Staging versus Vignette or Accent staging. Does this help or hinder the sale?

Trisha - Great post and since I've met Michelle I'm laughing doubly hard (she's a hoot)!!  Just saw a "staged house" recently and the agent asked me for my recommendations - palm tree in corner (we live in Oregon), and a tiny 8" plaque over the fireplace, pillow on the floor.  Did that look warm and cozy?

I guess what I am calling vignette staging is really not that at all. As my vignette staging includes tables, chairs, accessories, etc. Putting things on the floor..NEVER

Vignette staging usually cheapens the property, in my experience.

I did one vignette staging years ago to help a Realtor friend sell a vacant probate. I added a beautiful Persian Rug in the living room, dressed the mantle, kitchen counters and bathrooms. The house sold quickly, but I couldn't help but feel that it would have sold for a higher price had it been fully staged. The family wanted to stage, but the probate attorney was adamantly against spending any money to improve the home.

I no longer accept these kinds of jobs because I don't feel the powers that be (be it the home owner, listing agent, trustee or probate attorney) are invested in selling the home quickly or for top dollar. It makes my job more difficult and less pleasant.

Ok, here are my thoughts which may ramble a bit.  I was taught that vignette staging was a big no no.  I had also seen some of it done ( though not accessories on the floor). It generally looked pretty lame.

Then I heard of stagers doing lite or vignette staging that included pieces of furniture. Some of the pictures looked good.

Sellers around here won't pay for rental furniture to save their lives, SO...............

Last week after losing a job to a stager who used a few very homely pieces to stage an upscale home I decided to launch vignette staging. I invested in some tastful pieces, sofa, dining set(very cute) and really sharp small tables to use for different things. I already have blow up beds and headboards, linnens etc.

To me this can be vignette staging. I plan on trying this in the main living areas and at least one bedroom.

The big news is, now I have real furniture!!!!!!!!!!! Now if I can get customers.

Trisha I totally agree...I've had agents tell me they don't have the budget to fully stage and can I just add some stuff here and there. I told one of them they would be better of having the house cleaned as incomplete staging won't cut it....I think (or hope) my honesty was appreciated....Great post!

Wow - personally I have not seen "Staging on the Floor" - you wouldn't be able to post a link to the on-line version of the show here, could you?  As many already said, Vignette Staging had it's place several years ago, even then I didn't do them and certainly not in today's market.

Bra & panties: LOVE it, Michele!

I've seen staging on the floor here. Bedspread placed where the bed should be and pillows where the sofa should be placed. I really Dislike this type of staging - it looks so - excuse me - but, incomplete and rather silly!!!!!!  I do not and will not do it.

Great post!  Great discussion!

So far, I have seen one house where, because of the physical relationship of the front door to the living room to the fireplace to the window wall, I thought a floor staging would work and could be arranged to pull buyer's eyes up to the wall of windows.  I didn't get the job, so we will never know.

Generally speaking, I think it takes height to direct buyer's attention.

Staging on the floor?  Never heard of it or seen it.  What's next, staging on the ceiling?

I can't imagine walking into a bedroom and finding a bedspread across the floor...that just sounds ridiculous.  Staging means improving the presentation of the home.  This may involve improvements like cleaning and painting and it may mean new furniture.  It may be a consultation making the best use of what is existing.  It may involve a complete transformation using all new furnishings and accessories.  The goal should be to increase the perceived value of the product.  I don't see how pillows on the floor would do this.

Hey Trisha, we don't do vignette staging - ever!  If a client asks for that we explain many of the points listed above.  If they insist we pass on the project.  Agreed that this is not professional staging and doesn't make a house look better.  Showing empty is superior to random vignettes throughout the house.

what?!?!?!? a Bedspread just laying on the floor?!?!?!?  Might as well just use blue painters tape and outline where everything could go like we do in the interior design world - at least then it could be considered progress in floor planning..... what-ever!

A bedspread on the floor? It sounds kind of creepy, like the bed just disintegrated. Erie.

Staging on the floor...???reminds me of that American Idol 15 minutes of fame song..."Pants on the Floor".  I agree Vignette staging is worse than an empty room.  It looks like the previous owners moved out and forgot to take all of their stuff.  I love Michele's bra and panties comment :)

I'm glad I haven't been around long enough to encounter "floor staging".  It sounds like a crime scene chalk outline on the floor.  Sheeesh,  that's bad.  Great post Trish.  Hope to see you again soon!

Guess it may be called light staging...however, here in our area, Realtors and sellers will not pay the price for a full stage. So you do what you have to do in order to stay in the business. Here in East Tennessee they have not really caught on to staging...

REALLY have a hot one here with this topic and looks like we ALL agree!!!!  Had a call a week or so ago asking if I could do vignette staging...told the agent NO...would be better severed to go vacant.  I agree with several others who commented....it looks cheap and really stupid.  Glad everyone was clear on this one!!!!