The purpose of staging your home is to show the attributes of your house and its architectural features to prospective buyers. The ideal purpose of the room areas should be reflected in its overall design, and a staged property should compliment the home, not compete with or take away from its overall design. Presenting a home with too trendy design choices can actually have an adverse affect on the results your are trying to achieve. Below are some design trends to think twice about for staging:
Fifty Shades of Gray Walls: While gray can be a sophisticated color, and look fresh and modern, it can also make a home look dark, dingy and overall unappealing. Depending on the undertones of the color of gray, it can clash with the flooring and your rooms' overall appeal, making the wall color more of an annoyance, rather than seemingly blend with the home. Since it tends to cast shadows and absorb light, it can affect MLS photos. A better choice is to use gray as an accent wall color and keep it in check with other room colors such as the countertops, cabinets and fixtures. Combine with softer colors to complete the rooms look. Limit the number of rooms you paint with this color.
Chocolate Brown or Any Shade of Brown Walls: Although this was a popular trend about 5 years ago, the same holds true for dark brown walls - they can cast shadows in a room and have an overall unappealing look in MLS photos. Use shades of brown as accent walls and use sparingly. Use with contrasting colors for a more dramatic effect. Having your whole house painted in brown can make the house seem heavy or lackluster and have an affect on buyer's moods. Make sure it adds a pop of color rather than draining the room of its energy. Coordinate shades of brown with your hardware, lighting choices, cabinets and countertops to add just enough color to the room and compliment its overall design.
Overuse of Industrial Style Lighting, Design Elements and Furniture: This is another popular design trend that is currently used in many home designs. While it works well with reclaimed wood, concrete floors, and exposed brick walls, using it in more traditional style homes can be a bit tricky. It doesn't appeal to all buyers and can look out of place if not carefully selected. Scale and style do matter when it comes to the style of lighting and furniture, especially the kitchen. Make sure the elements of the room support this style so it doesn't look out of place.
Use of Faux Cow Hide Rugs: The use of real cow hide rugs is truly an art form. They look best when used in luxury style cabins, lodges or a true luxury ranch. For a more contemporary look, they are often used to add an element of flair and extra texture. That being said, faux cow hide rugs don't compare; and if they do, are usually hard to find. They tend to look fake (down to the cut out ear shapes), look out of place and cheapen the room's design. Word of advice: Just don't.
Beige, Beige and More Beige: Too much of a good thing can be too much of a good thing. Try an ultra light warm cream or vanilla color or an ultra light latte color instead for a more sophisticated look. Both of these are neutral colors and a shade or two lighter than beige. They photograph better and look good with most furniture, accessories and fixtures, and they make the home seem more spacious and inviting, without being cold or stark. Both can be used on ceilings or an accent wall depending on the undertones.
Abstract Canvas Art That is Too Large or Too Bold: Adding great artwork to a room should enhance the overall design, add texture or a pop of color, but should not compete with the elements of the room. The artwork should be relative in size and scale to the area it's being used for to compliment that space, not overwhelm it. Leaning oversized canvas art on a mantel can over exaggerate its size, and detract from the design of the fireplace instead of enhancing it. Additionally, carefully selected artwork should blend with the room elements, including the furniture and accessories being used, not overpower them.
Remember, the purpose of staging your home is to show potential buyers the home's features and how they will live in the home. Keeping true to the style and elements of the home is key when staging.
