Decorating vs staging: what’s the difference between beautifying the home you live in, vs staging a home you’re ready to sell? Here are 6 things to know.
Staging is part art, part science: we use the elements and techniques of design to tell a specific story based on the real estate market in a given area.
In contrast, Decorating a client’s existing home uses many of the same elements and techniques, but with a different goal: to enhance the daily life of the family living there.
That’s why, if you’ve ever oohed and ahhed over staged-home photos, it’s important to remember that staging creates a dream snapshot of what life in your house COULD be — but no one really LIVES this way!
Decorating vs Staging
Staging’s end goal is to drive offers
Given the underlying business purpose of staging (to help people feel they’re getting SO much that they’re inspired to make a great offer), it’s not surprising that staging emphasizes strategies like:
- neutral color palettes, with the goal of brightening, enlarging, and/or creating a more pulled-together look that’s easy on the eyes;
- larger artwork and decor items, proportionate to room size;
- adjustments in furniture position to enhance traffic flow in a space.
Of course, these fundamentals also apply to design clients—they’re just used more selectively and balanced with other goals the homeowner may have.
Decorating’s end goal is to enhance the joy in YOUR daily living experience
With that in mind, here are 6 ways that decorating differs from staging:
1. You’re the “consumer”! The whole design focuses on your family’s personal preferences. Your decorating consultant will learn about your lifestyle, colors, and lighting. They’ll also ask how you use your rooms and what details you love. All of this helps create a finished look that makes your heart positively sing!
2. Color schemes, and paint colors in particular, are still important. However, you might not always care about making the room visually expand. Sometimes, we want our homes to feel warmer or more intimate. We may also simply enjoy surrounding ourselves with certain colors. This is all AOK in personal home decorating.
3. Furniture layout can, and should, be customized to your family’s lifestyle. Staging models a lifestyle that anyone can imagine themselves stepping into. Home decorating serves only you! Maybe you love that little desk by the window. Or perhaps you hate dining tables. Decorating consultants can bring in new ideas. They can also make the most of what’s already working. This helps you truly live your way.
4. Wall art and other decor can be more eclectic and expressive. We would still recommend minimizing the number of pieces you display. The more you have on display, the less each piece stands out. It also takes longer to clean! With decorating, you don’t need to keep things quite so wide-open.
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- One helpful tip comes from our friend Lisa Menees at SOSbyLisa home and office organizing. She recommends rotating your decor, photos, and knickknacks seasonally. Think of it almost like a gallery showing different themed exhibits.
5. Family photos and souvenirs can be front and center. This is probably one of the biggest decorating versus staging differences. Personal items have to go when staging a house. This helps buyers forget they’re walking around someone else’s home. With decorating, that’s not the case. In fact, featuring your life’s treasures can help create spaces you never want to leave! Decorating pros can help you find creative ways to highlight these precious items.
6. Rooms serve your family and their activities. Many houses have rooms that serve multiple functions. Other spaces can be repurposed for hobbies, guests, or other passions. In staging, we aim to serve the broadest trends in a given market. When the home is your castle, we can help make each room perfect for YOU.
In the end, decorating versus staging comes down to the goal of the design. Decorating focuses on personal satisfaction. Staging focuses on buyer appeal. Understanding the difference can help homeowners make the right choices. It can also help sellers understand why staging requires a different approach.
