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Staging Makes Small House Look…Less Small

By Laurie Calhoun

Home Stager with Gloria Home Staging, Inc.

March 08, 2009 08:30 AM

This house is small. There is absolutely no way to get around that fact. It is very small - not even 1000 square feet - and every buyer who looked at it commented on it. It is beautifully remodeled and very charming, but the buyers said it was just too small. The master bedroom was the biggest stumbling block, being only 9' by 11' in size. How would their furniture fit in there?

So the realtor took action. She called Gloria Home Staging in to show the buyers how much space there really is in this small home. We illustrated some of the possibilities this lovely home provides. And we proved one of the basic principles of home staging: furnished rooms truly do look larger than empty rooms.

Judge for yourself:

Living room before Living room after

Master bedroom before Master bedroom after

Re-Blog

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Virginia Tatseos

Stage-Show-Sell - Bloomfield Township, MI

You are so right. Why do realtors believe that empty houses look bigger?

You did a great job

Mar 08, 2009 08:47 AM

Michelle Finnamore

Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON

Preparing your property for sale

Love your photos. I have to do a small house this week so I appreciate your post.

Mar 08, 2009 10:09 AM

Liz Gallagher

LG Home Harmony - Home Stagers & Organizers - Montreal, QC

Montreal Quebec RESA member

Looks great. Good use of colour too.

Mar 08, 2009 10:46 AM

Janice Ankrett

Burlington, ON

Staging Professional

Buyers have trouble with visual scale if they have no point of reference. Your pictures prove this beautifully.

Mar 08, 2009 11:26 AM

Kathy Nielsen

http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA

Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

You did a great job, Laurie. Thanks for sharing.

Kathy

Mar 08, 2009 11:37 AM

Cathy Lee

CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA

ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

You certainly made the spaces look bigger. Nice work!

Mar 08, 2009 06:00 PM

Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging

Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR

"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Laurie ~ You're so right ... this home definitely looks more spacious with your staging in place. Good luck for a quick sale!

Mar 09, 2009 05:01 AM

Patsy Overton

Patsy Overton Interiors, Atlanta, Georgia - Duluth, GA

Beautiful job! Yes, putting furniture in vacants can help solve problems every time, no matter the size of the home.

Mar 09, 2009 08:42 AM

Laurie Calhoun

Gloria Home Staging, Inc. - Winter Springs, FL

Seminole County FL Home Stager

Virginia - This realtor knew that furniture was the answer to the smallness problem. It was the homeowner we had to convince. At first, he wanted to leave the living/dining room/kitchen empty because "it felt spacious." Thankfully, he took our suggestions and decided to go for it. He seemed happy with the results. I'm glad you liked them, too!

Michelle - Have fun with your small house! I'd love to see photos.

Liz - Thanks for the compliment! We hadn't planned on using either the red or the yellow & green, but our plans took a turn. We're glad they did!

Janice - Visual scale is so abstract. I know the theory of giving reference points, but seeing it actually work still kind of surprises me. Thanks for commenting!

Kathy - I'm glad you like it! It surely was fun to do.

Cathy - Thank you! It's good to know we made a difference.

Maureen - The brokers' open house is tomorrow, so the home is being re-introduced, hopefully to an appreciative public. Thanks for stopping by!

Patsy - No matter how lovely the home, it just looks better with furniture. Thanks for visiting!

Mar 09, 2009 09:56 AM

Susan Cunningham

NE Atlanta Home Staging - Suwanee, GA

R.E.VISION - Suwanee, GA

Can make ALL the difference! You certainly demonstrated that! Great job & appreciate your post!

Mar 09, 2009 10:18 AM

Laurie Calhoun

Gloria Home Staging, Inc. - Winter Springs, FL

Seminole County FL Home Stager

Thanks, Susan! I'm glad you liked it. It's so good to make a difference for the better in this world!

Mar 09, 2009 10:42 AM

Ronelle Schroeder-Hill

Vacaville, CA

Some of the most miraculous changes are made in the smallest spaces.

Mar 10, 2009 04:25 PM

Paula Springer

Key Elements Inc. Home Staging & Interiors - Portland, OR

A.S.P.

Nice staging. Ain't this amazing but true? The furniture gives us a sense of scale. You did use the RIGHT furniture too...not anything oversized to mess up the effect.

Mar 10, 2009 05:18 PM

Laurie Calhoun

Gloria Home Staging, Inc. - Winter Springs, FL

Seminole County FL Home Stager

Ronelle - Thanks for your kind words. Staging really does feel like creating miracles sometimes.

Paula - This house is so small, oversized things probably wouldn't have made it in the door! But if they had, you're right, they would have looked all wrong. Thanks for stopping by!

Mar 11, 2009 02:20 AM

Jacqueline Forde

Alluring Interiors - Ajax, ON

Love the transfomations, Laurie! You did a fabulous job and provided more proof! Thanks for sharing.

Mar 17, 2009 02:22 PM

Kym Hough

www.Staged-to-Sell - Danville, CA

Staged to Sell East Bay - Danville, CA

My dear friend Laurie! I have now heard all about this wonderful house from you personally here in Orlando at the StagersLISTExpo that you and Susan coordinated. The property looks wonderful!

hugs, Kym

Mar 18, 2009 07:20 AM

Laurie Calhoun

Gloria Home Staging, Inc. - Winter Springs, FL

Seminole County FL Home Stager

Jacqueline - I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your kind words.

Kym - What can I say? You are a joy, and the Expo was wonderful! It was such a blessing and privilege to be on the team with you. And I'm glad you like the way the little house turned out. Hugs back atcha!

Mar 18, 2009 12:08 PM

David Salvato

David Home Inspection Service Home Inspector San Bernardino - Los Angeles, CA

Hi Laurie There has been increased consideration given to smaller homes nationwide for a number of reasons. Not to say that "bigger is better" is a thing of the past. But for many, consideration is being given to the simple concept that "smaller is preferred".

Aug 31, 2009 05:29 PM

Laurie Calhoun

Gloria Home Staging, Inc. - Winter Springs, FL

Seminole County FL Home Stager

David - I completely understand why smaller homes are gaining in appeal these days. Not only do they make sense, but they have a more human scale. This one was so appealing -- we just loved it, and incidentally, it sold a month after it was staged, after being vacant for at least 3 months. Yay! Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

Sep 01, 2009 01:16 AM