What would you do with this basement family room?
If you have a natural talent for decorating, though, this is nothing more than an irrational fear. When you get into a home and start looking around, you’ll instinctively know what to do to improve the way the house shows.
One of my favorite things about being a home stager is that I get to use my creativity everyday because as a stager you’re constantly being forced to think on your feet and work with what you have at your disposal. That’s why home staging is such an attractive career choice for people with a great talent for decorating who feel like their creativity is being wasted in their current job.
To prove to yourself that you have the decorating talent you need to be a successful home stager, take a good look at the picture above of a typical basement family room. Think about what you would recommend your clients do with a space like this and add your own comment to this post with your staging ideas.
I’ll share my own observations in a post next week but in the meantime please share your own home staging recommendations by leaving a comment!
Learn more about design for home staging in the Staging Diva Ultimate Design Guide: Home Staging Tips, Tricks and Floor Plans. In this comprehensive guide, I take you through each and every space in a home offering my best staging advice, complete with before and after photos from my own projects and accompanying floor plans.
Debra Gould, The Staging Diva®
President, Six Elements Inc. Home Staging
Debra Gould knows how to make money as a home stager and she developed the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program to teach others how to earn a living doing something they love. She is frequently profiled in the media for her home staging expertise and is the author of 5 guides for home stagers.
Related posts:
- Home Staging Tips for the Basement
- Home staging for a crowded living room
- Home Staging Tips for the Laundry Room from Staging Diva
- Home Staging Guides for home stagers give knowledge and confidence
- Home Stagers Should Not Fear Luxury Homes
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I am still “reading” and learning about becoming a home stager but my first thought was – is this picture being taken from the entrance into the room? Blocked entrance? There seems to be no focal point in the room so I would like to see an area rug added to make things pop a bit more. Others have spoken about de-cluttering and re-arranging some furnishings and I agree. Get that ironing board off the door, too!!
Yes Renee, this is the view as you come down the stairs into the basement family room. I always like to show “staging challenges” that way since that’s what potential buyers first see when they walk in.
I would remove everything except the large sofa along the wall, two end tables, armchair and table with vase of flowers, media cabinet and TV. Move the armchair into the corner where the other chair is now, and either angle the table with vase next to it, or perhaps use that as a coffee table in front of the sofa (I would need to try it out to see if it is large enough to fit the scale of the sofa). If it does work in front of the sofa, I’d add a floor lamp next to the armchair. Move the lamp on the far end table to the near one, and add a couple of books or a decorative box or small plant to the far end table. Remove the blankets/afghans/towels, slipcover the plaid sofa with a white cover, place the black/purple pillows in the corners of the sofa. Add one large piece of art or two or three smaller ones over the sofa.
Good advice from the previous two comments! I’d also advise: “start packing!” I always suggest getting the extra stuff packed up and moved out. That way, they are well on their way to moving when it sells!
Then, leave only minimal furniture and a few accents. The walls are dark, but they look like they’re in good shape…however, it’s hard to tell in a photo. If they are good, I’d leave ‘em and add some colorful or interesting art (movie posters in frames or other that they might have). If they are not in good shape, I’d say, spend the time and money to paint them lighter and open the room up!
At any rate, this is valuable real estate in their home and it should be showcased as the extra space that it is. Home staging is all about showing off the home to it’s best advantage, and the above photo won’t attract anyone!
For starters, I I might suggest painting the walls a lighter color. The color in itself isn’t bad, but it’s a basement and it’s a narrow space. I would get rid of two to three pieces of furniture. Create simple focal points with the flowers on the small stand (minus all the excess books and junk on it) and maybe a few hung prints on the walls. I also would add another lamp or floor lamp to cozy the space up and add warmth. Get rid of all the excess blankets and teddy bears. I really do not like the tv stand or the tv. A simple tv armoire would look nice. Those are my first thoughts upon looking at the photo.
The first thing I notice is the dark walls. Makes me think movie theater. I would turn this into a media room. Pack up and store everything but the sofa, tv, tv stand, matching end tables, green chair and table that is to the left of it.
Slipcover the chair and move it and the table to back left corner, add a lamp and 3 hardcover books (reading nook).
Flank sofa with matching end tables and add lamps.
Add 3 pieces of art to the sofa wall (vintage movie posters?)
Add a 4′x6′ area rug that incorporate wall and sofa colors.
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