At Salmon-Casson, Ltd., we are often called upon by Realtors to help them prepare or “stage” a property before it goes on the market. We completed this staging project last week and think it showcases this home with style and livability.

One of the most important steps in getting a house ready to go to market is to remove clutter.

The goal is to have potential buyers focus on the house and not be distracted by “stuff”. These items are typically in the kitchen, closets, bathrooms, kid’s rooms, garage and storage closets.

This is the daughter’s bedroom, where we removed some of her personal memorabilia and created a more tidy presentation of the space, while still showcasing the theme of a teenager’s bedroom.

Bookcases seem to be the primary repository of clutter.  This bookcase in the downstairs living area and is now balanced, neat and not too personal.

We also wanted to create some negative space–which really means don’t over furnish a room.

An example of this is the downstairs living area.  There is a feeling of openness, yet at the same time we were able to define different “living areas”, giving a potential buyer an idea of how to use the space.

When staging a home, it is also important to accentuate the positive.

We identified the fireplace in the family room as a focal point.  Using the seating arrangement, as well as the large ottoman and artwork, we were able to draw the eye to the fireplace.

And, throughout the house, we added the final layering pieces.

The layering pieces include artwork, mirrors, accessories, lighting (if the room is dark, bring in lamps!) and soft goods (which include pillows, throws, bed linens, etc.).  These pieces turn the house into a home and help a potential buyer imagine living there.