In the last couple of years the real estate market has been hot. I often stage a home and get word that same week that it’s been sold. As we enter into a new market, staging is more important than ever. The number one question I’m asked is “can I use my own furniture?” The answer is yes, maybe and sometimes no.
I always encourage people to use as much of their own furniture as possible when we’re staging a home for sale. In most cases we still have to live in our home while it’s for sale so I want you to feel comfortable during this disruptive time. Having said that, there are times when your own furniture for staging is not ideal and rental furniture works better. The goal is always to create a more sellable home during the staging process so part of my job is to advise you on what the market wants to see.
Here are some of the tips you can use to identify what will work and what should be replaced.
6 TIPS FOR DECIDING ON THE BEST FURNITURE FOR STAGING
1/ Neutral is Always Best
Colour is making a big comeback in the world of interior design but there are still limitations as to how much colour should be used for staging. What you’re aiming for is a broad audience of fans that appreciate the architecture and layout as opposed to being conflicted by furniture that doesn’t suit their style.
If you have heavily patterned or deeply coloured upholstery it may be better to store that for use in your new home. Your goal is to create a neutral canvas.
When in doubt, I recommend we switch out your patterned sofa for a neutral gray, cream or white one. You may think it looks boring but that’s perfectly ok. What you consider boring actually blends into the background and allows those viewing your home to seamlessly take in everything without visual interruption.
You never want a potential purchaser to be focused on the furniture instead of the home. And you definitely don’t want to be remembered as the house with the crazy furniture.
2/ Scale is Important
Often I have clients who have previously moved and have furniture that isn’t ideal for their current space. This can also be true if you’re using hand-me-down furniture. If your furniture is either too large or too small it won’t show off your home. You want the pieces to enhance rather than fight with your home’s layout and dimensions.
That doesn’t mean your furniture isn’t perfect in another space. Every piece can shine in the right environment. Don’t let your love of a few pieces of furniture ruin the viewing experience and compromise a potential offer.
I ask my clients to never take this personally. It’s a business decision that can help to sell your home quickly and isn’t a judgement on your personal choices. I just know after a long career in staging what works to turn viewers into buyers.
3/ Cover What You Have
Sometimes the size and shape of my client’s pieces are perfectly proportioned but they still aren’t great for showings. They may be planning to reupholster because the colour is dated or there are tears and stains. That doesn’t create an ideal environment for selling a property.
In that case we can use slipcovers to hide what we don’t want to show off. This works for sofas, chairs and dining chairs. While I have a huge inventory of furniture and decor I don’t carry slipcovers. I can work with you to help guide you on the best colour and leave the purchasing to you.
4/ Less Than Ideal Room Use
You have to think conservatively when you’re selling a home. Each space needs to be shown in the most traditional sense of what’s possible.
For instance, if you have a spare bedroom but you’re using it as a craft room I will likely suggest we pack away all those pieces. Once that’s been done I can bring in bedroom furniture that will help to sell your home quicker. It’s true that the buyers can use their imagination but why not show them that yes, a queen bed will definitely fit into this space.
You never want to lose out on a sale because the purchaser remembered your house as a 3 and not a 4-bedroom home if that’s what they are looking for. Make it as simple for everyone who views your home to understand what’s included.
5/ Scale It Down
Often I’ll agree that the upholstered pieces should stay for staging but I’ll have the homeowners store their side and coffee tables and some of the larger decor items. The goal for the space is to look as though there’s plenty of available room.
Replacing a heavy wooden coffee table with a glass table gives the illusion of more space. Although it might not be practical for everyday living to have tables without drawers for storing remotes, it shows better in the mind of a potential purchaser.
Same goes for overcrowded shelves. Remove everything from the shelves and put back only a few pieces. And remember that personal items like photographs should be packed away. The goal when we’re staging for sale is to allow the buyers to visualize themselves in the home.
A final note on this - take down all your kids' artwork from the fridge. Needless to say it’s adorable but these purchasers want to see the fridge. It may feel naked to you but it creates a better viewing experience.
6/ Decor Can Sell
In some instances I give a green light to keeping all the furniture pieces for staging but will add in all the final touches to make the space shine. This is particularly true for clients who have great taste and wonderful pieces but lack confidence when it comes to decorating.
In those instances I’ll bring in artwork, pillows, lamps and decor to make the furniture shine. A lot of my clients end up being amazed at how great their own furniture looks once we’ve added those finishing touches. And it’s fun for me to see how excited they are when they understand that new life can be brought to their own furniture just by adding the finishing touches.
Need more tips for getting your home in tip top shape for selling? This article outlines what to do even before I arrive for your staging consultation.
If you’ve sold a home and need help with an upcoming renovation I can also help you with that. My team can guide you through projects ranging from decorating to new build construction. Reach out and let’s talk!
