Set the Mood
Vignette staging is home staging in its simplest form. The key is to create just the right mood in just the right places of a home with just a few pieces of furniture and accessories. Choosing items that speak to as many buyers’ personalities as possible and placing them where maximum impact will be achieved is sure to reap the great rewards.
Light, sound, color and a few creature comforts transform a vacant house into a “home” with minimal expense to the seller. As buyers enter a house, they immediately form an opinion; so let that opinion be one that is warm and fuzzy feeling to ensure that buyers have a chance to get excited about what lies beyond the front door. If the home has an entry hall, placing art or a floral arrangement in the space is a perfect way to greet buyers. Clear floor space is always essential so if the space is cramped, opt for the art rather than the accent table and floral arrangement.
A perfect focal point for vignette staging is a chair, side table, lamp and plant or floral arrangement. Place the seating area where it will make the most impact, usually where it can be seen from the front door. Add a beautiful pillow, a soft throw and use soft lighting that can be left on day and evening to meet all buyers. A timer to control the hours the lamp is on makes for easy maintenance. You can add artwork or an indoor tree to complete the scene.
Towels, simple accent items, and floral arrangements transform any bathroom into a retreat. Keep things simple but luxurious. Add a bit of color to the kitchen too, even the most gorgeous kitchens can benefit from the softness of a bowl of fruit and the coziness of a favorite cookbook. This is where I usually place the music, too. The soft touches really make a tremendous difference.
It is such a joy to see how these simple additions to a vacant house make such a powerful impact on buyer’s emotions. I hope that every seller and their agent have the chance to hear buyers say “Now this is a home!”
