Whether you're selling a cozy condo or a spacious estate, proper home design and staging can make all the difference in how quickly–and for how much–your property sells. Studies have shown that staged homes sell 73% faster than unstaged homes. The experts at Vesta Home, the country's largest luxury home staging company, offer these seven keys (and some tricks of the trade!) to creating a welcoming environment that maximizes appeal, ensuring that the color palette, room layout, and furniture selections work together to tell a story that resonates with buyers. As seen on Netflix's Selling Sunset and in Architectural Digest, Vesta designers are the masters of transforming empty spaces into alluring places.
1. Focus on First Impressions
There are many ways to stage a home for sale, but one of the most high-impact areas to focus on is the entryway. You want potential buyers to walk into a space that instantly conveys the home's style, and sets a positive expectation for the entire property. Make it memorable by considering statement lighting such as a chandelier or pendant to brighten the space and serve as a focal point. Use a stylish console table paired with a sleek mirror to enhance the room's visual depth, and incorporate greenery or fresh flowers to introduce a natural, fresh element.
A well-staged entryway can define the mood of a home. The Brunswick console at Stradella Road, curated by Kiel Wuellner, Vesta's Senior Creative Director in L.A., blends sleek minimalism with bold impact for an unforgettable first impression. By paying attention to the small details in this transitional space, you are setting the perfect stage for the rest of the tour.
2. Declutter, But Don't Diminish
When curating your home for staging, you want to strike the right balance between decluttering and preserving the home's charm. While decluttering helps potential buyers focus on the space itself, adding a few carefully selected items, like a textured accent chair or statement artwork, can make the space feel inviting and lived-in. Vesta designer Laurissa Chambers in San Francisco showcased this perfectly by incorporating our Milo tufted bench by the fireplace. The abstract artwork above further emphasized the architectural feature of the fireplace, drawing the eye while complementing the home's design.
The key? Enhance the room without overwhelming it, allowing each piece to serve a purpose, whether it's highlighting architectural features or adding texture and warmth. This thoughtful approach is what we call house-to-home staging, where the goal for professional stagers is to give context to empty spaces. Furniture and decor bring personality to the space, allowing buyers to envision themselves living there while maintaining a neutral, elegant design. In Vesta's case, we know if we're successful when the new homeowner wants to buy the furniture used in staging!
3. Magnify Your Home's Unique Features
Spotlighting the features that make your home stand out goes a long way to making a lasting impression on buyers. Architectural details like exposed beams, intricate moldings, or a unique staircase should be showcased with furniture that complements these elements, allowing them to shine. For example, placing a sleek, modern sofa under an exposed beam accentuates its rustic charm, while positioning artwork or sculptures around an intricate archway draws attention to its sophistication.
Spacious open areas can also benefit from curated furniture placements that emphasize the flow of the room while keeping it functional. Large windows or high ceilings can be highlighted by choosing light, airy furnishings, and allowing natural light to fill the space, making the room feel larger. Dressing a home for sale involves putting the home's best features forward with tailored decor, helping buyers visualize not only the space itself but also how they can make it their own.
4. Choose Neutral Foundations with Flair
Start with a neutral foundation to appeal to a wide range of buyers; light grays, whites, and soft taupes allow the space to feel open while letting other elements stand out. You can then punctuate the design with stylish accents—colorful pillows, artwork, or rugs, e.g.—that contrast with the neutral tones and infuse the room with energy. In this neutral bedroom, Vesta designer Kiel added earthy terracotta tones through printed pillows to bring out a subtle Spanish Revival style.
Neutral colors lend a versatile backdrop for different furniture and decor styles. You can also introduce texture with luxe fabrics such as velvet cushions or a leather sofa, which adds warmth and richness to the room without overpowering the simplicity of the neutral base. By using neutral tones as the canvas and selectively adding these details, you'll achieve one of the hallmarks of the best-staged homes: to ensure that the space is both attractive and flexible, helping potential buyers imagine themselves living there.
5. Be Strategic in Space Planning
When staging a home, it's essential to design each room to highlight its function, allowing potential buyers to easily envision how they would use the space in daily life. At a Vesta-staged property in Tribeca, our New York City Creative Director, Christina Mully, created a playful bedroom that included vibrant elements that reflected the lifestyle of families in the area, with colorful accents and kid-friendly features. Christina's attention to the context of the neighborhood adds layers of meaning to her detailed designs, bringing each space to life.
A seamless flow between spaces is also key. In an open-plan living area, placing the dining area adjacent to the living space with a soft rug or different lighting defines the area while still maintaining a sense of openness. In larger homes with dedicated rooms, position furniture to delineate each room's function. A home office, for instance, can be staged with a desk near natural light, a comfortable chair, and organizational elements, implying the space's high productivity potential. Each thoughtful home staging decision helps a buyer understand the flow of the place–and the overall value of the property.
6. Illuminate with Intent
Natural light is a key feature that brings life to a space, making it feel larger and more inviting. Maximize this by keeping windows clear and using light, airy curtains that allow sunlight to filter through. A well-placed mirror opposite a window can reflect the light for even more brightness. To enrich the atmosphere further, incorporate soft, warm lighting through table lamps, floor lamps, or sconces. This layered approach adds depth and warmth, creating a balanced space that's both functional and stylish. This intentional use of light is a central factor in beautifully staged homes, where every element works in harmony.
7. Elevate Your Outdoor Living
Outdoor spaces have become increasingly important for buyers seeking areas for relaxation, entertainment, and connection with nature. To make the most of this valuable space, incorporate exterior home staging by extending your interior style to the outdoors. Consider using complementary furniture and decor to the home's interior design, ensuring a cohesive flow between the inside and outside. For example, if your interior features neutral tones with warm accents carry that palette through to the patio with soft cushions, woven rugs, and natural wood furniture. This makes for a seamless transition and helps buyers instantly see the full potential of both the interior and exterior spaces.
In the Sky Arc project in Nevada, Vesta designer Lisa Vail achieved this by selecting furnishings that blended the indoor and outdoor spaces, mirroring the stunning landscape of the Nevada desert. By incorporating pieces that echoed the natural surroundings, she allowed potential buyers to connect with both the environment and the property itself.
