5 Things Professional Stagers Always Buy at Target (For as Low as $3!)

If you’re looking for low-cost accessories to deck out your pad, chances are Target will be among one of the first stops you’ll make. (And you’ll probably pick up a lot more while you’re there, too!) As it turns out, professionals also see the value in the design-forward big box store. In fact, when prepping a home for sale, many staging experts will head to Target to pick up a few low-cost items to really make the space pop. Here, three share their go-to items and how they use them in their clients’ spaces (and their own!)

Rachel Moore, lead designer at Los Angeles-based Madison Modern Home, loves tucking a few faux leaves in a vase to create instant height and drama in a room. In addition to defining a dining room, they can also be used on the mantel or to freshen up a dated bathroom.

One easy way to make your bathroom feel more spa-like? Tuck a few rolled towels in a basket or fold a stack and place on a shelf. Kathie Emof of Transitions Interior Design & Staging in Buffalo, New York, especially likes these classic bath towels from Target. They come in a variety of colors, but simple white lends a light and bright feeling to your bathroom. They don’t just have to be for show, though—Emof says these are surprisingly easy to clean, too, and can be used again and again. 

One of the key tenets of staging? Limit clutter, but smartly display some items. Adam Cottrell, staging manager for the Amy Owens Team, Keller Williams likes using clear storage boxes like these to stash away less attractive items while still creating a sense of order. Cottrell personally uses them at home on an open-shelving system in his bathroom to help organize everything that doesn’t fit under his bathroom sink.

“I also have them in my office and pantry to keep all those extra items organized but keep my shelves looking modern and fresh,” he says.

Strategically-placed lamps not only help brighten up a space, but they can also add interest to the vertical dimension of a room, says Moore. She especially loves this model next to a sofa, in lieu of a nightstand on one side of a bed. You can also use it to instantly stage a vignette of a reading cozy nook by placing it beside a comfy chair.

Mirrors can do so much more for you than just be there to remind you of how you look. Not only can they help make a space look brighter, they can make a room look larger, too. Moore especially likes to use mirrors that look a lot more expensive than their price tags, like this one. She recommends placing it over a desk to double as a vanity, over an entry console to make a small living room look larger, or above a headboard to crown a bed.

Looking for more affordable, expert-approved finds? Here, the best five items you can find at the dollar store for home staging.

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