Arranging Furniture...
What's the Secret to Finding the
Perfect "Staging" Arrangement for Any Room?

Great rooms do not happen by accident. There are secrets to arranging furniture that successful interior decorators and professional home stagers know and use to increase a home's value.



When arranging furniture, keep your goal in mind. If you're selling your home, you're selling "square-footage." So you want to make your home look as big as possible. A good interior decorator or stager can usually walk into any room, in any home, and quickly rearrange the furniture so that it looks bigger, more attractive, and more inviting. How do they do it?

Instant Living Room Makeover

What Happened in This Room?

• The first thing you saw when you walked into this living room was the plastic liquor cart and the record player because the sofa, coffee table, and rug were lined up like arrows pointing at them

• Liquor cart, record player, rug, and tan leather chair were removed

• Sofa was moved to the wall with the window to open up the room and invite the buyer to come in and sit down

• Two side chairs (that complement the sofa better) were brought in from another area of the house and placed at right angles, creating a nice conversation area

• New red throw pillows brighten the sofa and chairs

• A little greenery on the coffee table adds freshness

• Staging this living room makes it appear as spacious and inviting as possible

Arranging Furniture in a Suburban Ranch Living Room

Arranging a Large Sectional Sofa in a Small Victorian Living Room

Instant Dining Room Makeover

What Happened in this Room?

• Because there was so much furniture in this room, the buyer would perceive it as small

• Side table and drop leaf table were removed

• A round table was brought in and four chairs placed around it

• Art was changed to balance the china cabinet better

• The room "feels" bigger

Staging a Small Dining Room in a Suburban Ranch Home

Bedroom Makeover

What Happened in this Room?

• The bed was a physical and visual barrier when you walk into the room and there was just too much stuff

• All personal items were removed

• Walls were painted a soft neutral tan color
  
  
• Outdated curtains were replaced with a snappy striped valance to add contrast and allow sunlight to enter the room

• Bed was placed diagonally to add interest and to show off the pretty wood floors

• New bedding pulls together an elegant look for a charming bungalow in a newly fashionable old neighborhood. See the story of Molly's staging commitment

Basic Guidelines - Arranging Furniture for a Profitable Sale

• Make each room (including hallways) look as large as possible. You should be able to enter any room (or walk down any hallway), without dodging furniture

• Make each room look as attractive and inviting from the doorway as possible

• Allow access to the windows and let as much light in as possible

• Arrange your largest piece of furniture first (usually the sofa or the bed)

• Position it so the buyer can see the best feature (focal point) in that room (staging a fireplace mantle)
  

• "Build" out from that first piece of furniture. Each piece should have a purpose
  • Staging Living Room
    • Sofa
    • Area Rugs
    • Chair at right angles to sofa or diagonal to it. Help buyers imagine living in their dream home
    • Coffee table
    • Side table to hold a lamp and/or a drink


• Staging Dining Room
  • Remove all the leaves from the table and add no more than four chairs (two if the room is very small)
  • Allow a china cabinet or buffet only if you can still easily walk around the room
  • Use art and mirrors to add sparkle


• Staging Bedroom
  • Bed
  • One or two nightstands
  • Dresser (if space allows)
• Leave room so the buyer can imagine arranging their furniture in your home. (See what home buyers see when they walk in your home)

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