The job of a home stager is to make a home look as though it’s the perfect balance between decorated and lived in. Here are five of their secrets.
1. Make the purpose of each room obvious
There’s nothing less impressive than a space that hasn’t been clearly defined. Is that a den or an office? Are you in a living room or a playroom? Having multi-purpose rooms is great but make sure that the primary purpose is still obvious from your décor.
2. Avoid pieces that are too small or too large for a space
When you’re buying artwork, furniture, and other big ticket items, whether or not you like it is just the first step to deciding if it’s right for your home. You must also consider if it’s functional, if it fits in with the rest of your décor, and – here’s where the pros come in – if it fits within your home. Don’t buy a huge couch to fill a small space, and don’t choose a small couch for a huge living room.
3. Focus on making a grand first impression
Think about what guests will see when they first walk into your home. You might add a stunning chandelier to your entry way, you may want to add luxurious, velvet draperies to your inner sitting room, or you may want to start outside and have your home landscaped.
4. Walk outside and make sure you’ve paid it enough attention
We mentioned above that landscaping is important, but it’s not the only exterior décor issue you should concern yourself with. You also want to think about the condition and color of your front door, your garage door, and any paving that leads to your front door. Think not just about how your home looks for visitors, but what you’re first greeted with when you come home from work.
5. Think like you’re a stylist
Once you feel that you have your home styled just the way you like, walk through it with new eyes. Imagine that you’ve never seen it before. Does it look great? Or do you still need to find a way to tie a room together? That can be done easily with a new rug or curtains. Does one room still look cluttered? Find organization options. Whatever the issues are, there are always solutions to them.