What is Occupied Staging?

Believe it or not, many Realtors and nearly all home owners have no idea what Occupied Staging is. In this blog we highlight the specifics of an occupied stage and also show a few before an after photos to further illustrate this valuable service.

Rearranging Existing Furniture

One way stagers help homeowners is by using the exact same items in a different way. The goal is to better showcase the space. In the below example, the bed was moved away from the window. This placement opens up the half of the room that was previously blocked off by the bed. The natural light from the beautifully landscaped back yard also has a chance to brighten up the space.

Below a large sofa is moved to accentuate the size of the living room.

Accessorizing Differently

Another facet of Occupied Staging is to bring in new items and mix them with existing items to create a more universally appealing look. When styling mantles and bookshelves, stagers focus on balancing the size and scale of items, as well as color. Below is an example where we moved shelves and items to create visual symmetry. We also added visual interest by incorporating blue and green tones to the accessories and art on the shelves.

Adding a few well thought out pieces or art and accessories make a guest bedroom look like more than an afterthought.

Editing

Sometimes all you need to do is take out an overbearing decorative item to change the marketing appeal of a space. In the below example we removed drapery that absorbed light and overwhelmed the architectural features of the room.

Returning to Rooms Original Purpose

Often, what works for a homeowner living in a home does not market a space to its full potential. In and Occupied Stage we can shop the furniture already in the home to help improve space utilization. Below we removed the loveseat that was dominating the breakfast nook and utilized a bistro table to help buyers visualize the space at it was intended.

Or in this case, giving a space a purpose when it was previously lacking one.

Occupied staging can be an effective way to lower staging costs while still increasing the marketability of a house.