Dressing Up the Dining Room: Successful Staging Tips to Create a Memorable LookBy Keith Loria
Staging your home is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to putting your home’s best foot forward when preparing for a sale. While the process of staging may seem overwhelming, it’s crucial that you pay attention to each and every room—even the dining room.
When it comes to preparing the dining room, don’t overlook the table. While some people believe that setting out a full place setting for four is the way to go, others think a more subtle approach—incorporating flowers or a glass pitcher of water—is the best way to draw attention to the room. While a full place setting might be nice, it can actually take the attention away from the size of the room and may even set the wrong mood that the house is “too fancy.” If you do decide to use dishes, make sure anything you set out follows the color scheme of the room. Be sure to complete the set with cloth napkins and nice glassware. If you choose not to go with a place setting, set out a bowl of fake fruit to add color to the room. In addition, use neutral placemats and always use flowers in a decorative vase if you can. Additionally, many home stagers will recommend that you remove the leaf in your table (if it seats eight or more) and instead display six seats. This is a simple way to make sure prospective buyers have enough space to walk around and really get a feel for the room. Regardless of what you decide to do with the table, there are plenty of other things to consider when staging a dining room. A dining space should look comfortable, have good lighting and make the prospective buyer imagine entertaining their friends over an elegant meal or dining with the family during the holidays. If you’re dealing with a smaller room, it’s important to accentuate the table, perhaps illuminating it with an antique chandelier. Hang a mirror on the wall opposite the window to add light and make the space seem larger. When it comes to incorporating light into the space, candles are always a nice touch. You may even want to think about placing an antique-style floor lamp in the corner to create a memorable look. It’s also a good idea to ensure that the walls of the room aren’t left empty. Display large artwork or plateware and make a big statement with the room. And be sure to repaint your personal color choices with warm neutral tones. The last thing you need to pay attention to when staging your dining room is making sure there isn’t too much furniture crammed into the area. While a china closet can be lovely to look at, you don’t want the space to look cluttered, so pick a few key pieces that make the room stand out. A wine rack is a great addition to the dining space, but you may want to remove the wine refrigerator if you have one. The same goes for excess chairs. Use them elsewhere in the house or store them out of the way. While a dining room may not be the most important area when it comes to attracting prospective buyers, it’s a room that can get people thinking about special events and family gatherings. Creating an area that dazzles potential buyers can set the stage for a successful sale to come. Contact our office today for more tips on staging your home. |
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