Tips for staging, styling, and preparing your home for professional photography:

Flowers:

Clients often ask if they should provide flowers. We highly recommend them. Flowers will elevate the feel of the space.

For medium to large homes, we recommend two arrangements. One should be large enough for a dining table or living room coffee table, the second one should be small and size appropriate for bathrooms and bedroom nightstands.

We recommend neutral colored flowers like white hydrangeas or peonies - they go with everything. We’re happy to move them so they can be used in several different spaces.

Flowers should accent the space, not be the focal point of the space.

Some homes have such an abundance of accessories that sometimes there isn’t a great place to put flowers. In these cases, not only is the expense not justified, but we might choose not to use them even if they are available.

For small homes or condos, a small arrangement should be adequate.

Whatever you choose to provide, please make sure the flowers are size appropriate for the space. We want them to add to the space and not become the focal point of the photography.

In the Kitchen:

Having some things on the kitchen counters is good, but an overabundance of appliances is a distraction. Pare it down. Less is usually best. It will help the kitchen look bigger and more organized.

Remove everything from the refrigerator doors.

Remove kitchen sink items such as dish soaps, scrubbies and hand soap (unless it’s really nice soap!)

Dish towels almost never enhance the atmosphere. Please remove.

Remove on-counter paper towel holders, tissue boxes, etc.

Areas near telephones should be neat and free of notes, paper scraps, telephone books and answering machines.

Things to consider adding:

Have some fresh flowers on hand, fake flowers are fine too, if they’re nice. Be sure the flowers compliment the space.

Bowls with fresh fruit also help add some life and color.

Other options include, an open cookbook on the counter top, wine glasses and a bottle of wine nearby. Sure, some of these things are cliche, but they can help add some life to an otherwise sterile space.

Living Room:

Organize coffee tables by removing any over abundance of magazines or books. Just like appliances in the kitchen, a few items are good; too many makes it look cluttered.

Put away remotes (if it’s a control unit that we might need for the fireplace or window blinds, please leave them accessible)

Minimize the number of family photographs, religious or iconic items. 

Fluff and straighten couch pillows.

Bedrooms:

Perhaps obviously, beds should be made. Bedding should be wrinkle-free. Pillows and bed-skirts should be straight. Personal items on nightstands are easy to overlook, but should certainly be removed. Nightstands should be relatively clear. Remove tissue boxes.

Bathrooms:

Personal items that are normally on the counter tops should be placed in a box and hidden away (makeup, hair brushes, toothbrushes, razors, medications, etc.)

The same applies for the shower and bathtub. Pack away the shampoo, conditioners, loufa, razors. 

Toilet lids closed.

Fresh matching towels.

Flowers that are size appropriate for the space.

Entry:

Remove all shoes, coats, or other clutter. Make sure coat racks are not overloaded.

General:

Be sure lightbulbs are working, lamps plugged in, window shades/blinds are working, tissue boxes removed. In the winter, if hot tubs are to be included in any photos, we need a clear path and snow/ice removed from the hot tub cover. Outdoor furniture should have covers removed and cushions in place.

More on Staging:

“The goal of staging is to get the most money for a home by creating an appealing and engaging environment, accentuating the positives and downplaying any negatives,” says interior designer Corene McGovern of Aspen’s Mittel Europa. “It’s so important to stand out and make a lasting impression.”

“When staging, the goal is to make an empty home more tangible to potential buyers by defining spaces with proportionately scaled furnishings and creating a warm, inviting space. Styling is often a matter of updating and editing a space to make it more attractive to potential buyers,” she says.

It’s a great idea to hire a professional, but if that doesn’t fit your budget, there are a few things you can do to cozy up the home for a showing or for photography. 

Pay attention to two simple things: de-cluttering and setting a nice scene. 

When people view a home and see too many personal things, they feel like they’re invading someone’s space. They need to be able to envision themselves living in that space, so keep it clean, organized and inviting.

When we arrive for a photo shoot, one of the first things we do is look for things to take out of the shot. When dealing with a fully furnished home, sometimes less is best. The areas of greatest concern are kitchens, living rooms, coffee tables, bedrooms and bathrooms. Remove all but the essentials (see details above).

De-cluttering is especially challenging when homeowners are living in the residence, but it can still be done. It’s important to pare down “accumulation zones” where clutter seems to pile up (entries, phone areas, countertops) and asking your homeowners to put toiletries and other personal items in a box that can quickly and easily be hidden during showings. 

Once de-cluttering is done, think about creating a scene in areas of interest. For example, big kitchen counter tops might benefit from a cutting board, a loaf of bread, a knife, bottle of wine, wine glasses, open cookbook, etc. This creates a nice mood and helps the viewer feel like a welcome guest. The master bedroom might look nice with an assembled tea tray resting on the bed — bed and breakfast style. We encourage creativity, but cliche is better than nothing!

Flowers almost always help add a splash of color and life, but make sure they complement the decor, otherwise it could detract rather than enhance.