Interior design vs. Home Styling/Staging
I added Home styling/ Staging to my service package about three to four months ago and I remember thinking, why not? I already know how to do interiors, whats the big difference?
Well they are quite different and I never thought I would have such a hard time switching my very right-sided brain in to "stage mode." With Interiors you generally start with a game plan or you get to create one. With staging, especially and owner occupied home, your game plan is staring at you in the face when you walk through the door and its up to you to make it look "pretty."I am talking existing furniture you need to work with, whether you like it or not. Funky alcoves that make ZERO sense. Layouts and or rooms in homes that don't make sense. As an Interior designer you get to make sense out of those rooms and that may involve changing them, taking down walls and making spaces more functional. With Staging, what you see is what you get and lucky you, you need to make it shine.
I have never been so challenge as an interior designer until I staged and owner occupied home. Yep, I said it and its the truth. So you are probably thinking, what the big deal? You really didn't have to do much because all the furniture was there right? Just a couple pillows and some art?!
If only it was that easy, everyone would do it.
Wrong and let me tell you why. Staging an actual occupied home is more challenging that staging a vacant home. You have constraints that you have to work with and I already briefly touched upon a few of those above. After looking at all the items you get to "work" with you then need to figure out how they go together. Well that's the funny part, they never go together. If they did, your services wouldn't be needed because the house would look like a page out of house beautiful and that would be that.
When you stage, you stage for all. That means you are trying to attract all types of buyers. My motto is clean, fresh and minimal. Why minimal? So most can visualize there own items or selves in the space. If its overly cluttered, dirty or clearly "lived in" while showing, it will turn buyers off.
The goal is to showcase the inherent features of the home and sell it quickly. There is no time to win a best design award, its get in fast, make it look good and sell.
So why is it so challenging for me? Because I am an interior designer first, Stager second or maybe even third! I overthink, I over plan and I love the design process from start, middle to end. I love a good old fashion plan, just ask my husband!
With Staging you will kill yourself overthinking and over planning. Its a no time to make sense, just make it look better than it was with a lack-luster "oh that looks amazing!" afterwards. So will I keep doing it?! YOU betcha.
Why? Because its challenges me to think and do things differently. I like to keep it interesting.
Here are a few before a after photos from the last owner occupied Stage I completed:
Well they are quite different and I never thought I would have such a hard time switching my very right-sided brain in to "stage mode." With Interiors you generally start with a game plan or you get to create one. With staging, especially and owner occupied home, your game plan is staring at you in the face when you walk through the door and its up to you to make it look "pretty."I am talking existing furniture you need to work with, whether you like it or not. Funky alcoves that make ZERO sense. Layouts and or rooms in homes that don't make sense. As an Interior designer you get to make sense out of those rooms and that may involve changing them, taking down walls and making spaces more functional. With Staging, what you see is what you get and lucky you, you need to make it shine.
I have never been so challenge as an interior designer until I staged and owner occupied home. Yep, I said it and its the truth. So you are probably thinking, what the big deal? You really didn't have to do much because all the furniture was there right? Just a couple pillows and some art?!
If only it was that easy, everyone would do it.
Wrong and let me tell you why. Staging an actual occupied home is more challenging that staging a vacant home. You have constraints that you have to work with and I already briefly touched upon a few of those above. After looking at all the items you get to "work" with you then need to figure out how they go together. Well that's the funny part, they never go together. If they did, your services wouldn't be needed because the house would look like a page out of house beautiful and that would be that.
When you stage, you stage for all. That means you are trying to attract all types of buyers. My motto is clean, fresh and minimal. Why minimal? So most can visualize there own items or selves in the space. If its overly cluttered, dirty or clearly "lived in" while showing, it will turn buyers off.
The goal is to showcase the inherent features of the home and sell it quickly. There is no time to win a best design award, its get in fast, make it look good and sell.
So why is it so challenging for me? Because I am an interior designer first, Stager second or maybe even third! I overthink, I over plan and I love the design process from start, middle to end. I love a good old fashion plan, just ask my husband!
With Staging you will kill yourself overthinking and over planning. Its a no time to make sense, just make it look better than it was with a lack-luster "oh that looks amazing!" afterwards. So will I keep doing it?! YOU betcha.
Why? Because its challenges me to think and do things differently. I like to keep it interesting.
Here are a few before a after photos from the last owner occupied Stage I completed:
As you can tell from the photos, placement & purpose has been achieved in these rooms. Buyers can now walk in with open minds and see potential why touring the property. Its not always glamorous, but small changes can definitely make a big impact when staging homes.
Stay tuned for more project updates and if you want daily doses of my reality, follow me on Instagram @ashleygrechdesign.
Happy Designing,
xo,
Ash
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