The Difference Between Decorating and Staging

Thanks Dan - My plessure!

Allegra -thank you!

Ginger - I love decorating, but I must say I also love to hear it when our staged homes sell so fast. It's a rush that I never get tired of experiencing.

Kathy - thanks! That chandelier was an 80's brass fixture we snagged only five bucks... but it underwent a total rehab. We are always on the hunt for them.

Melissa  - #5 is my favorite part of the staging process, and what makes a buyer BUY!

Susan - Thanks! I love showing them.

Christina - Thanks! Hopefully you will gain a stager near you soon. In the mean time, we have perfected a technique to assist homeowners to stage thier houses using our persojnalized professional advice all over the country via our conceptual staging services. Check them out at our website.

Thomas , LOL and thank you!

Marie - Good for you! Too many times we hear resistance to staging because the homeowners "already have a beautifully decorated home." So glad you know the difference!

Hi Christa - Thanks for commenting!

Hi Mike - yes indeed it is - thanks for stopping by.

Eve - yes, that was truly inspired in my book. It's my favorite part of the design because it adds height and life, and it also is up-lit back there, so it adds a touch of interesting lighting! All in all, that height-life-light design element cost only about $40.

Thanks Carla! That is what I do...find 'em and push 'em!

Thank you Brian, it is important to distinguish between a well-decorated home and a well-staged one. They have  really diametrically opposed goals when you stop and think about it.

You are more than welcome, Doug. Check out my whole blog sometime - I share A LOT.

Thank you Patricia! Glad you stopped by.

Thank you Tammy - I think #5 "Evoke an Obvious Feeling of Health, Safety, Happiness, and Well-being" pretty much sums up what we do in a nutshell.

Hi Phil and Celeste -

Thanks! One of the biggest reasons homes appear cluttered on MLS photos is due to the size of the objects in the room. Small objects, pictures, and accessories appear junky in photos reduced to the size on the MLS. Stagers use large pieces that are recognizable as whatever they are from a distance.

For example, three equestrian figurines about 8 inches tall on a shelf would look neat in real life, but in an MLS photo would look unrecognizable. A single larger sculpture of a horse would work much better, because you would know what you were looking at.

It's all that small stuff that stagers eliminate to acheive a streamlined look for the home that reflects the charm of the house without overwhelming the buyer.

~michelle