Best Tips for Staging your Home
When photographing anything - whether it is your home, a model or your meal at supper time, you probably already know what staging is. In the case of staging your home or vacation rental, it is best described as when you make the home look and feel like it’s best self through decorating, furnishing and atmosphere. There is an art to staging, but overall is a relatively simple process when you have the formula down! Below, we will take you through our best staging techniques so that you can use them next time you find yourself taking photos of anything - home or elsewhere.
Create Lots of Space
When photographing, you want to stay true to your subject, but you do not want to make it any smaller than it has to be! When staging your space, keep an eye on what is in the photo and what is not. For instance, if you are taking a picture of the bedroom, make sure that the entire bed is in the fame and not cut off - include the end-tables too; this can help viewers get a true sense of the space and what it has to offer. Don’t forget to stand in the corners of the room and the doorways to get the full view of wherever you are photographing.
Focus on Lighting
Lighting is very important when it comes to photographing anything from food to homes - it can really make or break the picture. Unless important to your space or aesthetic, consider shooting in the daytime with a lot of natural light - still keeping the lights on in the space! In the living room, have the curtains open with the end table’s lamps on. Having a secondary light source can help, but if you are just starting out, focusing on the natural light along with the artificial lighting throughout the space.
Get Rid of Distractions
Just think, if you are looking at a photo of a kitchen and the counters are cluttered, it is not going to be appealing to put yourself in that space. Clutter can look like anything from garbage or too many appliances in one space, but both can deter viewers from wanting to visit. The best way to stage your home is to start at the bare bones and work up from there - add your furniture and then slowly add any decor that could elevate your space to the next level. You could even consider leaving some kitchen appliances in the cupboards, like the toaster! The rule of thumb is is if the item is not a necessary one (like a couch) and does not add any meaning to the space, it is unnecessary!
Don’t Forget Outside
To get a true representation of the space, you need to capture all of the space in your staging. Take the extra time to ensure that the landscaping is tidy and the space is clean. Consider mowing the lawn (if applicable), remove clutter from any decks or patios, straighten up your driveway and giving the door a good wipe down. This will not only elevate the home, but add an extra layer of charm to your staging steps for your viewers.
Make it Sparkle
When we say sparkle, we don’t mean add glitter! Ensure your space is so clean, it literally sparkles; if you can’t see your reflection in the stainless steel, keep buffing! Just as clutter can prohibit your viewers from envisioning themselves in the space, so can an unclean space. Ensure that everything is scrubbed clean and pristine, all the way down to the baseboards. If cleaning isn’t your thing, consider hiring a professional team to clean your space in preparation for your staging.