The Art Of Staging A Dining Room

The dining room can be a very inviting area. For many it's a place to share meals and visit, but may also be used to do homework, craft projects or play games.

While some use place settings on tables when staging, I usually do not - and here is why. Space allows people to envision the table for whatever activity they enjoy. Also, a table is usually set prior to a meal and not at other times, so I stage for how it may look in daily use rather than "for show". Let's look at two photos of staged dining rooms as examples.

It is common to put an attractive centrepiece on the table, and the first photo shows how this can draw the eye to notice the dining room.

However in the next example there is a spectacular view outside. So a small, low centrepiece was chosen which does not stop the eye at the table. Instead, we wanted potential buyers to notice the view as well as the dining room. The photography also ensures that both the inside and outside are visible for online advertising.

So rather than use a cookie-cutter formula, these photos illustrate how a professional stager works to draw the attention of potential buyers to the unique features of different homes.

Why Would a Decorator Hire A Stager?

Architectural design is a key part of any property for sale. Just as people choose clothing, hair styles and makeup to accentuate their best features, good stagers select and arrange items to accentuate the special features of each property they work on.  Attention might be drawn to the quality, detail, beauty, size, view, or functionality of a design, to name a few. This purpose differs from decorating, which may draw attention instead to the personal belongings or lifestyle of the owner. For this reason, even a nicely decorated home may benefit from the focused involvement of a stager when it is offered for sale.

The placement of this furniture deliberately draws attention to the window, an architectural feature of this room. Notice that plants chosen draw the eye to, but do not block the view of, the window.

The flowers are placed to draw the eye through the lovely archway into to kitchen,  but not to detract attention from the renovated cabinets, backsplash, sink, and lighting.

Pillow Talk

Extra pillows are often used on beds when staging. This is done to add interest and create a focal point in a way that suggests comfort and luxury. My husband, who occasionally assists with staging projects, has become a bit of a pillow designer lately, arranging the pillows on our bed each day in unexpected patterns. Instead of relying on tried and true pillow arrangements, this reminds me to be imaginative. Here are a couple of his interesting creations.

Unexpected, yet interesting design.

Gives a 'tucked in' look.

Natural Colour Palettes

Inspiration surrounds us in nature. People respond instinctively to the array of colours we see outside. For example, fall leaves have many popular shades used in homes: greys, light browns and tans, soft greens with bluish shades, muted reds, and bolder ones with violet as well. The proportions in nature also give clues about design, with bold colours adding highlights, different shapes for variety, small areas of black and white for contrast, and a unique item (speckled leaf) for a focal point. When choosing a paint colour, consider where it is found in nature, the proportions of it you normally see, and other colours typically found with it.

Doggone It!

This t-shirt came with a beautiful embroidered dog image. However, even though the large dog in the before picture has the detail, the lettering and smaller dog compete with it because they are in colour. So I painted the large dog to make it stand out. This sharpened the focal point, and the embroidery remains to give texture and detail. Notice how the camera now identifies the white from the gray better in the second photograph, shot in the same location.

Before

After
 (My apologies to papillon breeders for not defining the 'butterfly' markings distinctly)