It is important to realize that Home Staging is a tool used to give the home a marketing edge over other homes in the neighborhood. It is a temporary, yet necessary tool for all homes that want to sell for 3-10% more. Even if the home "professioally decorated," it will most definitely benefit from Home Staging.
While Interior Decorating is about "tailoring" the home to the client, Home Staging is about "tailoring" the home to potential buyers. Deocrating adds personal touches while Staging depersonalizes the home. Too much furniture, too many accessories and taste specific decor has the potential to turn off buyers and hide the true features and focal points of a room. The goal of Home Staging is to show off the true space in a home...not the accessories or furniture.
I have a fellow decorator who lives in a beautiful, large, luxurious home. However, her living room contains 2 sofas, a large sofa table, 2 chairs and an ottoman, 3 end tables and another accent chair. Although the room is beautiful, potential buyers would walk in and see a "small" living room. If she were selling, a professional Home Stager would have to significantly de-clutter the room in order to highlight the space, large picture windows and gorgeous fireplace.
Professioanl Home Staging is so much more than painting and removing personal photos. Take time to find a focal point in each room and design the room to show off that focal point. It will take some work, but will net buyers more money...not to mention a quicker end result. Decorating and Staging both utilize the principles and elements of design, but in considerably different ways!
Melissa Franey, Designer's Eye
Interior Decorator/Home Stager
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