Staging Small Spaces

Home Staging is increasingly more important to get top dollar on your investment.  This is especially true now that the real estate market has quickly turned into a buyers market here in the GTA.  Even more important, is to stage small spaces.  Not only do people struggle to visualize the layout of a great room that has to incorporate the dining area, living room, and office space, but small spaces that are empty, look smaller than furnished ones.

Here are some Tips on Staging Small Spaces:

1) Add décor pieces that are silver, brass, metal, mirrored, and/or glass to reflect the light throughout the rooms.

2) Add large scale mirrors throughout the space.  Mirrors reflect the light throughout and increase the visual space in the room.  Mirrors can be tastefully added to dining areas, above console tables & dressers, in the foyer, and in bathrooms.

3) Use Multi-Functional Furniture Pieces.  Things like ottomans are perfect.  They can be visualized as additional seating as a bench or as a stool, footrest, and can even be used as end tables.  Ottoman with storage is ideal as you can store or tuck away your magazines, pillows, throws, books, etc. 

4) Use Condo/Small Scale Furniture.  Things like oversized arm rests on large couches just clutter the space and weigh it down.  Opt for thin, tailored, and streamlined pieces to keep the space as open as possible.  With the exception in bedrooms.  Remember if rooms are empty, they actually look smaller than furnished ones.  If a Queen Bed can fit, especially in condo master bedrooms, add one.  If buyers are questioning if a Queen Bed can actually fit in there, you have lost potential buyers.  

5) Add glass wherever possible.  When staging small spaces, select a couple glass pieces like dining tables, end tables, coffee tables, consoles, etc.  These pieces don't take away from the visual space in the room and can greatly open up the space while allowing you to place décor pieces and table lamps throughout.

6) Paint the space in a light paint colour like light grey or light taupe and in small spaces, use the same colour throughout.  This makes the space more uniform and appear larger.  

Best of luck with the sale of your property!  For any additional staging advice and/or if you have any questions, don't hesitate to call us at (416)262-0609.

Staging Is Not Just For Real Estate

Staging is not only for residential real estate sales.  Even though staging has been proven to sell homes faster and for more money, staging is not limited to just real estate.  Working with a Home Stager for other projects like; Home Show Booths, T.V. Sets, Store Merchandising, etc., can not only save you money but can easily create the ideal ambience for your project.  Below are a couple before & after décor transformations for a Home Show Booth & a T.V. Set we designed for clients.

An elegant, bright, modern Home Show Booth we designed for a Custom Home Builder.  What a way to make an impact and catch people's eyes. This booth definitely stood out from the crowd and the furniture and décor pieces were rented for the duration of the show.  Our clients really wanted to create a living room feel where they could showcase their business.

What an amazing transformation of this TV Set for 'From Selling to Sold' which aired on Cogeco.  Our clients left it to us to design to entire set and arrange for the furniture & décor rental for the duration of filming.  This was a fun project and definitely showed that staging can be more than just for real estate.

Contact us today at (416)262-0609 for more information

Stylicious Staging Tips

Home Staging is increasingly more important to create that edge in the market place. Recent studies have shown that staged homes sell faster and for more money. Follow these simple staging tips to ensure your home is prepared for sale:


1) Clean, Clean, Clean – every item in your home (including floors, appliances, windows, etc.) should be spotless and sparkle.

2) Declutter – take the opportunity to get your packing started and declutter all areas in your home especially closets, cabinets, floor space, etc.

3) Depersonalize – home buyers want to walk into a home and be able to visualize their stuff and their family fitting into the space. Having family photos, trophies, degrees, etc. hinder the potential home buyer visualizing the space as their own.

4) Lighting – your home should be bright and have as much natural light as possible. Clean all windows inside and out, turn on all lights for showings, and add décor pieces like glass, silver, mirrored to reflect the light throughout the room.

5) Be Religion Neutral – put away all religious items and figurines for all showings and open houses.

6) Curb Appeal – you only have one chance to make a lasting first impression. Pay extra attention to the details of your curb appeal. Your gardens should be well edged, clear of any debris and weeds, and add flowers where possible to add a splash of colour. Ensure doors, trim, and siding have a fresh coat of paint (choose a neutral colour). Ensure all paths to your home are clear.

7) Paint – painting is one of the cheapest and greatest return on investment. Paint interior and exterior in neutral colours and avoid dark accent colours like red, blue, etc.

8) MLS Photos – ensure they are taken during the day and have all lights turned on. Most home buyers now search for homes on-line before heading out to the area to view homes. Be sure your photos are inviting, in focus, and bright. Inquire about our Stylicious Retouch service for any photos that need colour correction, brightening, etc.

At Stylicious Living we provide a full room by room evaluation including curb appeal to ensure each home is prepared for sale using our Stylicious Staging Selling and Strategies Guide. Our consultations start at $195 + HST. We also offer showcasing services for open houses and furniture rental for vacant homes. Contact us today at (416)262-0609 to book an in-home staging consultation.