A HOME STAGING PLAN
Fall has begun. It’s a perfect temperature with beautiful color, dancing light, and a renewed energy in the air. I staged a home last week, I’ll call it Ryder (after the street it’s on). I always begin a home staging plan by choosing a color palette, i.e. me circling around my furniture warehouse with a quad cappuccino looking at pretty colors and imagining them within the home design. Because of the newly crisp temperature outside it was chilly in my warehouse. I unconsciously chose warm oranges, earthy browns and fuller textured fabrics for Ryder. Once I was in Ryder and staging it I realized that the change in season completely influenced my home design choice. Without intending to, I was staging for the season.
DESIGN CHOICES BASED ON SEASON
Summer Home Stage
This got me to thinking about all of my past home stages. Do I always make design choices for staging based on the temperature in the air or the plants that are in (or out of) bloom? Why, yes I do. And it’s nothing new, according to some serious research detailed in the paper “14 Patterns of Biolithic Design” it is an “…applied science…showing that connections with nature are vital to maintaining a healthful and vibrant existence as an urban species.” Impressive, huh? Personally, I pay tribute to the season without being too literal. No stuffed snowmen or horn o’ plenty. In fact there are times of year the opposite outdoor affect is the desirable path for the interior design.
Winter Home Stage
Let’s say it’s the dog days of summer, I mean it’s hot, the home buyers are hot and they have been hot for months. The professional stager instinct in me strays from a beach theme or hot colors but rather glass, crisp white and accents of icy cools like indigo, teal, purple. Winter is a great time to use red and green. Just kidding! But layered neutrals like taupe, grey, brown, off-white with pops of red or orange are a beautiful interior design in the winter. In the seasons when it’s a pleasure to be outside bring that experience to house staging. Mimic the fresh greens and pale yellows of spring. Use fewer window dressings to keep the windows wide open to the outside. I also love to play with fabric and textures. For winter home styling I have cable knit throw pillows that scream warm, fire-lit ski chalet. Faux fur rugs and throws are great too. Don’t even get me started on artwork, that’s another post.
Keeping the season in mind for home staging is essential for the buyer’s experience. It’s so fundamental, in fact, I was doing it unconsciously. Take advantage of what each season has to offer and what needs to be adjusted for the inside experience to be a respite from the storm or heat. Here are some home staging tips to keep in mind.
Spring Home Stage
QUICK TIPS FOR HOME STAGING BY THE SEASON
- Summer: Use a cool and calm style. Crisp whites and accents of cools like indigo, teal and purple.
- Fall: Bring the color and light of the season in doors. Using warm oranges, earthy browns and fuller textured fabrics.
- Winter: Warm and comfortable design using layered neutrals like taupe, grey, brown and off white, accent with pops of color like red and orange.
- Spring: Extend the pleasurable weather inside, fresh greens and pale yellows. Few or no window dressing.
What kind of design aspects do you incorporate based on the season?
