If you are preparing your home for sale and are having trouble with furniture placement, the answer may be in switching the furniture from one room to another. After many years of living with a certain furniture arrangement, many sellers can't visualize it any other way. Most furniture is placed for comfort and convenience, based on the owners' needs. When selling, furniture placement should be used to appeal to potential buyers... showing space and function.
This is where professional home staging becomes very important.
I admit, when I first entered this home, it didn't come to me right away, and at first I attempted to make the furniture work where I found it. Once I stood back and really looked at the space, it became quite clear that the living room and dining room should be reversed.
The living room had two love seats and two chairs crowded into a small area. The area being used as a dining room was more spacious and not being used to its full potential.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Originally the two red sofas were crowded into a small family room. Once again, too much furniture and too little space. The sofas became more impressive and inviting when moved into the larger space.
LIVING/DINING AREA BEFORE:
LIVING/DINING AREA AFTER:
The homeowners were not willing to tackle the task of removing the flowered wallpaper around the windows, but they were willing to remove it from around the door and post and it made a huge difference:
This was not an expensive transformation. All furniture and accessories used were found within the home.
Another benefit of this home staging is the improved MLS photos. This house was originally listed in February using the "before" photos and is now listed using the "after" photos.
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WOW ! Sharon you did an amazing job! The dining room was cramped against the fireplace. You did great!
Yikes, that wall paper is SCARY!!!!!!! Love the way the living room turned out!
Much better use of space Sharon!! Changing the two rooms out made a HUGE difference. Glad the sellers we were willing to remove some of the wallpaper. The red looks great in there too!
Sharon ~ It looks great! It looks like the "after" dining room was meant to be the original dining room for this house (the same with the family/living room). Did you find if that was so? Love the way the foyer and entry turned out - it makes a big difference removing that wallpaper!
Great work thinking outside the four walls! Bet the homeowners had a real "why didn't we think of that before" moment! Kudos!
Wow, what a difference! In the before photos, there was no focal point and the eye jumped all around looking for one - but you really nailed it in the after photos. Your eye focused immediately on the dining table and red sofas respectively as if your mind was actually cleared and then focused where it should be, kudos!
Hi Sharon, Wow, it's amazing how switching the furniture around can change the entire perspective! The rooms look much larger. Another job well done from Sharon Tara Transformations!
OMG!! What a great job. I do the same thing as far as first trying to use what's in the room when I first try and then the light bulb goes on that not everything needs to stay in the room. Great Job!!
Shara great transformation. This is one of reasons I like doing occupied homes. Sometimes homeowners have great stuff they just need help showcasing it well.
Fernando: Thank you! If you think the dining area was cramped, you should have seen the living room area...two love seats, two chairs, and several tables.
Lisa: The wallpaper is really bold, and as much as I would have liked it all removed, I was grateful they removed what they did.
Michele: Thanks! It all fell into place once I decided to change it up. I took the red couches from the family room, where they were really crowded and I put one of the "flowered" loveseats in their place.
Kathy: I would say, based on the hanging light fixture that the way I switched it is the way it was intended, yes! Dining under the light in front of the window and relaxing on sofa in front of fireplace is the way to go. I was very pleased with the foyer...the paper was so distracting.
Susan: The homeowners are very happy with the results. They said they had the dining room that way at one time. I'm not sure why they would have changed it.
Amy: Thank you. I know what you mean about the eye jumping around...it was so busy trying to take it all in. I love your analogy about clearing your mind and being able to refocus.
Cynthia: Another great comment from my biggest fan! Thank you for your enthusiasm!!
Sharon - Great job - you are a magician with furniture - it looks like a totally different place.
Corina: I admit, it doesn't always come to me right away. It is very satisfying, though, when the project is complete. Thanks for your comment.
Tanya: Thanks! I really prefer owner occupied...the transformation can be so dramatic. Taking what they have and adding to it is more satisfying than having to bring everything in and start from scratch.
Judy: Thanks! It was a job I really enjoyed. The owners get a big gold star for their participation, they completed everything on the to-do list I gave them.
Love the changes.. I wish I were good at staging.... Thanks for sharing
Diane: The important thing is that you understand the value of staging. If you don't have the "eye" then partner up with a stager in your area. Thanks for the comment.
The Big Furniture Goes In The Bigger Room...
Men like me can never figure that part out!
Great blog post, and great staging!
Niman You don't have to figure it out as long as you have someone there with you who can! Thanks for the support.