Home Staging -- A Dining Room

Hello, y'all!

Today, let's remember that what we do in our homes

is worth as much as if we did it for our Lord.

Our positions as home makers are sacred and pleasing to God,

not because we do the work itself, but because we do the work to be obedient to Him.

For those of you that are new 'round here--WELCOME!!

 I have been staging since 2000, have my own business, take jobs when I "feel like it".
My main job is making my own home and keeping it.

So, I have many pictures to share with you, of homes that I have had the privilege

to transform from a home to a house and then back again for resale.

Today, we are looking at a Dining Room.

The example being used today, is from a $289,000 home

that was on the market 2 months before I staged it.

The closing papers were signed 3 weeks after that.

Now, I love red, and a few of you might like red.

But, most people don't. It's a personal color.

If you are that buyer that doesn't like red, your first thought when you see this room is, 

"I will be painting over that red."

What needs to be avoided when selling your home, 

is creating a mental "TO DO" list in the mind of the buyer.

Not only is red too personal, it is rather dark.

A neutral shade is needed here.

And while this space didn't have too much extra furniture,

I always remove everything except the table, 4 chairs and a hutch (if there's room). 

I also remove all the "small" art and accessories that say "clutter" instead of "chic".

Primer, paint, and a day later, and here is the result.

Painting the top half of the wall the same color as the Home Library directly opposite this room,

created consistency, symmetry, and proportion in the buyer's eyes. 

The darker shade below the chair rail is the next darker shade on the paint chip.

Rather than having their backs turned toward the foyer,

I positioned the chairs to intrigue the buyers into entering the room.

It's not practical for every day living, but perfect during selling.

Before.

During.

(Some cabinet doors from the kitchen that have been painted, are drying on the floor).

After Staging.

Before.

After.

Ikea "tube" slipcovers were slid over the chairs and secured with napkin rings.

A runner with pizzaz, and a simple vignette are all that are needed for the tabletop.

Not every place needs a setting. It appears contrived.

What the Dining Room should suggest is family memories during celebrations and/or entertaining.

The rug was moved from the Home Library.

Tureens and a platter suggest large holiday gatherings with family and friends.

Bottles of champagne (or sparkling grape juice) and stemware suggest intimate celebrations.

If you are planning on staging your home to be sold, here's how you can capture buyer's interest and keep it, after they've walked in the front door:

• Remain detached emotionally from your house. See your house through buyers' eyes. It is no longer your home. It is a building, a commodity that you want to sell for the highest amount possible!
• Clean and polish everything. Table, window treatments, chandelier, silver, windows, floors.
• Repair anything in disrepair. Furniture to flooring.
• All trim and doors throughout the house should be the same color. (I prefer to paint them all white).
• Make sure that this room has a dramatic focal point, by showcasing a unique piece of furniture or artwork.
• Remove anything personal to your family: photographs and monogrammed items.
• Group accessories in vignettes of no more than 3 items, varied by height.
• Make traffic lanes easy to navigate for several people passing through at the same time.
• Remove one or two leaves from the table if the room needs to appear larger.
• If the china cabinet is really, really large, consider removing it and replacing it with a dresser or buffet.
• If the cabinet stays, and has glass doors, remove enough shelves and contents to appear "chic". Group like items together.
• Allow as much light to filter into the room as possible.
• If the room is particularly large, create a room within a room. Add a small secretary or small desk. Add a lamp and a box of stationery to the desk.
• Or bring in a bookcase and an arm chair to suggest a library.
• Leave no electronic equipment in view.

Any thoughts or questions?