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Staging Alternatives to "Setting" the Table

In Staging, when it comes to setting the table there seems to be a huge variance to the thought of "to set or not to set". In a majority of the homes and areas where I Stage, setting at least 1 table is considered "normal". Considering you usually not only have a formal dining room, breakfast nook, eat in kitchen / breakfast bar, outside BBQ area / entertaining, wine cellars etc.... Many house have ALL of the forementioned areas ~ so literally "setting" at least one table, in my humble opinion, should be done.

When there is only ONE dining area, such as in condos, lofts or smaller homes literally setting the table usually adds to the feeling of "clutter".

So I thought I would share my latest alternative to setting the table.

These are all pictures taken recently of what I now refer to as "setting a table".

It's more like, "Setting the mood for what the future holds".

Simple stacks of beautiful dishes, glasses, napkins & candles can fill a table, set the mood and leads the viewer to wonder who's coming over for.....? dinner? BBQ? Wine tasting?.....hhhmhmmm

What do you do as an "alternative"? Please share pics to if you have them!

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Platinum Home Staging, Inc. has been recognized and grown into a tremendous success built on customer service, integrity and best of all, customer referrals. Specializing in Home Staging, Interior Decorating and Model Home Interiors. Serving the San Fernando Valley, Conejo Valley and greater Ventura County areas. A home's first impression is the most important one. A home should be inviting and memorable; to stand out among the hundreds of homes that Buyer's may be looking at. Selling a home, is in fact, selling a product. Market the product, "package" it to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. After all, ...How you live in your home, and how you sell your home, are two completely different things. Call us today at (805) 553-9952

Posted by Connie Tebyani, Platinum Home Staging Los Angeles to Santa Barbara on 06/20/2008 10:22 PM

Comments (47)

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47 Comments on Staging Alternatives to "Setting" the Table

JUN

2008

Thanks those are some good ideas, how about in a breakfast area Just the Placemat- Charger and Napkin w/Ring?

Have A Great Day

Hi Connie, I am worth you. I have been doing some fun stacking things lately. Trays with little stacks of dishes, glasses, fruit whatever. It's really fun and mixes it up a bit. It still adds color and interest but it doesn't look so formal. Kym

Thanks for sharing...great ideas. & Great Pictures.

How do you put music on with your blog? (Nice Touch)

Connie,

Thank you for sharing your refreshing and insightful ideas. When I started my professional interior design career I stated doing model homes in Southern California, my old stomping grounds. It was something else when we found out we had to start gluing down the place settings to the placemats so they would not get stolen.

I like the variety and agree with you on making those place setting a little differnt that the norm. Great post!

Have a Colorful Day!

Connie....these are some certainly good tip to remember when staging a proeprty.

Like how this looks less contrived than an actual full table setting, very tasteful.

I love this...It's very tasteful and not with that pottery barn look!

Hi Connie,

Thanks for in the info, I would have never thought of this. Guess that's why you're the expert.

JUN

2008

Doris ~ Those are also great ideas! Sometimes I just stack up plates and bowls with a handleful of colorful beaded napkin rings.

Kym ~ I'll update with some more photos next week of another house we're doing on the beach. It's fun, easy and a little more casual without being too casual.

Hi, Andy ~ Just click on the "get your free playlist" button on the right under my music player ;-)

Irene ~ lol, yes, we DO have to glue everything down when staging model homes simply because SO many people go through them. We actually purchase 2 extras of everything for just such an "incident". Thank you!

Pam ~ Easy tips, and you don't have to spend extra money on "everything" to set a table. You can even do this if you don't have full "sets" of everything.

Great thought and great pics. You make want think of doing other things besides eating (sparkling, rich, seductive). You temptress! Keep creating new and innovative staging I can copy. Your the best.

These are lovely ideas. The table and sparkly dishes are wonderful. Definitely like this better than a complete setting.

Connie, you have made it fun without the fuss. That is nice. It is true that every single place we stage must be assessed for the proper choice and placement of everything from the master suite bed down to the last little napkin ring on the not-quite-set table or the full blown ready-for-the-dinner-party table. Fun post, interesting photos, good info. Thanks.

Connie, I often find that I want to do something different and have grouped place settings in trays on tables and counters. Buyers often are drawn into the dream and desire of a home and you have definitely created that feeling. As you mentioned especially in small spaces the need to present how a room will function for living and entertaining is crucial. Thanks for sharing the ideas.

Ronelle & Ruthmarie ~ Thank you for your kind comments, this is esxactly the "look" I'm going for.

Lynda ~ I'm humbled, thank you, just trying to spead the word.

Terri ~ oooohhhh a "temptress", I like that ;-)~

Bob &/or Carolin ~ (I'm not sure which) Thank you for stopping by, I love the mosaic pieces to. They sparkle, catch the light and "glow" when the sunlight hits them.

Yvonne ~ You hit the nail on the head!

Deborah ~ oh no, thank you!

Gorgeous pictures!

I have also always struggled with the same issue: whether or not to set all the eating tables, but you have shared some great ideas (and pictures- thank you!) that I will definitely implement in my stagings-

Here's a redesign of a side table done at Christmas time:

Wonderful post!

~Leslie

Whoa! Didn't mean to take up the whole page- I am new at this- SORRY!!

(I'm a page hog!)

Connie- That's a terrific idea! I like to do things which are a little less predictable, too.

Leslie- Very nice side table staging! Almost makes me wish it was Xmas! ALMOST!

Great idea Connie! I love it. I rarely set the table. I am a "less is more" kind of person so this is right up my alley! Thanks for sharing.

Leslie ~ Now THAT's what I'm talking about! Pics - I want pics! and you gave a GREAT one at that, Thank you! Hog away

Elaine ~ Break the mold, don't be afraid to try something new when staging. =)

Hi, Janice ~ (You snuck in there) I've been shying away from setting the table for the most part. One - to try "something new" and, two - it's beginning to take up too much inventory (quite frankly) you can still set the mood and "stage" the table by using half the stuff.

Aloha Connie,

I like your "setting style" much better than simply setting the table as if to dine. I like to put an interesting center piece with a runner but your idea looks great.

Peace,

Connie ~ I love that you are doing something different! I would not have thought of that.

Hi Connie... we don't do much table setting up here. It just doesn't go with the look and feel. Love your table scapes. I like using big bold table arrangements too.

Whoohooo... I feel like I am in Mexico on the Riviera! Love the music.

Aloha, Kimo ~ I have done runners as well, I just thought of sharing some "alternatives" that create the same feelings and sets the "stage" for the viewer. Mahalo!

Kathy ~ That's why AR is such a great place to share & learn =)

Lori Kym ~ You must have gotten the Gyspy Kings when you clicked-in. ;-) Glad you liked it!

Connie: Sometimes I set, sometimes I don't. It depends upon the house and what I think the potential buyers expectations are. On the West side, I would probably not set the table. In Arcadia, it would be more likely I would set the table. In larger houses where we have a formal dining room and an eat in kitchen, I usually do some kind of set up on the kitchen table and a more formal centerpiece on the dining table, but no dishes.

Great post -- strut your stuff, girlfriend; love your creative mind. I usually do charger plate and plate with coffee cup in kitchen -- a formal center piece in the dinning room.

Hi Connie,

Love that look, it looks like a beautiful display in a store. Putting the buyer in the mood for buying!

Hi Connie-

Your table "setting" gets the imagination inspired & that is very refreshing. Thanks for sharing.

Kathy

JUN

2008

On one of my first jobs, I didn't have enough matching chairs to fit at the large table, and had a limited budget. SO... I drew on my many years as a visual merchandiser and pulled the chairs away from the table, and set it as a buffet service. Stacked dessert plates, tiered with bowls, cups with fruit, napkins and a centerpiece that included trailing ribbons and pinecones created the atmsophere you describe of "setting the mood" in the mountain cabin I was staging.

I REALLY like your third picture, such subtle hints of what the table could/would look like with personal elements added! It certainly made me start thinking of what I would add if I came across the display in a home! Very nice work!

Connie - Great ideas! This not only elminates the need to "set" the table, but also to create a matching center piece! I wish I had some pictures to share, but I have stayed pretty traditional on tables. You have inspired me to try something different next time!

Hi, Michelle, "stager extraordinare" ~ Same here, the house, floorplan and demographics should dictate if a table should be set or not. The Los Feliz house we just completed we did 2 table settings on the kitchen counter, the mosaic collection pictured here is actually the "centerpiece" for the formal dining room. You should SEE what it looks like when the sun shines through the window and hits this tablescape - it's breath taking!

Karen ~ Thank you, girlfriend! =)

Lisa ~ Buy me, buy me, buy me, buy..... we are merchandising a house for sale!

Thank you, Kathy ~ For you kind words. I'm glad it could be an inspiration for more

Cheryl ~ I've been relying a lot on my retail managment & merchandising experience as well. I would love to see pictures of the tbalescape you described, I;m sure it was lovely.

Elle ~ Thank you! Everything doesn't have to be so matchy-matchy, or as mentioned before even full sets to pull this look off. Note: In the 1st picture of the outdoor setting; there are more bowls than plates, only a handfull of salad plates and only 3 wine glasses, because 1 broke on a previous staging - but you don't notice these things because you're not technically "setting" the table.

These are really beautiful ideas and pix for decorating the home. However, our company is a purist about table scapes - our company wants the Realtor to be able to sit down with the buyer and right an offer at the table! Table settings tend to make the buyer uncomfortable - as if they have interrupted the seller's meal time. Table settings clutter the space and can distract the buyer - and we are selling the space not table settings. JMHO.

I agree, Margaret ~ That's why we don't "set" the table. These table scapes, although they fill the picture, certainly don't fill the tables and leave lots of room for "offers on the table". =)

I agree too, tables should have something on them, at least with something to give the room some charachter.

JUN

2008

I quite often use a prop that is a cake and then a stack of nice plates beside it with pretty napkins.

It's a very light look for summer

Great blog Connie. I love your photos! I liked your comment about leaving the viewer thinking about who is coming over and for what event etc.

Cindy ~A little "character" can go a long way. =)

Christina ~We actually did that just recently in a home, however the had issues with a contractor and he was actually re-sanding and staining the counters as we were staging. So we had to place them, so the owner could see where they needed to go - then remove them so the contractor could work. One of those "things".

Charlene ~ Thank you, thank you! Not everyone would use the spaces for the same purpose, so leaving a little to the imagination is a very good thing.