Which rooms to stage and how much staging is needed in a home is a subject that is often discussed and debated. The one thing that is generally agreed upon is that the goal is to showcase the physical space-it's architectural features and amenities-not necessarily the furnishings.
Occupied homes may not need much supplimentary help but vacant homes usually do. Occupied homes may have a cozier feel while vacant homes may have a stark or abandoned feel. The more upscale the home, the more people expect to see something that is a WOW. What might look pretensious in a mid priced townhouse or condo might be just the thing in a property three times its size. Setting the table for dinner, in advance, may be the norm in your area but may look odd in others. Some staging techniques, like ribbon-tied towels in the bathroom, have evolved to keep them from being used and therefore always neat and tidy. (In occupied homes, separate towels are reserved for everyday use and then tossed in the hamper.) Staging that might seem over the top may be quite practical when trying to maintain an orderly interior.
Staging is set dressing in the theatrical world and that's what we do for homes. We have a physical space and we dress it to highlight the home's features. If the home is rather bland and/or lacking in architectural excitement, we can show how the rooms may be used and how they may be more interesting. If a homeowner doesn't have much of a budget for more updated furnishings, using props may divert attention from the decor and help buyers concentrate on how they could live in the home. If the rooms are spacious, why not show it's potential for entertaining? If a room is small, why not make it into a cozy study?
Some stagers get pretty creative. Birthday parties, afternoon tea and even a mock crab feast have been used to give a space some oomph. Why not? If the props are done well it could be something fun that would stand out in buyers minds. Are fake foods lame? If they are really fake looking then they aren't really helping the situation. Nicely crafted "faux foods" like cookies or cakes can look wonderful in a kitchen and never age or draw bugs. I have seen them used in both occupied and vacant homes where they have looked very nice. Using fake foods where you might expect to see them sitting out in a normal kitchen isn't so strange. Plastic bacon and eggs, however, might be pushing it, but that's just my opinion.
Home staging isn't trickery. It isn't used to hide or cover up flaws. It exists to show the home at its best and to help buyers see the potential in the property.
Simple, elegant and memorable.
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I couldn't agree more! Staging helps highlight the homes features.