Home Staging Tips From the Pros
Experts say the best home staging starts with a focal point, showcases light and room flow, and helps buyers picture living in the space day to day.
WASHINGTON — For prospective home buyers, a well-staged home can stand out immediately in photos and in person. The best staged homes will prevent potential buyers from scrolling past the home's online listing. Stagers move quickly to turn empty rooms into welcoming, functional spaces, focusing on layout, scale and small details.
"You pick that one thing," Michelle DeLucia, owner of Sub Urban Staging and Design, told The Washington Post, explaining that every room starts with a focal point, such as a rug or a meaningful piece of furniture.
If owners get stuck, they can look to the history of the home, its character and color scheme for inspiration. Smart furniture placement helps show off light and the natural flow of the space, while simple accents like faux plants and textured accessories add warmth. Artwork goes up last, once everything else is in place.
When considering the scale of the room, Ashley Stout, co-owner of Sizzle Home Staging in Chicago, told The Washington Post to consider, "Is the furniture going to affect the natural flow from one space to another? You don’t want to limit your access to a door or a closet. You don’t want it to be blocking some window that’s giving you fantastic natural light."
Including accessories or tchotchkes can help tell a home's story and breathe life into a space. Buyers are also encouraged to look beyond traditional room use. In smaller homes, a corner of the living room might work better as a workspace.
Stagers consider how buyers might live in the space day to day, including whether furniture is easy to move or fits tight stairwells. From the first walk-through to the final showing, good staging can help a home feel more livable and easier to imagine as one's own.
Source: The Washington Post (07/30/25) Kurzius, Rachel
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