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Home Staging Tip: Sometimes just a few Props are all You Need

By
Home Stager with Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR

When staging your home to sell, it's not necessary to stage every room ... our Portland home staging company usually suggests staging the key impact areas such as the living room, great room or family room, kitchen, dining area and the master bedroom.  Many sellers in today's economic climate are on a budget -- so we offer home staging services that are cost-effective.

We recently staged a remodeled 3-story home that's over 4500 sq ft.  We fully staged all of the key rooms, but to reduce costs, other areas were given just a few staging props to show function & to warm up the space.  This home has many interesting areas that were fun to stage using a "less is more" approach.  Here are a few examples of using a few staging props to show buyers how they might enjoy these spaces:

This modestly-sized open space is somewhat of a pass-through area, with a sliding glass door to the deck, a low window to enjoy the view, open hallways on two sides, & powder room off it, with no wall space for conventional furniture.  By using a round table with four chairs, we showed a conversation area ...portland home stagers

On the lower level, a large room was remodeled into a media room.  Although the budget didn't allow for furniture in this space, we placed some movie-themed wall decor so that buyers would instantly "see" the room's intended function ... home staging and redesign portland oregonportland oregon home staging

This space off the master bedroom was a perfect spot for a desk; since this home already has an office on the main floor, this provides a more intimate space; light staging gives the buyer some ideas ...  portland home staging redesignportland real estate stagng

This area off the entry has a natural spot for a chair but not much more, because this is a main traffic area ... portland real estate stagingbeaverton oregon home staging

On the lowest level of this home you'll find a second, huge family room that resembles a bowling alley.  Rather than stage the entire room, we staged just one end of it .. leaving the other end open for a ping-pong or pool table or a huge sectional ...  lake oswego home stagerswest linn oregon home staging

Remember that if you're selling your home, buyers not only look for the size of home they want, but they also like ideas for how to use any extra spaces (especially ones that may have more than one function).  Consult with a professional home stager to find the best advice for staging your home!

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Room Solutions Staging offers expert home staging services in Portland, Oregon to homeowners, real estate agents, and builders. Our proven home staging techniques will help reduce your property's market time and maximize your equity. We'll prepare your property or listing to look appealing to your target buyer for the online photos as well as for in-person viewings. Our owner and principal stager Maureen Bray is a nationally-recognized home staging expert who enjoys sharing her passion for staging with others.  To schedule a Verbal Staging Consultation filled with our staging tips and advice, contact us @ 503-246-1800.

Room Solutions Staging

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 2014 Top Ten Professional Stager of the Year - U.S.

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Comments(42)

Amy Bly
Great Impressions Home Staging/Interiors - Montville, NJ
Styling Homes for Selling and Staying

Beautiful work as usual, Maureen! I just suggested to a homeowner that we stage a rather strange room across the hall from the kitchen that has a washer and dryer in a closet and hardwood floors as a playroom (it's vacant now), but since she doesn't have the budget for a full staging, either, I recommended just a color-block type rug appropriate for kids and a large stuffed animal in the corner, maybe one low small bookcase with a few books and games. I don't like "vignette" staging that is cutesy, but light stagings with a few key pieces are a different story!

Mar 22, 2011 01:46 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Thanks, Janice!

Karen ~ most staging projects have budgets ... so we try to work with them.  It's challenging but that's where we can really get creative.

Kathy ~ Good to hear that you think buyers would find these spaces appealing.  Thanks so much for featuring my post!  :-)

Amy ~ Sometimes a few well-chosen pieces can help buyers imagine how they'd use the space ... and get them closer to making an offer!

Mar 22, 2011 04:20 PM
Pamela Smith
Ventura County Home Staging - Thousand Oaks, CA

Maureen - You've captured the essence of staging. You don't always have to go "all out." Sometimes a hint to the way a room could be used is plenty. Such a beautiful job. Love, love, love your art selections for the media room and the entry.

Mar 22, 2011 05:41 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Pamela ~ Going "all out" works very well in some homes, but most of my clients opt for key room staging.  In this home we did these rooms with light staging, and it's definitely better than leaving them completely empty.  Thanks for your nice feedback!

Mar 22, 2011 06:17 PM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

Hi Maureen, this is such an important part of staging when the properties are larger. You have shown several excellent examples of inspiring vignette staging. Good use of colour to add some life to an otherwise pretty boring walk through a home.

Mar 23, 2011 01:12 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Michelle ~ Thanks for joining into the discussion ... although I don't believe in staging using only vignettes, as you said in larger homes it can help to fill those spaces that would otherwise be empty.

Mar 23, 2011 05:44 AM
Kathy Burke
Sensational Home Staging~~Danville, CA - Danville, CA
S.F. East Bay Home Staging

Maureen.....WOW big house with BIG results!!  Great job at showing off the functionality of the space w/o breaking the bank on the budget.  It was well worth the "lite" staging of these spaces! 

Mar 23, 2011 06:11 AM
Tim Hill
United Country Community Partners Realty and Auction, LLC - Winder, GA

Maureen

You have given realtors some great ideas when it comes to staging a house.  Thanks for the inside information.

Mar 23, 2011 09:08 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Kathy ~ it's a wonderful, spacious house that was built in 1957 and completely remodeled .... I'd love to live there myself!

United ~ Glad you found the information helpful.

Mar 23, 2011 07:37 PM
Karen Dembsky
Peachtree Home Staging LLC, Home Staging in Atlanta, GA - Peachtree City, GA
Atlanta Home Staging

Every room here is presented to perfection!  Did anyone ever tell you that you were in the right line of work? :-)

Mar 24, 2011 01:35 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Karen ~ You are far too kind, my friend!  Thanks for your unwavering support ... it's much appreciated!  :-)

Mar 24, 2011 04:24 AM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Maureen - empty rooms don't show well ..... rental furniture for one room of a recent listing put the finishing touches to an otherwise perfect house.

Mar 24, 2011 09:11 AM
Kimo Stowell
HI Pro Realty LLC RB-21531 - Honolulu, HI
REALTOR Associate® RS-76763 - Honolulu Hawai'i

Aloha Maureen,

An unoccupied 4500 sqf property is a lot of space to fill but the minimalist design plan works very well in highlighting the architectural elements primarily the amazing windows. A few strategically placed items gives scale to the rooms expansive floor plan and gives the photos a great sense of just how much space there is in this property. If I were to sum up the overall appeal of the home it would be spaciousness with lots of natural light and the staging supports that 110%. 

Peace,

Mar 24, 2011 09:24 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Kathy ~ you're right -- empty rooms don't show nearly as well as ones that have furniture placed in just the right spot to highlight the architecture of the house.  As a Realtor you offer your clients a higher level of service than those who don't use staging as a marketing tool -- good for you!

Kimo ~ thanks as always for your excellent interpretation of the benefits of staging and real estate merchandising!  Your clients are lucky to have your expertise in helping them to market their properties.

Mar 24, 2011 03:36 PM
Shar Sitter
Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN
Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

You had some weird areas to deal with in that house and you did a great job showing the buyer what to do with them!

Mar 25, 2011 01:50 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Hi Shar ~ thanks, I love the challenge of working with unusual spaces, keeping in mind that our goal is to enhance the home's architecture and be appealing to buyers at the same time.

Mar 25, 2011 04:49 AM
Karen Searle, Home On Display
Peterborough, ON

I really love that piece of art in the hallway!  Great work with your staging.

Mar 26, 2011 04:07 PM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Thanks, Karen ~  I love that piece too and wish I had another one!

Mar 26, 2011 07:03 PM
Kevin Vitali
EXIT Realty Beatrice Associates - Middleton, MA
Helping Massachusetts Home Buyers and Home Sellers

Maureen some great stuff here.  Thank you for sharing your expertise.

Apr 01, 2011 11:57 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Hi Kevin ~ Hope that this info is helpful!  Thanks for stopping by today.

Apr 02, 2011 05:39 AM