Recently in a post on this home staging blog I asked for your home staging recommendations for the boring living room pictured here.
During your career as a home stager, you’ll likely come across dozens and dozens of forgettable living rooms exactly like this one. If you have an eye for design, though, you know that it won’t take much to generate appeal for a potential real estate buyer!
Right now it looks like the “beige family” must live here and there’s absolutely nothing to stick in a potential buyer’s mind.
You’ll see from my advice that most of the solutions I suggest are pretty simple. In fact, you probably noticed many of the same problems yourself when you first looked at the picture – proof that you already have the know-how to make recommendations to your own home staging clients!
The following are my home staging recommendations for this living room.
Color recommendations
The current white color of the walls makes the room look too sterile, especially when combined with the neutral carpet and furniture. An easy way to jazz things up, without spending much money is to repaint the room a warmer shade like Benjamin Moore’s Louisburg Green (HC-113) or a lighter version like Nantucket Gray (HC-111). These are both colors from the Staging Diva Ultimate Color Guide: the easy way to pick colors for home staging projects.
I feel strongly about the need to repaint this room to add some drama, and it could be accomplished in a day even without a professional.
Get rid of distractions
Remove the cluttered bench (or whatever that is) in front of window and slide the chair closer to the window so it’s not blocking the entrance to the living room. Move the shelf unit on the left side of the photo because it’s also blocking the entrance. These are key changes because when you block the view or entrance into a room with large furniture you automatically make it less welcoming and appear more crowded.
Rearrange the items on the coffee table to reduce clutter and provide a focal point. A flowering plant should be added to the center of the table. This will warm up the space considerably. I don’t use cut flowers on low surfaces like a coffee table because children sometimes attend showings and might knock a vase over.
A few books should be neatly arranged on the coffee table shelf, avoid the temptation to keep too many. You want this to look fairly open.
On a larger coffee table (or if this one had a glass top) I might include a few hardcover books beside the plant.
Rearrange Items
Move the decorative object (brass parrot) standing to right of couch and replace it with an end table to match the existing one. It doesn’t actually have to match, but it must be the same height.
Move the matching lamp that’s currently to the right of the reading chair to the end table on the right side of the couch.
Flanking the couch with end tables and lamps at the same height will create more of a sense of balance and symmetry.
Accessories
Replace the art over the couch with a horizontal piece at least 36″ wide by 24″ tall (note this should be centered, the current art is 4″ to 6″ too far to the right). The new artwork could be a canvas with “gallery wrap” or a print in a black frame. Look for something with lots of color and stay away from controversial topics, and no nudes please.
If you have trouble finding appropriate art for home stagers and you’d like to start your own inventory to rent out to clients.
Add two decorative cushions (one on each end) to the couch to pick up a color from the new artwork and toss a throw of the same color over the arm of the chair that will now be near/in front of the window.
There’s a ton of home staging advice for living rooms, bathrooms, attics and every other space in a home in the Staging Diva Ultimate Design Guide: Home Staging Tips, Tricks and Floor Plans. Check out this downloadable guide if you’re looking for help with design principals and home staging ideas.
Home stagers, what additional recommendations would you have for this dull living room or the living room featured in this other post?
Debra Gould, The Staging Diva®
President, Six Elements Inc. Home Staging
Debra Gould knows how to make money as a home stager and she developed the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program to teach others how to earn a living doing something they love. There are more than 4000 Staging Diva Students in the U.S., Canada and over 18 other countries. Debra is frequently profiled in the media for her home staging expertise and is the author of 5 guides for home stagers.
Awwwwww, Debra! I was all set to put a giant, reclining nude above the sofa!
Actually, I am in complete agreement with your suggestions. That is a really great example photo – cluttered and sparse at the same time!
I wonder, if I was able to stand in the room and see it all, would I be able to swing the sofa onto the left (facing) wall and remove what is presumably the large TV console. Effectively move the internal focus from the TV to the window. I would still have to raise the visual height of the sofa with a colorful picture and color-related throw pillows. A color-related valence or columnar drapes at the outside edges of the window could build a more cohesive look (and might visually reduce the size of the room – I would have to test that one. Gosh, this is easier when you can see the whole room.)
Nancy – You’re right, “cluttered and sparse” at the same time. That’s a great way to describe this common problem. Seems contradictory but isn’t. I think drapery panels is a good addition to my suggestion. I’d buy pre-made ones to keep the cost down, and hang them as close to the ceiling as possible to visually raise the ceiling height. I don’t like valences however, I think they look too fussy and dated (though I know many people will disagree with me on that). In any event for staging, a valence would be an unnecessary expense.
Mary – Pillar candle arrangement with a couple of coffee table books instead of a flowering plant is another great idea.
Thanks everyone for adding your suggestions, keep them coming!
Perfect – I would not change one thing that you did and I can usually find something to do – I also like symmetry in a room.
I might have put a candle arrangement (small and varied heights beside some hardcover books (3) stacked on the coffee table)
Really no changes – you hit the ball out of the park…. as usual.
Good advice – but I was hoping for an “after” photo if you had staged this. I love to see the results, mine or others, when it comes to staging rooms. Guess that’s why we all love seeing the transformations on HGTV too. I can’t wait for the “reveal!”
Debbie Fiskum, Perfect Transformations Home Staging in Denver
Debbie, thanks for your feedback. I don’t always have after photos because many of my clients just pay me for my advice and do the rest of the work themselves. When I’m really busy, I don’t make time to go back to take an after shot (though I should, because they do build up the portfolio!).
Cluttered but sparse. That’s what always comes to my mind when I see rooms like the one above. I actually feel uncomfortable in cluttered rooms and rooms that don’t “feel” inviting. I can’t wait to get out of there.
The walls need color and the architectural integrity of the room is missing with all the blandness. I’d opt for some inexpensive but attractive crown moulding to set the room. (at the very least)
Valences and wallpaper borders are my pet peeves. Who thought of wallpaper borders anyway? LOL. They not only date a room, but they make it look “cheap” and unless the room is big and the ceilings are high, it makes the rooms look much smaller and cramped.
I agree with all of the other tips and tricks. Great ideas!
Kathi, I absolutely loathe valences and wallpaper borders too! Your idea of crown molding is a good one.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Debra! I really enjoy your articles.
I have the room above all redesigned and staged in my head. Now if only I could take an after picture inside my brain… LOL.
Remove some unnecessary furniture. Remove mirror over couch, replace with artwork centered. Add table after removing bird. Slide leather chair over after removing other furniture. De clutter tables and etc of personal pictures. Add plant on coffee tale. Add greenery and throw pillows with a pop of color. If homeowner allows paint to clean it up. Possibly a throw rug.
Thanks for sharing your staging advice Barbara!
Take out some furniture. Maybe replace an endtable with a floorlamp. Great lighting. Needs more color in couch. Maybe hunter green furniture to compliment the carpet and accent pillows like colorful stripes. Add a shelf above couch with some decor such as a lantern vases or plants. Clean coffe tables and add centerpieces that make it charming when you walk in. Clear entryway a bit
All great ideas Dawn, though over the couch I’d recommend a piece of art rather than making the holes necessary for hanging a shelf.
The table with seating type thing in front of window needs to be removed and the lamp should be placed on the end table beside sofa needs to add new table height should be same as of the other table and lamp,we can add some cushions on sofa and coffee table should be clutter with one piece of decoration and mirror on wall needs to e adjust or if can be changed with something a bit smaller a colourful rug should be placed under the table,shelf is in way so should be moved couple of inches away from Entrance and red couch should be moved to near the window and brass decoration should be gone
The angle of the picture kind of throws things off, it looks like the entertainment center is in the door but I don’t really think so. maybe move it down a little. move the chair to the other side of the room or to the basement. Remove the wheeled table from the room. change the art over the couch. Slip cover or accent pillows. Painting the wall. Remove clutter from coffee table and entertainment center.
The entertainment center was indeed in the doorway!! Crazy I know! Good suggestions.
They need to get rid of the piece below the window. Also add new end table on the other end and put matching lamp there. Maybe even get a different coffee table or put a piece of glass on top that fits. This room needs color. Paint for sure and a nice piece of art with a pop of color and work with that color in new pillows and a throw for the chair and pole lamp behind the chair for reading spot. New curtains will also add some color
All great ideas Robin!
Repaint the walls to something not a neutral color something light in color to open up the room or put a few mirrors up, change the couch to a love seat, get a different colored chair, get different lamps and pictures, and get rid of the brown thing on the left front of the room.
Totally agree Carol, thanks for sharing!