When it comes to our homes, we want our rooms to be functional and appealing. And when it comes to selling our homes, it’s key to highlight our homes’ best features. While these both involve design elements, they don’t require the same strategies. The first calls for interior design, while the second involves staging. Read on for more details on what makes each process unique.
Home Staging
When it’s time to sell your home, it’s time to employ home staging techniques. Staging focuses on bringing out the best in your home and strategically arranging furniture and décor to highlight those features. (And, yes, it can also strategically mask less desirable features, like smaller spaces.)
The first step in staging is ridding your home of clutter. You want clear walkways, clean surfaces and a more minimalistic look. You don’t have to throw everything away, but staging is a great time to pack up items you won’t need for the next few months. Think of it as getting a jump on moving.
As you’re decluttering, it’s smart to remove items that make the home yours, like family photos or personal collections. While it might feel cold to some, creating a more generic look allows prospective buyers to imagine themselves in your home. And with all the newly created space from decluttering, there will be plenty of space for them to imagine their belongings fitting right in.
Realtors and stagers will carefully arrange furniture and decorations to accentuate the positive. We love groups of threes, cozy throws over furniture arms and allowing as much light as possible to fill your spaces. As stagers work, they may also provide you with a list of projects and repairs you can complete to boost your exterior curb appeal.
Interior Design
While home staging is often about depersonalizing spaces, interior design is the exact opposite. Home owners hire interior designers to improve the look and feel of a room, as well as its functionality.
Interior design includes paint colors, window treatments, artwork, furniture, etc. Each room is designed around a homeowner’s unique tastes and improves the usage and functionality of a room, often specifically defining its purpose. Interior designers strive to create a specific mood and feel — calming, energetic, Zen.
You can see now that home staging and interior design both have their distinct purposes. Call an interior designer when you want to personalize your home and create a put-together look for one or more rooms. When you’re ready to sell, find a home stager who can help buyers see the best in your home.
Or list with me, and I’ll stage for free using your furniture! I’m your selling, buying and staging real estate expert. I’m here to answer any questions you have about staging, listing, contracts and more. Let’s work together to meet your real estate goals in 2018!
Warmly,
~ Marcia
Looking to buy or sell a home in Gainesville, Haymarket and Manassas? Call Realtor® Marcia Goodman at Samson Properties at 703-819-4776.
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