actually, fitting the largest bed possible without overwhelming the space shows the room’s full potential and can often help the space feel larger.” 

Credit: Previews First

However, Pearson did remove the large nightstands, replacing them with space-efficient garden stool-inspired tables, as well as the large dresser, end-of-bed bench, and an abundance of sentimental decor. In their place, she added a rattan mirror, fiddle leaf figs, and a calming print. The room feels infinitely larger, but still contains everything that a buyer needs to see present to envision themselves getting a good night’s sleep here.

The finishing touches include layers of warm textiles and textures across the bed and throughout the furniture and accessories. A chunky rust throw, mudcloth pillows in earth tones, a soft tasseled rug, and thick woven baskets feel organic and inviting. Pearson says she always starts with a fluffy white layer of bedding and layers from there, adding blankets, sheepskin, and even additional comforters to add volume. When it comes to staging, the layering can go over the top — you don’t need to worry about the practicality. To make it feel less like it came from the aisles of a home decor store, she’ll add pillows and textiles made from vintage fabric and decor inspired by travel and nature. Pearson’s goal is to make this listing stand out.

The key to bringing it all together is using a cohesive color palette. Pearson says, “Warm tones are very popular right now. We want people to feel at home and relaxed when they walk into a space and the warm tones help create a cozy feel.” 

So did the staging work? Pearson happily reports, “The home is already in escrow! The market is changing so proper preparation and staging are more important than ever.”