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.