The differences between home staging design and interior design may not be apparent to the casual observer, but they must be understood to achieve the desired result. In interior design, look for the best expression of the owner’s personality and desires and integrate those things with the house itself. The final product is usually unique, that is, unless the owner wishes it to be entirely conventional. And “unique” covers a whole spectrum of results: from Louis XVI gold and filigree to Scandinavian chrome and Formica with limitless design styles in between.

What you want to achieve in home staging is a placement of key visual elements that convey warmth and invitation without promoting one particular style over another. You might like this to the comparison between watching a movie and reading a book based on the same story.

In the film, the characters and the settings are more or less what the director, the actors and the rest of the staff see in the story. From a book, the reader creates and projects his own vision of these things. In effect, the reader is putting himself in his own created environment and will almost always find this to be his idea of ​​the “correct” environment. This is what he wants to do in the staging of the house: present enough, but not too much, definition of the setting and allow the prospective buyer to see it as his setting.

Guidelines for Home Staging

A home staging project can take several weeks to complete. However, the required changes are not difficult to make once the design has been drawn up. One of the variables is how deep you need to go with the changes to achieve the desired result. Here are some guidelines of what can be done.

1. One of the most notable areas for improvement in home staging is the kitchen. Cabinets are often an unfavorable eye-catcher, and there are many options for upgrading them without costly, complete replacement. For a really good result, lower the cabinets so you can thoroughly clean and repaint behind them. The cabinets themselves can be thoroughly degreased, cleaned and repainted with an appropriate accent color. New hinges and knobs will further enhance its appearance. The effort of uninstalling and then reinstalling the cabinets is well outweighed by the new look of the freshly painted surfaces. Trying to clean and repaint on the spot creates that recognizable “repainted” look so common in older homes. Just before displaying, add a bowl of fresh fruit on the counter to add a fresh new look to the room.

2. You are looking for a young, vibrant and fresh environment. The buyer is looking for something new and fresh, so be sure to handle anything that makes the home look, feel or smell old, as well as any reminders of previous occupancy.

The worn countertops are largely reminiscent of the previous occupants. Replacing with granite countertops is ideal as it conveys a level of quality through appearance alone. You can get much the same benefit with a less expensive laminate surface (Formica is one) that doesn’t have the same wear characteristics, but will certainly produce the desired visual effect when new.

Possibly resurfacing processes could serve. Look for contractors in your area who can advise you on this, to determine which one best fits the budget and you achieve the result.

3. New appliances are by far one of the fastest ways to brighten up a kitchen. There is no doubt that this represents some expense, but compared to the increase in the sale price you will get, you should get away with it. After the sale, take the appliances with you or just make sure you’ve made enough profit from the sale of the house to buy new appliances for your new home.

4. Finally, make sure bathrooms are adequately cool and bright. Old tiles, worn lighting, or plumbing fixtures will greatly detract from the look. Upgrades are cost effective and relatively easy to install. Consider, if space allows, adding a vanity or walk-in closet to the bathroom. In preparation for a display, make sure the area is sparkling clean and lay out clean towels, soap, and other touches to create a spa-like feel.