See How a Stager Transformed This “Dark,” Cluttered Home into a Light, Spacious Place
Home staging has the power to transform the story of a house that’s languishing unsold on the market. By changing the look and feel of a home — and highlighting its desirable qualities — prospective buyers can imagine their lives in the space. Staging begins the emotional connection that leads to the sale of the home, often quickly and well above listing price.
Julia B. Fee Sotheby top Realtor and home stager Fiona Dogan put many of these key principles into practice when she was brought on to handle the sale of a home in Rye, New York. The changes had a significant impact; it sold over one weekend at an eye-popping $300,000 over asking price. Here’s what she did.
Removed the excess.
One of the best ways to showcase a home’s attributes is to remove what distracts people from noticing them. “This house was relatively modern, but full of a busy, young family’s possessions and adorned with outdated decor,” shares Dogan, so one of the first steps she took to give the home mass appeal was to remove “extra chairs, benches, end tables, and accessories.” She and her team also removed any dark carpets.
Decluttering makes any space feel more peaceful and hospitable, and when it comes to staging, decluttering happens to an extreme degree. “I aim to remove 60% to 70% of the contents in every room so buyers can envision themselves living there,” Dogan shares.
Made the rooms feel lighter.
Future buyers love to feel like their potential home has plenty of space for them and the memories they’ll make in their new space. Making sure a home feels open, spacious, and light is key to every successful staging project, and this home was no exception.
In addition to removing excess clutter and dark rugs (which already makes rooms feel more open), rearranging furniture, adding mirrors, and swapping existing artwork for lighter pieces enhances this effect.
“Dark and cluttered rooms, which are often well-loved rooms, do not photograph well,” Dogan says. “Light furniture and decor, in white or neutral shades, and rooms with a minimalistic aesthetic photograph beautifully, stand out online, and show well in person.”
Home staging principles aren’t just for those selling their homes. Gleaning applicable home staging tips and putting them into practice, such as opting for furniture arrangements that make a room feel open, choosing white bedding, or hanging mirrors that bounce light around a room, can make your existing space as livable and pleasant as possible while you’re living in it.