Interior Decorating vs Home Staging

Over the past year, we have seen a steady increase in inquiries from home owners who now understand that they need to do more to impress buyers than ever before. This is a shift that we credit to mainstream media like HGTV who are excellent at shining a light on our industry and getting the public to understand that decorating a house to live in isn’t the same as staging it to sell.

Home staging, is the process of getting a home ready for sale. Almost a decade ago, when we first started our business, this was predominantly just de-cluttering and de-personalizing a home. As our industry has evolved however – and the demands of home buyers have risen – the level of transformation has changed with it.

Home staging incorporates the basic tenants of good interior design however the overall goal of the process is very different. Staging is a marketing tool and it’s about creating a product that is very appealing to a broad number of people. We often tell our clients that it’s a price war and a beauty pageant out there which is why homes that have been updated and professionally staged are selling for a premium in today’s real estate market.

When it comes to interior decorating or design, that is a completely different process. Again, they use the same basic principles but the overal goals couldn’t be more dissimilar. When we are decorating or redesiging spaces we focus on individual or family needs over broad appeal. How a home functions and meets the needs of the occupants is key. It’s not about packaging a product, as it is with staging to sell, instead its about tailoring the interior (and exterior) of a house so that it reflects the tastes and style of it’s occupants.

With such a disparity in goals, it’s important in both scenarios to consult with a trained professional so that your home achieves the right goals. Design by its very nature adds layers to a home, layers of texture/colour/personal items to make a house feel like a home. These layers and personal touches are often too personal when it comes time to sell, so instead of making them potential buyer objections, it’s good to change them up and broaden the appeal of each space.

If you are renovating your home and the intention is to sell in the next few years, it’s important to keep in mind the trends and emerging styles of your target buyers. We always recommend consulting with one of our staging experts at this point so that they can help make recommendations which will work for the home owner in the short term and still add value when they decide to list the property for sale.

Our expert consultants can help you maximize the appeal & functionality of your home regardless of whether you are selling or dwelling.

Rooms in Bloom Home Staging & Design Inc. is the Waterloo Region’s leading home staging company. Specializing in staging empty properties and builder model or spec homes, we take pride in creating stunning spaces buyers fall in love with. From comprehensive consultations to complete staging solutions, our team can help guide you every step of the way. To find out more information about our company or to view our portfolio, visit our website. To engage with us on social media, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.