Decorating is what makes your house a home. It is all the personal
souvenirs, treasures, keepsakes, family photos and mementos, all
the things that are special and irreplaceable to you and your family.
Decorating is your favorite colors, style of furniture, pictures and the
accessories that you have personally chosen to bring it all together.
Staging is the opposite, staging or home enhancement involves
removing all those special personal items and packing them away
to have to personalize your new house, so it will become your home.
Staging includes not only depersonalizing, but neutralizing your
house. Potential buyers coming through your house should not upon
leaving feel like they know you and your family. Buyers should not
leave knowing your cultural or ethnical heritage, your religion or your
educational of sports accomplishments.
Decorating makes it personal. Staging removes the personal.
Lydia Pollard Owners Pride Home Staging & Design Serving Mississauga, Oakville, Brampton, Milton & Etobicoke in Ontario, Canada www.ownerspride.ca lydia@ownerspride.ca
The buyer is looking for a home, not just a house.
A home that is a reflection of themselves and their
lifestyle.
For example, a well kept yard, landscaped and
maintained, makes the house look welcoming,
like it is easy to maintain. A garden full of weeds
and a lawnmower at the side door makes them
think of work.
Put away the tools, lawnmowers etc. outside.
Hide the vacuum and cleaning products inside.
Buyers don’t need to see these reminders.
Accentuate fun, leisure and relaxation. Put out the patio
furniture. Play soft music in the background to set the mood.
If it is a hot summer day, have the air conditioning on.
If it’s a cold winter night, have the fire place crackling.
Don’t have them coming into a house that is cold, dark,
and silent with the curtains drawn.
Welcome them to a warm cozy atmosphere where they
can picture themselves having fun, spending time with
their family and friends.
There are six basic room decorating styles: Casual, Contemporary,
Country, Eclectic, Formal and Traditional.
Casual focuses on a warm, comfortable, casual and inviting feel.
Typical furniture is chucky, rectangular and comfortable.
Accessories are not bold or over done, chosen in warm usually
earth tone colors giving it that relaxed calm feeling.
Contemporary is basic, simple, modern and sophisticated. The focus
is on comfort, practicality without clutter. The common elements are
open design, clean smooth lines, bold color mixed with neutrals.
There are no fills, ruffles or florals in this style.
Country is characterized by that friendly, casual, cozy feeling of
history and heritage. A mixture of heirlooms, vintage furniture,
area rugs and accessories. Common basics include; wainscoting,
non luster wood which is distressed, wooden floors, doors, trim and
ceiling moldings. Accessorized with antiques, natural materials,
ceramics, pottery, rustic items, candles, baskets and collections for charm.
In the eclectic style there are no rules. It is fun, funky, unconventional,
often dramatic combination of interesting, unusual and unrelated
accessories. In order to make this style work, the basic principles of
design have to work together.
The Formal Room Style is characterized by it elaborate, extravagant,
luxurious, refined and elegant combination of furniture and accessories
to give the impression of richness. Common in this style are the use of
carved details, fine dark polished wood, embellishments, vibrant rich
color and luxurious fabrics. Symmetry plays a large role in this style.
Traditional is a balance between casual and formal, with a more functional
and relaxed sophistication. Symmetry and balance are characteristic of this
style, but the colors tend to be neutral or muted tones. The traditional style
of decorating hasn’t changed much over the years; it’s a neutral look that
never really goes in and out of style.
Home Staging includes the elements of basic room styles, room flow and
a harmonious mix of furniture, fixtures, colors, textures and accessories.
