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More HGTV Decorating and I think Staging mistakes!

By
Home Stager with Glastonbury Home Staging
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 Here are a few more decorating don'ts from HGTV - They had a few more but I think these directly apply to Staging as well.

Everything Matches

A room that looks like it's a page from a catalog is a mistake because people don't really live that way. It's designed to sell furniture and give you an idea of what you might have in your house, but you shouldn't be matching the look that closely. Make it eclectic, not like a showroom you can't live in. You want to look from one wall to the other and be able to see something different.


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 Lack of Traffic Pattern

If you don't have a traffic pattern for your furniture, you'll end up bumping into it all the time


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Too Many Colors or Patterns

If you have too many colors or patterns in a house, it tends to look very busy, crowded and distracting to the eye.

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 Pushed–Back Furniture

This is when all the furniture in a room is lined up against the walls. Sometimes the backs of furniture are beautiful and a sofa with a little table in the back is a great place for a display.


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 Floating Rugs - I know this one has been discussed here on SIF before, but I thought this is an excellent example of what NOT to do with a rug.

Floating area rugs are a big mistake people make. They're very distracting for the eye because they chop up a room and could be dangerous if you trip over them.

Use a measuring tape to create an outline to get a feeling about where you want the rug actually placed before going to the store. A rug should always be connected to furniture — an anchor for the seating group. For an arrangement, put all the front feet of the furniture on the rug.

 

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 Tacky Couch Covers- (Is this really worth protecting?)

It's not just grannies who are guilty of the seventh biggest decorating mistake: tacky couch covers. If you love your furniture, there are more interesting ways to protect it such as using a protectant spray or throw blankets and pillows.

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 Too Many Pillows - (Some people latch on to a useful design element and take way too far! Less is more.)

If the pillows actually hinder being able to sit on a couch or lie comfortably on a bed, then it's obviously too much. Too many pillows on your bed also take a long time to remove at night and replace each morning.

Instead of buying so many pillows, spend your time, energy and money decorating an area of the room you're actually looking at when sitting in bed. A few accent pillows work best.

 

 

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 Frames Hung Too High (This is a nice example of art hung correctly.)

If you have to bend your neck to see your art, then it's hung too high. You generally don't want to be looking up at your artwork, whether sitting or standing. Eye level is always a good height to aim for. Look at the top of your door frames and if your pieces are big enough, they could just reach the top of the door frame and go down from there.

It's good to hang art so it can be viewed from either a sitting or standing position. A good rule of thumb when you are hanging artwork over a sofa is to make sure the bottom edge is about six inches up from the top of the sofa. That way, the wall art is anchored to the piece and you have a direct, pleasing view of that artwork from any other seat in the room.

 

 

 

Glastonbury Home Staging is a full service staging company. We stage vacant and model homes as well as owner occupied. We provide redesign services for both residential and business spaces. Call us today to help you sell your listing faster and for more money.

(860) 430-9496 http://glastonburyhomestaging.com

 

 



 

 




Comments (17)

Shelley Roufs
Simply Staged Homes - New Ulm, MN
These are great examples! You are right on with all of your suggestions. Sometimes it's overwhelming to be in a home where all of these mistakes are made. I would live to see an after picture of the living room with the fireplace! It could be a beautiful room! Thanks for the info!
Oct 31, 2007 07:45 AM
Rhonda Hay Rawlins
Glastonbury Home Staging - Glastonbury, CT
Shelley, thanks.  Sometimes a home can have so many things to address that it can be hard to figure out where to begin! 
Oct 31, 2007 07:47 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher
Rhonda, Whew, I was so glad to get out of that green room!  I saw everything you pointed out and you have excellent points...covered furniture, too many pillows and rugs that are potentially dangerous for tripping.  Great information to pass along.
Oct 31, 2007 10:54 AM
Sandra Cummings
William Raveis Real Estate - Guilford, CT
Real Estate Agent, Guilford Connecticut
Rhonda, Love your examples especially the slipcovers. It is always a challenge to get a homeowner to let go of the plastic slipcovers.
Oct 31, 2007 12:05 PM
Fernando Rosado
West Palm Beach, FL
561-906-0050 or 561-840-8950

1. green room color....not even Stevie Wonder would live there...

2.Between the Blue, The 2 types of floors and the pleather couch....Im all for clamped !!!

3.The eclectic mix doesnt really bother my eye, this could pass.

4.Everything against the wall made me think that the movers brought the furniture in and displayed it like that, As they are awaiting  for the dseigner to get there.

5.....................Still awaiting for the designer.........................

6. It looks to me like they are about to burry the Ol' Sofa....thats why  its wrapped....RIP

7.Keep the two orange ones on the left and dispose of the others except the tiger one in font, 3 is plenty

8.Lastly, I like this room , A lot !!! I think picture should be at the average woman height. They dont look too high.

Many stagers many styles ....but a Faux Pah is a Faux Pah

Oct 31, 2007 03:05 PM
Betty Haney
Haney Consulting - Calgary, AB
Rhonda, more great points.  I laughed out loud at the plastic cover on the couch!  My brother's in-laws not only leave the plastic on their living room furniture, including the lampshades, but they have left the plastic on their car seats as well.  The car is an 1985 Oldsmobile 98.  The outside may have a few dents and scratches, but the inside is perfection.  I wonder how they keep from sliding off the seats, especially going around tight corners. LOL  Betty
Oct 31, 2007 03:46 PM
Karen Dembsky
Peachtree Home Staging LLC, Home Staging in Atlanta, GA - Peachtree City, GA
Atlanta Home Staging
Hi Rhonda!  That couch is hilarious and your comment (Is this really worth protecting?) said it all!  Also -- the floating rug . . . are they hiding something.  That's the first thought that comes to mind when a rug is out of place.  Good post!
Nov 01, 2007 04:21 AM
Judy Kincaid
Tampa, FL
Rhonda -- Call me crazy, but I kind of like that green room....it feels sort of serene.  But not in a staged home....that green jelly bean color would have to be replaced with sage.  Also glad to see another of my pet peeves addressed...pictures hung too high. 
Nov 01, 2007 03:45 PM
Rhonda Hay Rawlins
Glastonbury Home Staging - Glastonbury, CT
Carole - thanks for stopping by....that green room would make me feel quesy if I had to stay in there for long!
Nov 02, 2007 01:29 PM
Rhonda Hay Rawlins
Glastonbury Home Staging - Glastonbury, CT
Sandra - I know the plastic cracks me up. It's got to feel cold and scratchy in the winter, and in the summer you probably stick to it! Either way it is so not worth trying to protect what's underneath!
Nov 02, 2007 01:31 PM
Rhonda Hay Rawlins
Glastonbury Home Staging - Glastonbury, CT
Fernando - You crack me up. So do you do stand up on the side? 
Nov 02, 2007 01:33 PM
Rhonda Hay Rawlins
Glastonbury Home Staging - Glastonbury, CT
Betty - Isn't the whole plastic thing so funny? Everyone knows someone who uses it or is related to someone who uses it. If you every watched the show Everybody Loves Raymond - they did a really funny episode on this when they finally get Ray's mother Marie to take the plastic off. It was hysterical.
Nov 02, 2007 01:35 PM
Rhonda Hay Rawlins
Glastonbury Home Staging - Glastonbury, CT
Karen- That plastic cover probably cost more than the sofa is worth at this point!
Nov 02, 2007 01:37 PM
Rhonda Hay Rawlins
Glastonbury Home Staging - Glastonbury, CT
Judy - Maybe if the green was "toned down" it could work. But then again too much of a good thing can be really bad!
Nov 02, 2007 01:39 PM
Vicki Bishop GRI - Alabama Real Estate
Coldwell Banker United Realtors® - Bay Minette, AL
Hey those are great exampes , we are redecorating two rooms and I am going to keep all this in mind.
Nov 02, 2007 01:51 PM
Rhonda Hay Rawlins
Glastonbury Home Staging - Glastonbury, CT
Vicki - Thanks. I do think it is good to review something like this as a reminder not to repeat something just because it is familiar.
Nov 02, 2007 03:39 PM
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Do people really still put plastic covers on their furniture?  That was an interesting list, thanks.

Sep 20, 2008 08:26 AM