Buyers form an impression within seconds of arriving at a property. Before they've checked the wardrobe space, tested the water pressure, or read a single line of the listing description, they've already decided how they feel about the place.
That's the reality of selling a home. And it's why staging your home for sale is one of the most effective things you can do before you list.
Well-presented properties consistently sell faster and for stronger prices than unstaged ones. Good staging helps buyers picture themselves living in the space, makes rooms feel larger and brighter, and photographs far better online, which is where almost every property search now begins.
You don't need to hire a professional to see results. With focused effort and the right approach, a DIY staging job can make a significant difference to how buyers respond to your home.
Here are 10 home staging tips to help you get there.
Before a buyer sets foot inside, they see your exterior. First impressions are set on the footpath, not in the hallway, and if the outside of your home looks tired or neglected, buyers arrive with doubts already forming.
Walk to the end of your driveway and look at your property with fresh eyes. Mow the lawn, edge the garden beds, and weed any paths and paving. Clean or repaint the front fence and letterbox. Wash the exterior walls, windows, and any outdoor furniture. Add a pot plant or a fresh door mat at the entrance.
Small improvements here deliver an outsized return. A home that looks cared for from the outside signals to buyers that the inside has been looked after too.
Clutter is one of the biggest obstacles to a well-staged home. It makes rooms feel smaller, draws attention to the wrong things, and gives buyers the impression there's limited storage, even when there's plenty.
Go through every room and remove anything that doesn't need to be there: furniture that crowds the space, items piled on benchtops and shelves, things stored on the floor, collections that have crept into every corner. Be honest about what's adding to the room and what's taking away from it.
If you're unsure what to do with everything, hire a storage unit for the duration of the campaign. It's a modest cost for a meaningful result. The goal is space. Buyers need to be able to imagine their own belongings in your home, and too much of yours makes that difficult.
A clean home signals a well-maintained home. Buyers notice the details, sometimes consciously and sometimes not, and any sign of neglect plants seeds of doubt about the property overall.
Go well beyond your usual clean. Steam the carpets. Scrub grout. Clean inside the oven and fridge if they're staying. Wash every window inside and out. Remove limescale from taps and showerheads. Wipe skirting boards and light switches.
Pay particular attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. These are the rooms buyers scrutinise most carefully, and they need to feel genuinely fresh and clean, not just tidy.
If a full deep clean feels overwhelming, bring in a professional cleaning company for a one-off session before your first open home. It's worth every dollar.
Your family photos, children's artwork, and personal collections are meaningful to you. To a buyer, they're visual noise that makes it harder to see themselves in the home.
Depersonalising doesn't mean stripping the place bare. It means creating a neutral backdrop that allows buyers to project their own lives onto the space.
Remove family photographs, bold personal artwork, and anything highly specific to your tastes or circumstances. What you leave should be tasteful and broadly appealing: a piece of abstract art, a simple plant, a well-chosen throw on the sofa. Think of it as presenting the home rather than your home.
Light sells homes. Bright rooms feel larger, warmer, and more welcoming, and buyers respond to this emotionally, even when they can't fully articulate why.
Open every curtain and blind before viewings. Clean windows make a real difference: dirty glass cuts the light and draws the eye to the wrong thing. Replace any blown bulbs and consider upgrading to warmer, brighter LED globes throughout. If a room is genuinely dark, add a floor lamp or table lamp to warm it up.
On the day of any open home, turn on all the lights. Every room should feel alive and bright, even on an overcast Auckland day.
You may love a bold feature wall or the deep sage you painted the bedroom, but strong colour choices can polarise buyers. Someone who doesn't share your taste may struggle to see past it, regardless of how well the rest of the home presents.
If any rooms have particularly specific or divisive colour schemes, consider repainting before you list. Warm whites, soft greys, and light neutral tones photograph well, make rooms feel larger, and give buyers a clean canvas to work with.
Repainting delivers one of the highest returns of any staging investment, particularly in older homes where paintwork has started to look dated or tired.
Every room in your home should have an obvious function. A bedroom that's become a dumping ground, a dining room doubling as a home office, or a rumpus room packed with gym equipment all create confusion for buyers and reduce the perceived value of the space.
Walk through your home and ask: what is this room meant to be? If the answer isn't immediately clear, make it so.
You don't need expensive furniture to define a space. A simple desk and chair signals a study. A small dining table and two chairs creates a dining room. The investment is modest, but the effect on how buyers read the space is significant.
Not all rooms carry equal weight in a buyer's decision. The living room, kitchen, and master bedroom have the most influence, so direct your styling energy there first.
Living room: Remove any excess furniture and arrange what remains to create a clear, comfortable conversation space. Add cushions and a throw in coordinating tones. A simple coffee table book or a plant brings life without adding clutter.
Kitchen: Clear the benchtops almost entirely. Leave one or two considered items at most: a quality coffee machine, a wooden chopping board, or a simple fruit bowl. Clean every surface and polish the tapware until it shines.
Master bedroom: Make the bed with fresh, neutral linen. Add matching bedside lamps if you have them. Keep all surfaces clear. The goal is a room that feels like a genuine retreat.
Not sure where to start? The Look's staging team has been helping Auckland homeowners present their properties at their best since 2003. Talk to us about your property and we'll help you figure out the right approach.
Nothing makes a home feel more alive than greenery. A well-placed plant or a bunch of fresh flowers can lift an entire room and signal to buyers that this is a warm, cared-for home.
Use plants in living areas and hallways. On open home days, place fresh flowers in the kitchen and main bathroom. Keep them simple and considered rather than elaborate.
Avoid artificial plants. They tend to read as cheap, and observant buyers will notice.
One note on scent: a fresh, clean-smelling home sells better than one with strong artificial fragrance. Skip the scented candles and plug-in diffusers. Air the home out thoroughly before viewings and make sure there are no lingering cooking or pet smells.
This step comes last in the process, but it matters more than most sellers realise.
The vast majority of buyers begin their property search online. Your listing photos are their first impression of your home, before the kerb appeal, before the open home, before anything else you've done to prepare the place. In New Zealand, professional photography is standard practice and most real estate agents include it as part of their listing package.
What catches sellers out is timing. Your agent will book the photographer, but it's your job to make sure the home is fully staged and ready before they arrive. Photos taken before the staging is complete, or while personal items are still scattered around, are very difficult to undo once the listing is live.
Treat the photography session as your first open home. Every tip in this list should be done before the photographer walks through the door. Once those photos are online, they set the tone for everything that follows.
These home staging tips will take you a long way. But there are situations where professional property styling is worth every dollar.
Vacant properties are one. Empty homes are notoriously difficult for buyers to connect with. Without furniture, it's hard to understand how a room functions or how a space will feel once it's lived in. Professional staging solves this.
Properties that aren't attracting offers are another. If your home has been on the market without traction, a fresh set of professional eyes can identify what's holding buyers back and what needs to change.
Higher-value properties also benefit significantly from professional staging. When every percentage point of the sale price matters, presentation and styling is standard practice for a reason.
The Look has been helping Auckland homeowners and property developers present their properties at their best since 2003. Whether you're staging a family home, a new apartment, or a multi-unit development, our property styling team in NZ knows what buyers respond to and how to get your property there.
Talk to The Look about your property and find out how professional staging can work for you.
What is home staging? Home staging is the process of preparing a property for sale by cleaning, decluttering, arranging furniture, and styling the space to appeal to the widest possible range of buyers.
Does staging your home for sale really make a difference? Yes. Staged homes consistently sell faster and achieve stronger prices than unstaged ones. Buyers make emotional decisions quickly, and staging shapes that first impression.
What are the most important home staging tips? Decluttering, deep cleaning, depersonalising, maximising light, and styling the key rooms (living room, kitchen, and master bedroom) deliver the most impact for most sellers.
Is professional home staging worth it in New Zealand? For vacant properties, stalled listings, or higher-value homes, professional property styling in NZ typically delivers a strong return on investment. For occupied homes, a DIY approach using these tips can achieve excellent results.
The Look is an Auckland-based home staging and interior design company with more than 20 years of experience helping homeowners and developers sell with confidence. Get in touch to discuss your property.
Every week a unit sits unsold in a completed development, it costs money. Mortgage interest, rates, insurance, body corporate fees. The carrying costs on unsold stock accumulate quickly, and they compound. Most Auckland developers know this. What fewer realise is how directly and predictably professional home staging can shorten that exposure window.
This isn't just about making a property look appealing. For developers, home staging is a commercial decision, one with a measurable return and a clear effect on time-to-settlement.
The Real Cost of Unsold Stock
A completed development is not a finished project. Until titles transfer and settlement funds clear, capital remains tied up, financing costs continue, and every month of delay erodes the margin you built into your feasibility.
For developers working at volume (10, 15, or 20 homes in a single development) the numbers scale fast. One extra month carrying four unsold units across a $900,000 average isn't an inconvenience. It's a significant cost that comes directly off your project return.
The question is never really "can we afford to stage?" The answer is: it's "can we afford not to?"
There's a consistent pattern that plays out in the Auckland market: a beautifully finished new build sits on market while similar staged properties sell. The developer assumes it's a pricing issue. It rarely is.
The problem is emotional, not rational.
Buyers who've seen the plans, reviewed the specs, and understand the quality of the build still struggle to commit to an empty space. Blank walls and bare floors don't help people picture their life in a home. Without that emotional connection, they hesitate. They come back for a second viewing, then a third, then make a lower offer, or walk away entirely.
Professional staging resolves this. It removes the imaginative burden from the buyer and replaces empty rooms with a version of the life they're aspiring to. That emotional shortcut moves people from "maybe" to "this is the one."
The clearest illustration of what's at stake comes from one of The Look's own case studies.
A major Auckland property developer had built seven multi-million dollar penthouses in the Eastern Bays. Premium location. Exceptional finish. Significant marketing investment throughout the construction phase.
After all of that: no sales.
The units sat. Months passed. The carrying costs mounted. The developer brought in The Look.
After staging, the penthouses sold.
This is not an unusual story in the Auckland market. What it demonstrates is that presentation isn't a detail. It's a deal driver. When buyers are evaluating properties at the upper end of the market, staging doesn't just improve the look of a property. It signals quality, justifies the asking price, and triggers the emotional conviction that turns enquiry into offer.
When a homeowner stages a property to sell, the objective is relatively simple: present well, sell fast, achieve best price.
For developers, the stakes and the strategy are different.
You're often selling off the plans or from a completed show home. Staging has to do the job that imagination can't. Buyers are committing to a finished product they may not yet be able to walk through. A staged show home or display suite gives them a physical, tangible experience of what they're buying.
When you have multiple units to move, the first sale sets the benchmark. The price achieved on unit one becomes the reference point buyers and agents use to evaluate everything that follows. A professionally staged show home lifts that opening number, and a stronger opening number pulls the rest of the development up with it.
Your margins depend on achieving price, not just achieving a sale. A staged property that attracts multiple interested buyers creates the competitive tension that protects or lifts your sale price. The alternative (a price reduction on unsold stock) is almost always more expensive than staging would have been.
You need a staging company that understands development, not just residential sales. The Look has worked with major Auckland developers, from staged show homes for new-build developments to emergency staging of completed stock. The commercial logic, the timeline pressures, and the scale of the work are different from a residential vendor engagement. Experience with both matters.
The process for development staging is straightforward:
1. Initial consultation The Look assesses the development: property type, target buyer demographic, staging objectives, and timeline. For show homes, this typically happens during the final stages of construction.
2. Proposal The Look will give a detailed proposal detailing the target demographic, desired outcomes and pricing matric
3. Scheme development The staging scheme is designed around the target buyer, not generic taste. A premium Eastern Bays penthouse has a different buyer profile than a Flat Bush townhouse. The Look designs to appeal to the specific buyer who'll be walking through the door.
4. Staging day For an average three-bedroom home, the full staging takes four to five hours. A complete development project is scoped and scheduled accordingly.
5. Campaign period Staging is typically provided on a five-week hire period, all-inclusive, covering furniture, accessories, transport, insurance, packup and removal. No hidden costs.
6. Settlement Once the unit sells, The Look handles packup and removal. For multi-unit developments, staging can be rotated across the development as units sell, maximising the return on the staging investment.
Some developers run the numbers and hesitate. Staging an entire development feels like a significant line item against an already tight margin.
The calculation changes when you account for what unsold stock actually costs.
On a $950,000 unit, a single month of carrying costs (interest, rates, insurance) could represent $8,000 to $12,000 or more, depending on your financing. Staging for that unit at The Look's rates costs less than one month of carry. If staging shortens your exposure by even four weeks, the return is immediate.
At the development level, the maths compounds in your favour. Five unsold units staged and sold two months faster represents a meaningful improvement to your project return, often multiples of what the staging cost.
The Look is positioned as the premium option in the Auckland market, not the cheapest. That distinction matters for developers: staging is not furniture rental, it's a commercial strategy, and the quality of the staging reflects on the quality of the development.
The Look has been operating in Auckland since 2003, longer than most of their competitors have existed. That track record includes working through multiple property market cycles, staging properties from apartments to multi-million dollar penthouses, and working with developers at both the residential and premium ends of the market.
For developers specifically:
If you have a development in progress, whether you're planning a show home, preparing to go to market, or sitting on completed stock that needs to move, The Look offers a no-obligation consultation to assess your project and outline a staging strategy.
The conversation costs nothing. The unsold stock does.
Get in touch with The Look:
Call 09 302 2400 or visit thelook.co.nz to request a consultation.
Home staging for property developers involves professionally furnishing and styling show homes, display suites, or completed units to help buyers emotionally connect with the space and accelerate the sales process. Unlike residential vendor staging, developer staging is typically planned around a target buyer demographic and may be used across multiple units in a single development.
The Look's staging starts from $3,195 + GST for an average two-bedroom property for a five-week hire period, all-inclusive. Development pricing depends on the scale of the project and the number of units being staged. Contact The Look directly for a custom quote. We offer a structured pricing arrangement that is designed specifically for developers.
Yes. Professionally staged new builds consistently sell faster and at higher prices than unstaged equivalents. For developers with show homes or unsold completed stock, staging creates the emotional experience that buyers need to commit. Something that renderings and empty rooms can't replicate.
The Look can stage an average three-bedroom home in four to five hours. For planned development staging, lead time of at least two weeks is recommended. Emergency staging is available in some circumstances.
The Look Home Staging has been Auckland's leading home staging and interior design company since 2003. Based in Grey Lynn, they stage properties across Auckland, from the CBD to Omaha and the Coromandel.
There's a long-running assumption in New Zealand real estate that spring is the best time to sell, and by extension, the best time to stage. Gardens are in bloom, days are warmer, and listings flood the portals.
It's a tidy idea. It's also misleading.
For many Auckland sellers, the smartest time to bring in a home staging team is not the height of spring but the months that come before it. Winter sellers in New Zealand consistently report two things: their listings stand out more, and there are far fewer competing properties on the market to begin with. This guide explains why, and how to think about timing for home staging in Auckland, New Zealand if you want the best result, not just the most conventional one.
The best time to stage a home in New Zealand is often the off-peak window: late autumn through winter and into early spring, rather than the spring rush most sellers default to. Winter listings in Auckland face significantly less competition, attract a more committed pool of buyers, and benefit visually from the warmth and atmosphere that professional staging brings to colder months. For most Auckland sellers, the smarter strategic window is the one almost everyone else avoids.
That short answer is the one most sellers need. The longer answer, which follows, explains why staging in the off-peak months often produces the best outcomes of all.
Most sellers in Auckland believe spring is the right time to list. The reasoning is reasonable on its face. Spring properties show well. Buyer numbers climb after the winter lull. Photographers love the light.
What this view misses is the other side of the same coin. Every other seller has heard the same advice. By September, listings surge. Open homes compete for foot traffic. Buyer attention thins across a larger pool of properties. Staging companies, photographers, and agents all book out, and the sellers who left things to the last minute end up with whoever has a gap rather than the team they wanted.
This is one of the quiet truths of the Auckland market. The "best" selling season is also the most competitive one, and competition cuts both ways.
Listing in winter goes against the standard advice, which is exactly what makes it work. Here is what experienced agents and stagers see during the off-peak months.
Casual buyers, the ones who spend their Sundays "having a look", largely disappear in winter. The people walking through an open home in July are doing so because they need to buy. Job relocations, family changes, settlement dates from earlier purchases, expiring rental leases. These are buyers with a reason and a timeline.
Real estate agents in Auckland often say the winter pipeline contains fewer enquiries but a much higher proportion of qualified ones. A well-presented property in front of motivated buyers is a recipe for fast offers.
In a peak season, your listing competes with hundreds of others published in the same week. Buyers scroll quickly. Open homes overlap. Attention is finite.
In winter, the volume of new listings drops sharply. A well-staged Auckland property in June or July faces a fraction of the competition it would face in October. That visibility translates directly into more enquiries per listing and longer time spent on the photos.
This is the part most sellers underestimate. Winter is the season where staging genuinely sets a property apart.
An empty or sparsely furnished home feels cold in winter. Bare floors, blank walls, and unfurnished rooms read as uninviting. Buyers walking through an unstaged property in July are walking through something that feels unloved.
A professionally staged home reverses that entirely. Warm fabrics, layered textures, considered lighting, soft furnishings, and an inviting bedroom or living room give buyers a sense of how the property feels to live in during the cooler months. They picture themselves making the place home. That emotional connection is the engine of every fast sale.
The companies you actually want to work with are booked solid from September to December. In winter, the same teams are available, attentive, and able to spend more time on your property.
For staging specifically, this means first pick of furniture inventory, more time spent on the consultation, and a scheme genuinely tailored to your home rather than assembled in a rush. It is one of the underappreciated advantages of selling off-peak.
Peak season pricing reflects peak demand. In the off-peak months, staging companies often have more flexibility on package terms, hire extensions, and scheduling. The Look's standard peak rate starts at $3,195 plus GST for an average two-bedroom property over five weeks. Off-peak enquiries can sometimes be accommodated with longer hire windows at no extra cost, simply because the inventory is available.
For sellers managing a stretched campaign or a longer settlement period, that flexibility matters.
Buyers who plan to purchase in spring rarely wait until September to start looking. They watch the market through July and August, attending open homes, narrowing their criteria, and getting their finance arrangements ready. A property listed and staged in winter captures attention from these early-mover spring buyers ahead of the wave of fresh competition.
A listing that opens in August often becomes the property these early-spring buyers measure every later home against. Once yours is the one they fell for first, competing listings have to actively beat it to win them back. Most don't.
If you're weighing up when to list, request a no-obligation onsite quote from The Look. The earlier you book, the more time there is to plan a scheme that puts your property in front of motivated winter buyers at their best.
Winter is not the right time for every property. There are situations where waiting for warmer months is the better commercial decision.
Properties with strong outdoor selling features, big swimming pools, large entertaining decks, established gardens designed for summer use, often present better in spring or early summer. The emotional pull of an Auckland summer garden cannot be replicated in July, no matter how skilled the staging.
Holiday homes, particularly on the Coromandel or in coastal areas, generally sell better in the season they're designed to be enjoyed in. A bach photographed in pouring rain rarely commands its top value.
Properties with significant deferred maintenance that becomes obvious in winter (drainage issues, dampness, poor heating) may benefit from a spring listing while those issues are corrected.
For everything else, including the majority of Auckland homes (suburban houses, apartments, townhouses, villas in central suburbs), the off-peak advantages outweigh the case for waiting.
| Factor | Spring/Summer Listing | Winter Listing |
| Buyer commitment | Mixed, some casual viewers | High, mostly motivated buyers |
| Competing listings on market | High volume of similar properties | Significantly lower |
| Price pressure from comparable listings | Stronger (buyers compare similar homes side by side) | Low (your property stands largely on its own) |
| Time on market (typical) | Often longer due to listing competition | Often shorter for well-staged homes |
| Staging visual impact | Standard | Heightened (warmth, cosiness, atmosphere) |
| Stager and photographer availability | Booked weeks ahead | Strong availability, more time per property |
| Negotiation conditions | Seller competition strong | Committed buyers, cleaner negotiations |
The pattern is consistent. Winter trades volume for quality on both sides of the transaction. Fewer competing listings, less price pressure on your asking price, and a buyer pool actually intent on buying. A well-prepared property in those conditions punches well above its weight.
Whatever season you list in, the booking lead time is what matters most. Here is the standard sequence Auckland sellers should follow.
For winter listings specifically, the lead time is more forgiving than in peak season. There is more room for a thoughtful consultation, last-minute reschedules are easier to absorb, and the chance of getting your preferred designer is far higher.
The decision to sell sits within personal circumstances, agent advice, and market conditions that no general article can replace. What this piece argues is simply that the seasonal assumption deserves a second look.
The most experienced staging team in Auckland sees these patterns play out every year. Sellers who list in winter, with a well-presented property and a serious agent, often sell faster and with less stress than those who join the spring rush. The buyers are real. The competition is thinner. The presentation matters more.
For homes where outdoor features are not the main story, the case for off-peak home staging in Auckland is stronger than the conventional wisdom suggests.
The best time to stage a home in New Zealand is two to three days prior to photography, regardless of the season. Staging is most effective when scheduled around your photography date and the start of your marketing campaign, not the time of year.
Yes. Winter staging in Auckland often delivers stronger results than peak-season staging because listings face less competition, buyers are more motivated, and professional staging makes a far greater visual difference in colder months than in spring or summer.
Not necessarily. Well-staged winter listings in Auckland often sell within the typical five to six week marketing window, sometimes faster. The buyer pool is similar, however the proportion of motivated buyers is higher, which can result in quicker offers.
Contact a staging company at least two weeks before your listing date. In winter, lead times are more flexible than during the spring rush. Booking earlier secures your preferred designer and gives time for a properly tailored scheme.
A professionally staged home photographs beautifully in any season. Skilled stagers and photographers compensate for shorter days and softer light by layering warm fabrics, considered lighting, and tactile finishes that read well on camera year-round.
Professional home staging in Auckland starts at around $2,000 to $4,000 plus GST for a standard two- to three-bedroom property over a five-week hire. The Look's pricing starts at $3,195 plus GST with everything included: preparation, furniture, transport, insurance, styling, and pack-up.
If you're considering a winter or shoulder-season listing in Auckland, the smartest move is to start the conversation early. Lead times are workable, your preferred designer is available, and the buyers you'll be in front of are the ones who actually want to buy.
Request a no-obligation onsite quote from The Look. Auckland's longest-running home staging company, with over 22 years of staging properties through every market condition the city has thrown at us.
When it comes to selling a property in New Zealand, first impressions are everything. Home staging has proven to be one of the most effective strategies to boost a home’s appeal, often resulting in faster sales and higher offers. According to industry insights, staged homes can sell up to 17% higher than unstaged homes and spend 73% less time on the market.
At the heart of effective staging is furniture selection. How you choose, place, and style furniture has a profound impact on buyer perception. Whether you're a homeowner preparing to list your property or a real estate agent guiding your client, this guide will walk you through the essentials of staging furniture selection, with a focus on size, style, and functionality tailored to the New Zealand market.
Why Furniture Matters in Home Staging
Furniture is not just about filling a room. It shapes how potential buyers perceive the space:
As referenced on The Look, one of New Zealand's leading home staging experts, furniture should “feel like it belongs in the space,” reinforcing both aesthetic appeal and function.
1. Size: Getting the Scale Right
One of the biggest mistakes first-time stagers make is using furniture that is either too large or too small for the space.
Tips for Proper Furniture Sizing:
💡 Pro Tip: In compact urban homes in Auckland, using smaller dining tables and multifunctional furniture (like a storage ottoman) shows that even limited space can be stylish and practical.
2. Style: Keep It Neutral and Cohesive
While bold decor might reflect personal taste, home staging should always aim for mass appeal. Neutral furniture provides a clean canvas that lets potential buyers project their own tastes and lifestyle onto the home.
Best Practices for Style:
💡 Pro Tip: Add subtle interest through accessories like throws, cushions, and artwork, which can be easily updated or removed.
3. Functionality: Every Piece Should Serve a Purpose
Every room in a staged home should tell a story, and furniture plays the starring role. Ensuring each piece supports the purpose of the room is essential.
Functional Furniture Ideas:
Buyers look for functionality as much as style. In fast-paced New Zealand cities like Christchurch and Tauranga, multi-functional spaces are a top priority.
Bonus Tips: Elevating Your Staging Game
Mixing Textures & Materials
Mix wood, metal, fabric, and glass to add depth and variety without overwhelming the room. A wooden coffee table, linen sofa, and soft rug can make the space feel lived-in yet sophisticated.
Don’t Overcrowd
The goal is not to fill every square metre. Staged homes should feel airy and uncluttered. Less is often more.
Use Mirrors & Light Strategically
Mirrors help reflect natural light, making rooms feel larger. Floor lamps and well-placed lighting can highlight architectural features and set the mood.
Working with a Professional Home Stager
For homeowners unfamiliar with interior styling, working with a company like The Look can make a world of difference. They offer furniture rental and complete staging services tailored to New Zealand homes.
Benefits of Hiring a Stager:
Preparing a house for sale can be a extremely busy and stressful process. Professional staging can transform a space quickly and with maximum impact, allowing you to focus on selling.
Conclusion
Effective staging furniture selection is both an art and a science. By focusing on size, style, and functionality, you create a home environment that’s attractive, logical, and aspirational for potential buyers.
For New Zealand homeowners and agents looking to make a lasting impression in a competitive market, furniture staging is not an optional luxury, it’s a proven investment.Whether you DIY or work with experienced teams like The Look, thoughtful staging will elevate your listing, shorten your time on the market, and help your property achieve its highest potential.
Styling Your Table This Christmas
Christmas can be a busy and chaotic time – especially if you’re hosting friends and family. Shopping, cooking, and trying to organise the 1001 last-minute things can make for a stressful end to the year!
As a design company, we know the importance of keeping up with modern trends while creating a festive and welcoming atmosphere in your home. Here are some of our favourite tips for styling a timeless Christmas table:
By following these tips, you can create a timeless and memorable Christmas table that will create a festive and welcoming atmosphere.
The coffee table serves as the centrepiece of your living room, and styling it with carefully chosen decor can elevate the overall aesthetic and make a statement about your personal style. A well-styled coffee table adds visual interest and creates a functional and inviting space. In this blog post, we will explore tips and ideas for styling your coffee table with decor that reflects your personality and enhances the ambience of your living area.
Establish a Theme or Color Scheme:
Before you start decorating, consider establishing a theme or color scheme that complements your existing decor. This will help create a cohesive and harmonious look. Whether you prefer a minimalist, rustic, coastal, or eclectic style, selecting a theme will guide your choices and bring a sense of unity to the table.
Choose a Variety of Heights and Textures:
To create visual interest and depth, incorporate items of varying heights and textures on your coffee table. Start with a stack of books or a decorative box as a base. Add a taller item like a vase or candlestick to provide height, then balance it with shorter objects such as small sculptures or plants. Mix and match textures like wood, glass, metal, or ceramic to add dimension and tactile appeal.
Incorporate Natural Elements:
Bringing a touch of nature to your coffee table can add warmth and freshness. Consider placing a small potted plant, a vase of fresh flowers, or a bowl of decorative stones or shells. These natural elements can create a calming and organic atmosphere, and they also contribute to the overall aesthetic.
Showcasing Personal Objects:
A coffee table is an excellent place to display personal objects that hold sentimental value or reflect your interests and hobbies. Whether it's a cherished family photo in a stylish frame, a collection of vintage cameras, or a unique piece of artwork, incorporating these personal touches adds a personal and meaningful touch to your decor.
Layer with Tray or Decorative Runner:
Adding a tray or a decorative runner to your coffee table can anchor the arrangement and provide a structured base for your decor. Place decorative objects and smaller items within the tray to create a curated display. Consider using a tray made of mirrored glass or metallic material to add a touch of glamour.
Don't Forget Functionality:
While style is essential, remember that your coffee table also serves a functional purpose. Leave enough space for practical items such as coasters, a small stack of magazines or books for guests to peruse, or a decorative box to store remote controls. Balancing style and functionality will ensure your coffee table remains practical while still being aesthetically pleasing.
Regularly Refresh and Rearrange:
Styling your coffee table is an ongoing process. Regularly refresh and rearrange the decor to keep it interesting and reflect the changing seasons or your evolving tastes. Consider swapping out items, updating the centrepiece, or incorporating seasonal elements to keep your coffee table decor fresh and engaging.
With careful consideration and attention to detail, styling your coffee table can transform it into a focal point of your living room. By establishing a theme or color scheme, incorporating a variety of heights and textures, adding natural elements, showcasing personal objects, using trays or runners, prioritizing functionality, and regularly refreshing the decor, you can create a visually appealing and inviting coffee table display that reflects your personal style and enhances the overall ambience of your space.
Some interesting comments in this Article from www.stuff.co.nz about the value of Home Staging. Link to the full article is below.
"Would you give me two thusand dollars if I told you I'd give you thirty to fifty thousand back?"
Real estate agents say home staging is a must-do if you want your house to sell for top dollar.
There's little to no scientific research that proves fitting out your home with designer furniture will put tens of thousands of dollars above RV into your pocket, but the anecdotal evidence is plentiful and persuasive.
It goes a little something like this: A poorly decorated or empty abode sat on the market for several months, without even a nibble of interest. It got flicked to another, savvier agent, who insisted upon $1500 worth of staging. Within days, the gussied up property sold for fifty thousand plus over it's estimated value.
Real estate agents around the country estimate home staging adds five to seven per cent above RV to a house sale.
Like all investments, home staging carries an element of risk and the size of the return is not guaranteed. But unlike stock market shares, there's an element of perception in quantifying that return.
So we asked some experienced agents whether they buy it.
"Unfortunately, buyers just don't have vision," says Marty Ritchie of Harcourts Paremata.
The average person can't look at an empty space and envisage the next year of their life. They can see where a dining table, or couch might go, but not how their dinner parties or evenings may look.
"Your return on home staging would be in the vicinity of three to five times the investment cost - easily - because the whole emotional side of it is transformed," says Ritchie.
That return translates to a figure between $30,000 and $50,000, depending on the size of the house. In some extraordinary cases, it might reach hundreds of thousands.