A thoughtfully styled table can evoke warmth, elegance, and functionality, helping buyers imagine themselves living in the home.

It’s these little moments – like picturing a family dinner or a morning coffee at a clean, welcoming table – that help sell homes. Whether it’s the dining table, the kitchen table, or the living room coffee table, each has its own unique staging strategy.

Staging a table is a skill that seems easy, but can take a little while to master. Once you have it mastered, it’ll become one of the easiest parts of each home staging job you do.

In the competitive real estate marketplace, a homeowner or agent needs to do more than just show off rooms if they want their house to stand out and say, “Buy me!”.

The house needs to project just the right personality, ambience, and lifestyle to potential buyers without being too bold or plain.

To help potential buyers feel that they’re touring their dream home, you should create scenes that showcase the house’s unique character and quality.

Think beyond décor and furnishings and put together elegant, minimal looks that help buyers picture themselves and their families spending their lives there.

One of the most essential parts of this process is staging tables.

From the coffee table to the kitchen and dining tables, these memorable centrepieces can be used to elevate the look of the rooms they’re in.

At the Home Staging Institute, we often hear from students that once they start getting creative with table staging, it becomes one of their favorite parts of the job. Student Amanda, for example, told us she now brings a “table staging kit” to every job with a few go-to items – like linen runners, faux greenery, and ceramic candle holders – to quickly build a cozy scene.

Read on for some expert tips on staging each type of table.

Staging a Coffee Table

Staging a coffee table provides the perfect opportunity to connect with buyers emotionally.

When prospects tour a home, they will often sit around the table while waiting for other people in their party to show up or to talk about the house with the real estate professional.

Don’t neglect this essential centrepiece – stage it simply and in sync with the style of the home.

To get started, follow these expert tips for staging a coffee table:

Coffee Table Tip #1: Keep it Simple

Don’t add more than three to seven elements to a coffee tabletop.

Use it to compliment the rest of the home’s staging theme with simple accessories and elements that tie the room together.

Coffee Table Tip #2: Add Some Soft Marketing

Avoid blatant marketing, as leaving a bunch of apparent marketing materials on display can cheapen the look of the space.

However, a coffee table is an ideal place to leave some marketing materials, if you can do it in a soft and elegant manner.

Place some nice-looking books or magazines in one area and top of the pile with a custom book wrap or your firm’s magazine.

You can also place some tastefully branded coasters or a classy dish with branded candy on the tabletop.

Coffee Table Tip #3: Scale Down the Décor

While it can be tempting to add large pieces of décor to the coffee table, be sure you’re not blocking the view.

If the accessories are too distracting, you can block the view outside or to a TV.

Coffee Table Tip #4 : Liven Up the Space

Flowers or plants can liven up the space by adding a pop of color or adding to a serene ambience.

While fresh flowers and live plants are a nice touch for open houses, there are some high-quality faux florals and plants you can use for extended periods without looking cheesy.

Coffee Table Tip #5: Keep it Tidy

Don’t forget to tidy up the coffee table during a pre-show walk-through. If you had your home professionally staged but are now doing walk-throughs on your own, be sure to mimic exactly how the pros left it.

Staging a Dining Table

When it comes to staging tables, the dining room is one of the most important ones to focus on.

This is the space where potential home buyers will envision spending holidays with their families or throwing dinner parties.

Even when families don’t end up using the dining room for formal dinners, homes without one can take longer to sell than homes with one – which means that homes with a poorly staged dining room will take longer to sell than ones with a perfectly staged dining area.

The key to making the dining room appeal to a vast number of people is to show the room’s potential while leaving enough up to the imagination, allowing potential buyers the space they need to fill in their own blanks according to their tastes, desires, and needs.

As the dining table is the centerpiece of this all-important space, it’s essential to stage it well

Staging doesn’t have to mean expensive props or full dinner sets. For example, one student of ours in California stages dining tables with simple eucalyptus runners and a trio of pillar candles, and it looks stunning in listing photos. Remember, the goal isn’t perfection – it’s suggestion.

Follow the expert tips below for advice to help you get started.

Dining Table Tip #1: Consider the Number of Chairs

The standard number of chairs for staging most dining tables is four.

Using four chairs will keep clutter to a minimum and put the space into perspective.

However, adding six to eight chairs is perfectly acceptable if the table and dining room are very large.

Dining Table Tip #2: Keep it Simple with a Centerpiece

If the dining table is in good shape, consider keeping it bare except for a simple centerpiece.

A small succulent, a cactus plant, or a nice bouquet for a pop of color atop a runner is the most elegant display you can go for. Simple and chic.

Dining Table Tip #3: To Rug or Not to Rug?

Some people like to have a rug surrounding the table. This element really depends on the rest of the space.

If there’s a chandelier in the room, a rug can add depth as long as it’s centered directly below the chandelier with the table in the center of the rug.

Dining Table Tip #4: Match the Viewing Hours

A great tip from Marcy at StageMyOwnHome.com is “If you are having an open house viewing, set the table according to the meal that would be served at that time of day. For instance, a luncheon setting would be more casual than an evening meal”

Staging a Kitchen Table

The kitchen is one of the top three rooms to determine how quickly a home sells, so it’s absolutely essential to get the staging of this one right.

Like the dining table, the kitchen table is the centerpiece of this all-important space.

The kitchen table is where potential buyers will picture themselves spending mornings before work, having casual dinners at the end of the day, and sitting with family and friends to have everyday conversations.  

Kitchen Table Tip #1: Simplify Accessories

Leaving the kitchen table bare can look cold or uninviting while setting it while cluttering it up with too much décor can overwhelm the space.

When staging a kitchen table, choose a few place settings or accessories to create a warm and welcoming arrangement that ties the room together.

Kitchen Table Tip #2: Focus on the Seating Arrangement  

Whether working with a small two-seater table, a bench table, or a large enough kitchen for a six-seater, it’s essential to focus on the seating and seating arrangement.

The idea is to show that there’s enough space for people to sit comfortably and possibly add seating if needed.

Don’t cram the space with chairs. Even if you can’t fit more than two comfortably, it’s better to keep the space looking open.

Kitchen Table Tip #3: Set the Lighting

Lighting also plays a vital role in staging the kitchen table.

It’s important to keep your kitchen dining area bright. Natural light will add warmth to the space, making it more welcoming.

If you’re fortunate enough to have your table near a window, use sheer blinds or drapes instead of heavy window treatments.

Should You Set the Table When Staging a Home?

The question of whether or not to set the table when staging a home is really up to the homeowner or home stager, but it’s generally thought that people should avoid setting the table to ensure that potential buyers focus on the space, not your stuff.

Barbara from DIY Home Staging Tips states “Simplicity is one of the guiding principles of successful home staging”, which pays to keep in mind when staging a table.

However, this doesn’t mean the table shouldn’t be completely bare either.

A centerpiece or small cluster of two to three cohesive objects or accessories is often enough to keep things charming.

Consider how potential buyers take 15-20 minutes to walk through a home on average. If the table is set when prospects enter the dining room, their attention will be directed to the tabletop, and they may miss other enticing elements in the room, such as shiny hardwood floors or a beautiful outdoor view.

However, there is one exception to this unwritten rule: setting the table can be a good idea in a high-end home with a large dining room and table.

In such a case, using fine China and glassware to showcase how elegant a dinner party would be can be a major selling point for buyers in that market.   

Need More Help Staging a Kitchen Table?

Here at the Home Staging Institute, we’ve been offering home staging courses for nearly 15 years. Our courses are 100% online and can be done from anywhere with a WiFi connection.

Thousands of students have used our Professional Course to start and grow their staging businesses. One recent graduate, Sarah from Colorado, shared how learning to stage tables gave her the confidence to take on larger homes. “Once I nailed the table staging,” she said, “clients started commenting on the warmth and elegance I brought into every room. It became my signature touch.”

If you are looking to fine-tune your home staging skills, look into our home staging courses and pick one that suits you best!

The post Staging a Table – Expert Home Staging Tips appeared first on Home Staging Institute.

On top of that, buyers without children might see themed or messy kids’ rooms as a future project they’d rather not take on. Meanwhile, parents with children may be more focused on functionality and cleanliness than the whimsical mural painted on the walls.

At the Home Staging Institute, we’ve seen firsthand that the best-staged children’s rooms strike a balance between livable and neutral – welcoming but not overwhelming. A well-staged kids’ room won’t just be overlooked; it can be a key selling point, especially for family buyers.

Our first tip for staging any room in your home is generally to have a good clear-out and declutter, but this means getting the kids on board when you’re moving their belongings! Of course, it is a great time to get rid of toys they no longer play with, and clothes they have outgrown, but many children have their treasures they simply won’t part with, and you may get some resistance to your minimalist ideas.

The key to this is to get your kids on board with the concept of staging the room and reassure them that their toys are all going to be safe. They can help you pack things away, all ready for their amazing new bedroom in the new house. When you place the focus on the new bedroom, the excitement can grow as they help to choose color schemes and make plans for the layout of their new room.

Once the kids are happy with the process, it’s time to make the most of the space and stage it beautifully.

Create neutral rooms

All kids have different interests, and while a themed room can look amazing and fun, if the new owners don’t share the likes and dislikes of their predecessors, that stunning Marvel wallpaper or the hand-painted Frozen mural will simply be viewed as something that’s going to be a time-consuming pain to get rid of.

If you take the time to remove themes and bright colors from a room, you can present a neutral appearance, a blank canvas, so anyone can then add their own personal touches to it, and children can choose their own colors and themes.

Wall art can look good if it’s nicely framed and neutrally themed too. Now is the time to convince your teens to take down their floor-to-ceiling poster collection!

Keep furniture to a minimum

Is your kid’s bedroom packed full of furniture? If your kid is a bookworm, you may have lots of shelves, if they adore dressing up, the room may have several wardrobes, or perhaps there are craft items or large toys stored in cupboards and drawers. While this works for you and your kid’s own requirements, it’s not going to display the room in its best light, so keep it minimal. One shelf with a few books, a desk, a closet, and a set of drawers. It needs to look both functional and spacious.

A great example came from a student of ours in Texas who staged a shared sibling room for a four-bedroom home. She removed one of the two desks and halved the toy display to make the room feel more breathable. During the open home, the realtor reported multiple buyers commenting on how ‘big the space felt’ – even though nothing structural had changed. Minimalism works magic.

Don’t make it personal

You’re allowing strangers to view your child’s bedroom, so it’s wise to remove any personal items from the room before viewings. From a safety point of view, anything that displays your child’s name, the name of their school or clubs they attend, or photos of them or their friends is best hidden away.

This also has the benefit of removing personality from the room, allowing potential buyers to more readily imagine their own children using the space.

Present the space as fun and functional

While you want the space to appear spacious and uncluttered, don’t go too far the other way and present a child’s bedroom that looks stark and uninviting. Add in a few colorful accessories, make the room look like a fun place to play, and hang out with friends. Display some choice items that are in a good state of repair. Place some books neatly on a shelf, a pot of pens on the desk, scatter cushions on the bed.  These carefully chosen accessories will convey the impression of a comfortable, usable space for kids.

Make sure the space is clean and fresh

Cleanliness and hygiene are a high priority when it comes to kids’ rooms, so make sure you clean thoroughly. In rooms that are played in, walls can easily become scuffed and carpets stained. A quick repaint can really give a room a new lease of life, and getting tired-looking carpets cleaned can make them look like new.

Children, particularly teenagers can be rather averse to fresh air, so be sure to get the windows open and let the breeze in. Give the curtains a wash to freshen them up and open them as wide as possible to make the most of the light. If the room is lacking in natural light, then perhaps add in some lamps to create a cozy atmosphere.  

Showcase your storage

Storage is a big deal in kids’ rooms. If your home has built-in storage, be sure to point this out to potential buyers. A place to hide the toys away after a day of playing is hugely appreciated, so make sure your storage spaces are tidy and well organized as you’ll want to open up that closet to show how spacious it is and lift up the window seat to reveal the deep space for a wealth of toys and games beneath.

Check rooms thoroughly before each visit

Kids will be kids, so it’s vital to check their rooms before you have viewings. It’s still their room after all, and they will be using it. But you don’t want your visitors coming into the room to see the floor covered in Legos or a pile of dirty clothes peeping out from under the bed! Get the rooms aired, make the beds, and ensure everything is perfectly presentable for your potential buyers.

The kids’ rooms can make or break a sale

We can often overlook the kids’ rooms, paying more attention to a beautiful and luxurious master bedroom, but rooms for children that look unappealing, feel too small, or that appear to need a lot of work, can put people off making an offer on a property. It is also the children’s rooms that can be the most in need of a refresh, so it’s always a good idea to pay close attention to the décor and the design when you’re staging your home. Paint over those bumps and scuffs accumulated over the years, downsize the toys on display, and present a neutral, spacious room that’s both welcoming and practical.

The post Staging a Kids Bedroom appeared first on Home Staging Institute.

It’s no secret that home staging is a thriving industry in 2025, and part of that is thanks to people widely sharing home staging statistics that prove without a doubt, that staging a home for sale is worth it!

If a prospect hears that home staging can get them more for their home, increase their commissions, or sell their property faster, then you have a good chance of landing another home staging job.

Each year here at the Home Staging Institute we intend to survey over 1,000 United States-based participants to get an in-depth look at the results of home staging, and the outlook for the industry.

These participants are a representative cross-section of the real estate industry and include homeowners, realtors, and home stagers themselves.

Please feel free to use any of these home staging statistics on your website, marketing material, or publications.

All we ask is that you credit the Home Staging Institute and link to our website if you are publishing these stats online.

Firstly, Why Are Statistics So Important?

Home staging statistics are important because the benefits of home staging are not as obvious to everyone, as we in the industry think they should be.

Looking at the two images below, we home stagers know the staged beach house is going to be much easier to:

1. Attract potential buyers to,
2. Sell in a quicker timeframe, and
3. Sell at a higher price

But asking someone to spend $5,000 or more when selling their home can be a big ask during an already stressful time, when they don’t already fully grasp the benefits of home staging.

Here’s where the numbers come in. Just like a real estate agent leans on comps to price a home, you, as a stager, should lean on statistics to support your services.

Think of these numbers as your own set of “staging comps” – they set expectations, reduce doubt, and give your clients confidence in their investment. One of our graduates, Sam in Oregon, tells us he closes nearly every client call with a one-liner: ‘Remember, staged homes sell faster and for more.’ He says it works like magic.

This is where you need to use raw facts – home staging statistics – to explain all the reasons they need to seriously consider staging their home for sale.

Take a look through the statistics below and choose which ones would resonate with your customers the most. If they want a quick sale, highlight how realtors across the country believe that staging a home sells it quicker, or if your clients simply want the top price, share statistics that emphasize this.

Key Home Staging Statistics from the Home Staging Institute

Our 2025 survey is currently underway! Our new survey data for 2025 will be coming here soon.

Survey Methodology: We have access to a large database of home staging professionals and realtors whom we ask to participate in our regular surveys. Sometimes we need to increase the volume of respondents and will supplement this via a targeting Google Surveys campaign.

Permission to use our results: If you are reading our home staging survey results, you have permission to republish these elsewhere without asking us first.

As mentioned earlier, we do ask for credit. Compiling these home staging statistics and undertaking the surveys costs us thousands of dollars, and we do appreciate the credit when it is due.

Home Staging Statistics from Previous Surveys & Other Sources

The internet is awash with home staging statistics, although many of them are a few years out of date. Below are many stats that you can use today to help promote your home staging business or the home staging industry in general. Some of our sources are listed further down in this article.

General Home Staging Statistics

• Over 90% of realtors state the benefits of home staging help to sell a property
• Nearly 50% of realtors agree that both vacant and occupied homes can benefit from home staging.
• The return on investment (ROI) for home staging can be up over 550%.
• 40% of buyers are more willing to visit a staged home they found online.
• The average cost of home staging is between 1% and 3% of the home’s asking price.
• 38% of seller’s agents said that they stage all their clients’ homes before listing them for sale.
• The cost of home staging can range from $500 to $5,000 or more, depending on the size of the home and the extent of the staging.

Home Staging Statistics Relating to Sale Price

• Over 65% of 900 realtors surveyed believe that home staging helps sell a house for more money.
• The majority of realtors believe that home staging increases a property’s selling price anywhere from 1 to 10%.
• 21% of buyers’ agents agree that staging a home increased its value by 6% to 10%

Home Staging Statistics Relating to Ease of Sale

• 25% of realtors believe that home staging doesn’t increase the property sale price, but it does help attract buyers to the home, which means the property can sell faster.
• Similarly, nearly 85% of realtors agree that a staged home will sell faster than an unstaged home.
• Homes that are staged sell 73% faster than those that are not staged.
• 77% of buyers’ agents agree staging a home makes it easier for buyers to visualize the property as their future home.
• A staged home can receive up to 10% more online views than an unstaged home.
• 95% of buyers’ agents agree that home staging has at least some effect on a buyer’s view of the home.

Home Staging Statistics Relating to Rooms in a Home

• Agents recommend staging the following rooms, in this order of importance: The living room, master bedroom, and the kitchen.
• The two least important rooms to stage are the home office and the guest bedrooms.

Sources of Home Staging Statistics

Here are our main sources of staging facts and statistics:

• We here at the Home Staging Institute through our annual home staging surveys.
• Profile of Home Staging – National Association of REALTORS®
• Profile of Home Staging report – National Association of REALTORS®
• Survey of 900 Top Real Estate Agents – Homelight
• RESA Publications – Real Estate Staging Association

Each of these publications has a range of interesting home staging statistics relevant to 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. When they release their 2025 reports we’ll publish them here too.

Where to Share These Statistics?

Now we’ve got the data, it’s our job to share it and educate sellers and realtors that home staging is an essential part of selling a home quickly, and for a great price.

There are several places where you can publish these home staging statistics to help spread the word, and generate more sales for your home staging company. Here are a few options:

1. Home staging blogs and websites: There are many blogs and websites that focus on home staging and real estate. These platforms often feature articles and statistics related to home staging, making them an ideal place for you to share staging statistics. By publishing statistics on these platforms, you can position yourself as an expert in the field, which will help attract new clients and generate more sales.
   
2. Social media: Social media platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook are great places for homestagers to publish statistics such as those in this article. By sharing statistics on your social media pages, you can reach a wider audience and engage with potential clients in a more personal way. Social media also offers the opportunity to include visuals and graphics to make statistics more visually appealing.
   
3. Real estate publications: Many real estate publications, both online and in print, feature articles on home staging. By reaching out to these publications and sharing these statistics, a home stager can potentially get featured in an article which will help raise your profile and generate more business.
   
4. Industry events and conferences: Homestagers can also publish these statistics when presenting at industry events and conferences.

When publishing statistics, it’s important to ensure that their data is accurate, relevant, and easy to understand. By doing so, you can attract the attention of potential clients and position yourself as an expert in the field of home staging, ultimately leading to more sales and business growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

We can use these statistics on home staging to answer a few of the more common home staging questions.

The post Home Staging Statistics (2025) appeared first on Home Staging Institute.

Whether tucked into a hallway, dominating a lounge wall, or perched beside a fireplace, bookshelves are a visual focal point.

When they’re packed with clutter or personalized items, they can quickly distract buyers and make a home feel cramped. But when staged with care, they become an elegant tool that helps tell the story of a well-loved, well-maintained home that’s ready for new owners.

That’s why learning how to stage a bookshelf isn’t just about prettiness – it’s about strategy, and it can be the detail that tips the scale in your favor during a sale.

An essential component of home staging is depersonalization, and staging bookshelves often plays a role in this.

Staging is the process of editing the spaces in a house by removing personal items and arranging carefully chosen neutral items to their best advantage.

The purpose of staging any room is to allow prospective buyers to picture their own things in the space on display.

One of the best places in a house to start this process is bookcases and shelves.

Whether built-in bookshelves or free-standing bookshelves, these surfaces can be found in just about any room throughout the home. They provide the perfect opportunities to tell a story, leaving just enough free space for potential buyers to fill in the blanks with their imaginations.

Like any good story, the chapters and subplots of a staged-home story are meant to embellish the main narrative carefully. Because bookshelves can be large and imposing, they deserve special treatment in the story.

While cluttered bookshelves can do the opposite of elevating a room’s look, carefully staged bookshelves can add layers of nuance that subtly reinforce the emotions you want your potential buyers to feel. 

Since shelves are often places to hold clutter, composing them for home staging can be a challenge, and the last thing you want people to feel when they walk through the house is overwhelmed.

If you’re preparing to sell your home, read on for some pro tips on how to stage bookshelves successfully.

(If you’re looking for a guide on staging with books in general, then jump over to our other article you can find here once you’ve finished this one!)

Step 1: Clear the Shelves

First, remove everything from your bookshelves.

Think of the process as writing a story. Would you start writing a new chapter on a page filled with text? Didn’t think so.

Start fresh by removing all items, repairing any dings or scratches, and even painting them if they can use a fresh coat. Dust and polish them before you begin redecorating.

While clearing the shelves, keep an eye out for a tidy book with an attractive cover, as these can often be used in other areas of the house when displayed as a solo item.

We will often use a book when staging a table, or a cookbook when staging a kitchen.

Step 2: Pack Away Personal Items

Although the staging process involves setting items out in a decorative manner, it isn’t the same as decorating your home.

Keep this rule of thumb in mind as you stage your bookshelves and pack away your heirlooms and personal items.

Leave space on the shelves for generic things like vases, plants, and books. And always remember, less is more when staging any area in your home.

You should only be filling about a third of the space on each shelf, allowing potential buyers to rest their eyes on the empty space and visualize their own personal items there.

Step 3: Create a Theme

Creating a theme is a good idea for any room or space in the home. Themes give instant logic and cohesion to a space, allowing you to set a mood or feeling for those who walk through.

Start by placing all the items you removed from your bookshelves on a table or floor. Look over them and see if you notice a theme. Then, pack up or dispose of everything that doesn’t fit the theme. If you found a theme that you want to build upon, go through other rooms and see if there are additional items that fit in. This could even help you separate items for different themes you can use in other rooms by moving objects around.

One Home Staging Institute graduate, Alicia from Tampa, told us she used a ‘travel’ theme across multiple shelves in a coastal home she was staging. She tied together driftwood accents, framed black-and-white photos from Venice, and stacked books about architecture and world cities. The buyers mentioned in the open home how warm and worldly the living room felt – and Alicia believes that the theme was a big reason why.

If you don’t see a clear theme, make one up.

The easiest way to do this is by color.

Choose a unifying color or color palette and gather items that fit into it. Maybe the room the shelf is in already has a color scheme. Make it cohesive by finding artwork, vases, boxes, and other generic décor items to add to the theme.

Step 4: Leave Empty Space

Leaving empty space is a crucial element in staging bookshelves.

This is especially important if you have built-in bookshelves of varied sizes and heights, but the rule should be followed no matter what type of bookshelf you’re working with.

Be strategic in spacing the empty shelves out, and remember that a space always feels bigger when there’s less stuff filling it.

If all the shelves are full, potential buyers may get a subconscious impression that there isn’t any room for their things.  

Step 5: Create Varying Heights, Textures, Finishes

Work with the empty space amongst the shelves by creating varying heights, textures, and finishes.

Use different items to achieve this if you can’t adjust or remove shelves. For example, a shiny metal piece of décor is an excellent counterpoint to a straw basket. A short flowerpot can work very well next to a tall vase.

This principle was perfectly illustrated by another past student, Mariah from Colorado Springs, who staged a dark oak bookcase using high-contrast white ceramics, a polished silver frame, and rustic rattan baskets. She told us the listing agent described the shelves as “editorial-worthy” and they became a talking point among potential buyers touring the home.

Varying textures provide richness, depth, and nuance to the home.

These elements work to increase a potential buyer’s attachment to the house, which can ultimately lead to a sale.

Avoid the urge to fill the bookshelves with books. While this may seem counterintuitive as bookshelves were made for books, rows of books tend to suck up the light in a room and leave the space looking dark and heavy.

Use small groupings of books amongst other objects. Lay some on their sides and group some according to color – use them to create texture and dimension.  

Books and accessories can be separated by color, shape, theme, or material and propped up with bookends or other pieces of décor.

Focus on symmetrical design in more formal areas, such as dining rooms, living rooms, and stately dens. Focus on asymmetrical design in more casual areas, like family rooms and offices, where you can place items of similar colors or sizes in a Z-shaped pattern to achieve balance in a unique way.

Step 6: Curate Attractive Items

Especially if you’ve been using your bookshelves for books and personal items (like most people do), you’ll need to curate some attractive generic items to suit the new theme of the shelves.

The following list of accessories can help you prepare and make selections to fill vacant spaces:

• Hardcover books
• Artwork in small frames
• Greenery in small pots (use ferns or faux succulents instead of trailing plants or ivy)
• Matching sets of boxes, plates, or accessories that can be placed in different areas for symmetry
• Any other home staging props

The following tips can also help you curate the most attractive items for staging a bookshelf:

• If you’re working with a dark-colored bookshelf, use light, white, or shiny décor items to add a pop of dimension to the dark and vacant spaces.
• If the books on your shelves are all different colors and don’t match the theme, turn them around to make the décor cohesive and the space lighter and brighter.
• Filling empty spaces with small pieces of framed artwork or generic photos is a cost-effective way to break up the space between books. Some good ideas for various themes and color schemes include nature photos, city scenes, travel photography, and seaside photos.

Need More Help Staging Your Shelves?

A home staging company we like to keep an eye on is Foxy Home Staging. They have an amazing Youtube channel about home staging, and they have also written an article about how to style bookshelves.

If you need more tips and tricks on how to stage a bookshelf (or any other area of the house), take a look at the home staging courses we offer at the Home Staging Institute.

Our Professional Course walks you through staging bookshelves in both vacant and occupied homes. We show you before-and-after case studies from students who turned dated, cluttered shelving into photo-ready showpieces. You’ll also get a downloadable shelf-styling cheat sheet, so you can keep key principles close by on staging day.

All our courses are delivered online and you can complete the training anywhere with a Wifi connection.

The post Staging Bookshelves appeared first on Home Staging Institute.

Investing in home staging is a surefire way to sell your home fast while maximizing its price, and it all starts with a home staging consultation.

To understand the home staging process, think about what goes into selling a vehicle…

When you want to sell your car, you make sure it’s in good condition, washed and waxed, and free of your personal items.

A home staging consultation is the first step in a similar process designed to get your home looking like new, ensuring that it appeals to the widest range of customers.

Just like a vehicle, a home that presents well will sell faster and at a higher price.

If you’re considering staging your home and are wondering how to begin, you’ve landed in the right place. Read on to learn all about what home staging consultations are and what you can expect throughout the process.

What is a Home Staging Consultation?

A home staging consultation is a very detailed discussion between a homeowner and a home staging professional.

During the consultation, the professional will review the home, consider what needs to be done before the sellers put it on the market, and give their advice to ensure the seller walks away with the best price possible.

Investing in a home staging consultation will cost much less than a price reduction during an offer, so it’s strongly advised that anyone selling a home consider setting up this essential meeting.

Contrary to what some people believe, realtors normally don’t do their own home staging consultations. However, most realtors offer consultation services by professional stagers, so if you’re working with a realtor (or planning to), be sure to discuss what they can do to help get you set up.

If you’re a home stager looking for new business, then networking with realtors is essential!

Why Home Staging Consultations Are Worth the Investment

Many homeowners wonder if hiring a home stager is really necessary, especially when the market is hot.

But the data tells a clear story. According to a recent Home Staging Institute survey, 84% of staged homes received offers at or above asking price – compared to just 63% of non-staged homes. And the average time on market was cut by nearly half.

The consultation is the first step in unlocking this advantage, setting the tone for a smoother, more profitable sale.

What We Teach About Consultations in Our Courses

At the Home Staging Institute, we have in-depth content related to consultations in our Professional Course. We break down exactly what to ask homeowners during that initial sit-down, how to prepare your consultation report, and how to price this service.

You’ll even get a consultation checklist you can print and bring with you.

This is one of the most valuable services a stager offers, and we make sure our students know how to handle it with confidence.

One of our recent graduates, a stager based in North Carolina, shared that her first paid consultation turned into a full redesign job, then led to two referrals – all within 30 days of certification. What made the difference? Her polished consultation process, which included a neatly branded printed report, a confident in-home walk-through, and a follow-up email with photos and recommendations.

Step 1 – Introductions and Sit-Down Time

Before the walk-through portion of the home staging consultation, you’ll have a sit-down time with the stager where you’ll introduce yourself and go over some important details.

This is a good time to take notes as they will also offer some important information. Some of the information they’ll want to gather might include:

• Your list date goal
• Whether there are pets living in the home
• How many people live in the home
• Whether there are children, teens, or college-age kids staying in the home
• Major repairs or areas of concern
• Your staging budget (including cleaners, painters, window washers, and rental furniture if necessary)

The introduction and sit-down portion of the home staging consultation is necessary for putting together a timeline and hashing out other important details, such as budgets and repairs.

At the conclusion of this meeting, you’ll set up a date and time to meet for a walkthrough of the home, or if planned, get into it right away.

Step 2 – Conduct a Walkthrough of the Home

The walkthrough of the home is the most crucial part of the home staging consultation.

During this time, the professional stager will go through each room and space in the home and take notes throughout the process.

They do this from a buyer’s perspective to get an idea of what their first impression would be like and observe the changes that need to be made to make the house more appealing to buyers.

The stager may also ask important questions during the walkthrough to gather essential information.

The walkthrough should always start outside, where a potential buyer would begin their critique of the home.

Professional stagers know how critical first impressions are, so they will scrutinize every detail, from the walk to the door through the entryway, foyer, and any other spaces that may catch their eye.

Working their way in, the professional stager will walk through the rest of the property, looking at all the rooms, in closets and pantries, behind doors, and at any other area they see, ensuring that no corner is overlooked.

Most average-size homes require approximately two hours for the walkthrough, while larger homes (above 3,000 square feet) may take closer to three hours.

The stager conducting the walkthrough should be available through email or text after the consult for any questions you may think of once the walkthrough is complete. They should be willing to answer any questions, whether you’re curious about paint color options, repair costs, or décor placement.

The more details you share with your stager, the better experience they will be able to provide.

Step 3 – Provide a Written Report

Once the stager has gathered all the information they need from you and the walkthrough has been completed, they will typically provide you with a written report after 12 – 48 hours.

The report should include detailed photos of all the rooms and spaces throughout the home and provide a detailed account of what the professional would do to stage the home.

Since first impressions start at the curb or driveway, the stager’s written report should begin with a curb appeal review, which will include everything they noted from the curb to the front door. They may suggest things like repairs or changes that should be made, paint color suggestions, and landscaping ideas.

The remainder of the written report should include a detailed assessment of each room in the home, covering everything from light fixture options to paint color choices and many other details that would make the home more appealing to the target market. It may include details about:

• Furniture arrangement
• Decluttering
• Cleaning
• Painting
• Décor styles/types and placement

While some rooms may require a little redesign, others may require more extensive changes and staging help to become impressive to potential buyers.

In some cases, the written report will be extensive and lengthy, while in others, it will be short and sweet.

It all depends on the condition of your home and how show-ready it is at the time of the walkthrough.

After you have reviewed the written report, the stager will be ready to carry out the recommended changes, including staging, redesign, and decluttering.

They could also help refer reputable vendors who can help with the rest of the work, including cleaning and painting.

To keep things from getting overwhelming, they will walk you through the process to ensure that everything is done just right.

Why a Home Staging Consultation Is the Key to a Successful Sale

By now, you’ve seen just how powerful a home staging consultation can be.

It’s the launchpad for a well-prepared, visually appealing property that connects emotionally with buyers and commands a higher sale price.

From the initial sit-down to the detailed walk-through and written report, the consultation sets the tone for a strategic, successful sale – and ensures every decision is driven by what buyers want to see.

If you’re a homeowner preparing to sell, working with a professional home stager will give your property the competitive edge it needs in today’s market. And if you’re someone who’s dreaming of becoming a stager yourself, mastering the consultation process is one of the most important skills you can learn.

That’s why we dedicate so much of our Professional Course at the Home Staging Institute to this exact process.

You’ll learn how to run consultations with confidence, what to look for during a walkthrough, how to present recommendations clearly, and how to price your service in a way that’s fair and profitable.

If you’re ready to take the next step, we invite you to enroll in our Professional Home Staging Certification Course – the same course that has helped thousands of students across the U.S., Canada, Australia, and beyond launch their own businesses and start getting paid for their eye for design.

The post What to Expect During a Home Staging Consultation appeared first on Home Staging Institute.

The good news is that getting certified doesn’t have to cost thousands, and the value you receive varies wildly depending on where you choose to learn. This article compares the most well-known online certification options and breaks down exactly what you can expect to pay (and what you’re really getting in return).

But let’s get straight to the point: What does home staging certification cost?

The simple (but unhelpful) answer is, that it depends on where you go. To save you time, we browsed dozens of websites to find out exactly what home staging certification will set you back.

Note that we have included online-only courses in this article because we feel they offer the best value.

Home Staging Certification Costs Compared

We’ve reviewed a few of the most talked-about home staging certification providers, compared their pricing, structure, and long-term value, and pulled together the results in one tidy list for you. Some of these programs are sleek and modern, others feel like they haven’t been updated since 200 – and that shows.

But whether you’re hunting for the most affordable certification or the course with the deepest curriculum, this breakdown will help you make a clear, confident decision.

1. Home Staging Institute (Most popular course is $247)

We’ve been in the home staging game since 2007, and have amended our prices over time to provide the best bang for the buck we can. We offer three courses, and all of these will earn you a home staging certification. These courses are:

Professional Course: This is our most popular course and costs $247 (or three monthly payments of $86)

Advanced Course: People who want an extra edge upgrade to the Advanced Course, which costs $498 (or six monthly payments of $83)

Realtor Home Staging Course: This course is designed specifically for realtors who want to offer home staging as an extra service. It costs $197.

If you’re curious about what’s included in the Home Staging Institute’s Professional Course, you can explore the full curriculum on our website.

We also offer free downloadable resource packs so you can get a sneak peek at the quality and depth of our materials before making a decision. These free downloads include checklists, proposal templates, and pricing guides – tools you’ll actually use on the job.

2. StagingStudio ($1249)

A home staging certification from the Staging Studio costs $1,249, and you can choose to pay in 5 monthly payments of $259. Their website boasts that “You can become a certified home stager in just 15 hours,” which is super quick for a $1,249 course.

There are also a couple of other courses at StagingStudio, which are:

• Master Color Consultant – $729
• Short-Term Rental Stylist – $449

3. CHSSP Home Staging Certification (£550 / $750)

The CHSSP Certified Home Staging and Styling Professional Course costs £550, which is a little over $750 United States dollars at the time of writing. You can also choose to pay in four interest-free payments.

While researching the CHSSP Certified Home Staging and Styling Professional Course, we noticed the website felt a bit dated in both design and usability. While that doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of the course content itself, it may be a signal that the platform hasn’t kept pace with modern e-learning trends.

In our experience, staging courses that invest in a user-friendly, up-to-date learning environment tend to deliver more polished materials and a better overall student experience.

4. CSP International Staging Business Training Academy ($2,299)

CSP International courses feature Live (not pre-recorded) training, which may or may not be your cup of tea. Most other courses are self-paced in your own time and work around your schedule.

5. Home Staging Resource ($999)

HomeStagingResource.com staging certification costs $999, and there are a few payment plans available. They also encourage you to renew your ‘HSR Membership’ with them for an annual fee of $350, which includes website hosting and ongoing access to training. It also includes a listing in its member directory.

Why Long-Term Access and Ongoing Support Matter More Than Price

It’s important to note that while price matters, what really sets courses apart is the long-term value. At the Home Staging Institute, students tell us they continue to log in and reference course materials even years after certification. That’s because we give lifetime access – no recurring fees, no pressure to renew.

We also provide unlimited email support, which many other providers only offer for a limited time. This matters more than you might expect. When you’re knee-deep in your third client consult and need help quoting a staging job or wording a tricky clause in your contract, being able to email your course instructor and get advice within 24 hours is priceless.

What also sets Home Staging Institute apart is our focus on practical application. We know from feedback that students appreciate the built-in exercises that walk them through setting up their first staging quote, mock consultations, and drafting their service agreements. These aren’t just theory – they’re plug-and-play templates you can start using immediately.

As one recent student put it, “I chose the Home Staging Institute because it wasn’t just a course – it felt like I was joining a community. I emailed about pricing my first vacant job and got a helpful, kind reply the next day. That gave me the confidence to take it on.”

We also constantly update our resources, pricing calculators, and supplier directories based on student feedback and industry trends. So, while other courses might feel static or outdated, ours evolves with you.

If you value mentorship, practical tools, and a go-at-your-own-pace structure, you’ll likely find that the best value for your home staging certification dollar is right here at the Home Staging Institute.

In Summary, What Does Home Staging Certification Cost?

Home staging certification costs anywhere from $247 with the Home Staging Institute Professional Course, through to $2,299 with the CSP International Staging Business Training Academy.

If you are not in the United States, use a currency converter to see what the home staging certification costs in your local currency.

We only looked at online courses since local home staging certification courses are tough to find and of questionable quality. It was also tough to find online home staging certification courses that I was happy to list here. Many are out of date and feature credentials from 2008. If you want to read more on this topic, we have another article worth reading titled How to Choose the Best Home Staging Certification Course.

The post What does home staging certification cost? appeared first on Home Staging Institute.

The Home Staging Institute brings you some of the best home staging training in North Carolina. What’s more, all our courses result in certification for those who successfully complete the program. This is a real asset for any budding home stager!

With a wealth of valuable training and expert knowledge, you’ll be well set to become one of North Carolina’s best home stagers.

So, how do you become a home stager in North Carolina?

We’ll look at this from the point of view of starting your own home staging business. If you want to start with getting a home staging job, read our articles on resume tips, how to get a home staging job, and our overview of home staging careers.

North Carolina sure has some gorgeous properties. Whether it’s a cabin in the woods of Waynesville, or a magnificent mansion in Summerfield, as a home stager in North Carolina you’re certainly going to have some great starting points for your work! But how do you get started on this amazing career path? What course should you take?

Read on and discover the steps you need to follow to achieve your goal of becoming a home stager in North Carolina…

Steps to becoming a home stager in North Carolina

Whether you’re focusing on the city homes of Raleigh and Charlotte, or you dream of staging properties deep in the woodlands of the Tar Heel State, you need to prove your professionalism and your ability to your potential clients. You may be working with realtors, or directly with homeowners, and you’re going to need to shine amongst the other home stagers in North Carolina, in order to get the work.

Step 1: Take a home staging certification course in North Carolina

First, look into home staging training in North Carolina. While it is not strictly necessary to have any formal training to become a home stager in North Carolina, it will certainly be of benefit to you, especially if that training results in a certification. A professional qualification will be proof to your potential clients that you have the ability to do a great job, and will also be a reassurance that you are a serious professional and not just a hobbyist.

As a first step, take a look at the courses we offer here at the Home Staging Institute. These comprehensive courses cover every aspect of home staging in North Carolina and will give you the skills you need to tackle any home staging project that may come your way. When you complete a course, your hard work is rewarded with a certificate which you can use to promote your business. Don’t forget to mention these qualifications on your website and marketing materials!

One of our students from Charlotte, named Madison, enrolled in the Professional Course through the Home Staging Institute and was staging homes within just three weeks of finishing her coursework. She earned her home staging certification while working part-time at a local fabric store, and quickly landed two staging projects through a local real estate Facebook group. Madison says completing the Professional Course gave her the confidence and credibility to turn her passion into a profitable business.

Step 2: Understand the local North Carolina market

With over 10 million residents, the North Carolina market is certainly sizeable. When it comes to property types, it is also varied. The needs of each client may differ greatly, so it pays to have a good knowledge of the different property styles that are most prevalent in North Carolina. From the forests to the mountains to the coastal plains, you’ll also be dealing with differing natural environments, with each subtly altering the requirements when it comes to home staging, particularly when it comes to the outdoor areas.

If you’re planning to focus your skills on one key area, such as the state of North Carolina, you need to build up an in-depth expertise that encompasses all possible property types within that zone.

Step 3: Learn from other home stagers in North Carolina

There are already plenty of established home stagers in North Carolina, but don’t let that put you off. North Carolina is a large state, so there’s plenty of work for one more home stager! Instead, research the current local home stagers and analyze their services. Is there anything they offer that you haven’t thought about? Is there something that makes their website stand out from the crowd? Take a look at how they sell themselves and see what you can take from this to help improve your own website and marketing.

The more competitors you check out, the better, so be sure to search for home stagers in North Carolina, but also drill down to a city level, for example with searches for home stagers in Raleigh, or home stagers in Fayetteville. Don’t forget to make notes, or screenshot anything you see that gives you inspiration for your own home staging business in North Carolina.

Step 4: Start a home staging business in North Carolina

Once you’ve done your research and taken some home staging training courses, you’re ready to take the next step to becoming a fully-fledged home stager in North Carolina!

Don’t forget to…

• Register your business for tax purposes (details here)
• Ensure you know what insurance policies you’ll need
• Come up with a catchy business name
• Create a stylish logo
• Keep good accounts
• Open a bank account for your business
• Get a website up and running (StagingWebsites.com has a 40% discount available with code HSIDiscount)
• Open accounts on all social media networks
• Start collating a list of reliable suppliers (we provide a supplier list as part of our home staging courses)

Step 5: Begin marketing

As any business owner knows, you have to sell yourself and your services. You may be the best home stager in North Carolina, but that’s no use if people can’t find you when they’re searching for a home stager, or you’re not mentioned when they’re asking their realtor for recommendations. So once you’ve got a website packed full of amazing images of your work, you need to put some work into promoting your website or hire a specialist to do this for you. Investing in your marketing will be money well spent.

Social media gives you the perfect opportunity to showcase your skills and bring your services to the attention of those who may need them. Be current, keep people updated, but don’t overdo it with too high a frequency of posts, or by being overly sales-oriented. You want people to enjoy your content, not be so overwhelmed by it that they unfollow you.

If you’re ready to follow in Madison’s footsteps and turn your passion for design into a thriving business, we recommend starting with the Professional Course from the Home Staging Institute. You’ll earn your home staging certification, gain all the business and design knowledge you need, and join the ranks of successful stagers all across North Carolina.

Other facts about becoming a home stager in North Carolina

How much do home stagers make in North Carolina?

Our analysis shows that home stagers in North Carolina usually earn between $35,000 and $55,000 annually, with hourly rates from $18 to $28. Seasoned professionals or those in high-demand regions may earn upwards of $65,000 per year. Earnings can vary based on location, client base, and the number of projects undertaken.

Do I need a license to become a home stager in North Carolina?

No, home stagers in North Carolina don’t need a license. While this will save you time and money, it also means that the industry is not regulated so it can be tricky to prove your credentials. We suggest that you gain home staging certification by taking a course with the Home Staging Institute. This gives credibility to any claims of your abilities that you’re making on your website.

Do you need a degree to become a home stager in North Carolina?

Home staging is a career that does not require qualification at degree level. But of course, having qualifications in home staging will always put you at an advantage, so it’s certainly something well worth looking into. Some people like to jump straight into setting up their home staging business, but when you work towards home staging certification first, building your business should then be easier for you as you will have proof of your skills.

The post How to Become a Home Stager in North Carolina appeared first on Home Staging Institute.

Have you been on the lookout for a new career? Home staging is certainly a worthwhile profession that can bring some excellent rewards. The North Dakota property market is booming right now. Realtors are on the lookout for home stagers to make the houses on their books stand out from the crowd and sell fast. There is a lot of competition at the moment, and when there are several similar properties, in the same area, home stagers become in high demand with sellers wanting their property to look better than all the rest.

Could becoming a professional home stager be your next career move?

So, how do you become a home stager in North Dakota?

We’ll look at this from the point of view of starting your own home staging business. If you want to start with getting a home staging job, read our articles on resume tips, how to get a home staging job, and our overview of home staging careers.

The work of a home stager is very varied. That’s what makes it so interesting, but it also means that there is a lot to learn. Some of the skills you need to succeed will already be part of your natural abilities, such as your eye for detail and your artistic mind. The rest you can learn as long as you’re motivated and have the drive to succeed.  

Steps to becoming a home stager in North Dakota

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at how to become a professional home stager in North Dakota…

Step 1: Take a home staging certification course in North Dakota

Now that you’ve decided this is the career path you’d like to take, it’s time to move forward, and we believe that the very best first step to take is to earn home staging certification. Home staging training in North Dakota does differ from course to course, so be sure to check out all your options before you sign up for a course. At the Home Staging Institute, we have been delivering high-quality, professional home staging courses since 2007. All our successful students leave with a certificate with which to prove their credentials, and we have a very high pass rate.

One of our past students, Kayla from Fargo, completed her Professional Course with the Home Staging Institute and hit the ground running. She earned her home staging certification in just under five weeks while still working part-time at a local boutique. Within two weeks of finishing the course, she booked her first staging job through a realtor she met at an open house, followed by a second referral from that very same agent. Kayla now stages homes across Cass County and says the Professional Course helped her feel fully prepared to launch with confidence.

Step 2: Understand the local North Dakota market

It’s very important to have a good knowledge of the local property market and the different areas of the state. Your staging techniques will be quite different depending on the area and the type of property you’re working with. You’ll need to understand what types of people are looking for each property, and how best to attract them and offer them what they want. Being flexible and having the ability to stage any type of property means you’ll never need to turn down work, nor will you feel overwhelmed by a challenge. So take the time to research all the different property types in the state, and learn how best to stage them, taking into account factors such as original period features, the local climate and the people who are most likely to be hunting for this property type.

Step 3: Learn from other home stagers in North Dakota

When you’re new to the industry, there’s so much to learn. Search for information, take it all in and make notes. Search Google for ‘home stagers in North Dakota’ and scrutinize every link from those search results. Get as much inspiration as you can.  

Check out their social media posts too. Once you’ve taken your home staging training in North Dakota, you’ll soon be ready to take on work, so you’ll want to get on with promoting your business online fairly quickly. When it comes to social media, you’ll need to keep posting fresh content in order to keep people interested, so note down any ideas you come across, so you’ll never run out of great post concepts!

Step 4: Start a home staging business in North Dakota

Setting up a new business on your own can feel daunting, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of help and information out there, and if you take a home staging course, you’ll learn a lot about running a business.

When it’s time to get your new business started…

• You’ll need to register your business so you fulfil all your legal responsibilities.
• You must choose a name for your business, something memorable and unique. Be sure to search for your chosen name first to make sure someone else isn’t already using it.
• Work out your pricing structure and think about how you’re going to take payments.
• Don’t forget to take out good liability insurance so you’re fully covered for all eventualities.
• Think about companies you need to hire to help you. Will you want an accountant, a website designer, or a social media marketer?

Step 5: Begin marketing

The final step is to begin promoting your business so you can get the work in and fully launch your new career!

Firstly, get talking. Speak to everyone you know and let them know about your new business. Get some business cards printed so you can easily share your contact details. Online marketing will also be very important. This can take a lot of time, so you may wish to hire a specialist to take care of this for you. If you do choose to handle your online marketing yourself, take your time and never rush to post anything. As a home stager, you’re in a profession that’s all about attention to detail, so a Facebook post with spelling errors, or the wrong image attached reflects very badly on your abilities as a stager. You need to show that you give a high level of care and attention to everything you do.  

If you’re ready to take the leap, we suggest starting with the Professional Course from the Home Staging Institute. You’ll earn a home staging certification that helps you stand out and gives you the practical tools you need to thrive in North Dakota’s real estate market.

Other facts about becoming a home stager in North Dakota

How much do home stagers make in North Dakota?

According to our findings, home stagers in North Dakota generally earn between $34,000 and $54,000 annually, with hourly rates ranging from $17 to $27. Experienced professionals or those in high-demand areas may earn over $64,000 per year. Earnings can vary depending on factors such as location, client base, and the number of projects completed.

Do I need a license to become a home stager in North Dakota?

There are no license requirements for home stagers in North Dakota. While anyone can set up as a home stager, only those with true dedication will take training and go on to receive home staging certification in North Dakota.

Do you need a degree to become a home stager in North Dakota?

Having a certificate in home staging is certainly a huge advantage in this industry, but there is no requirement to have a degree.

The post How to Become a Home Stager in North Dakota appeared first on Home Staging Institute.

Home staging takes talent, but it’s also a skill that can be learnt. Our popular Home Staging Certification courses cover all aspects of home staging in Ohio, and of course, the skills you learn will be transferable to any state in the US, should you wish to take your career further afield!

So, how do you become a home stager in Ohio?

We’ll look at this from the point of view of starting your own home staging business. If you want to start with getting a home staging job, read our articles on resume tips, how to get a home staging job, and our overview of home staging careers.

Being a home stager is creative and rewarding work, but if you have no experience, it can be hard trying to get started in this field. But don’t worry, we’re here to help by breaking down the journey to becoming a home stager. Let us guide you step by step on your journey to this great new career…

Steps to becoming a home stager in Ohio

Every home staging business had to start somewhere, and now it’s your turn. Don’t feel overwhelmed, embrace the challenge, and you’ll soon be on your way to becoming a professional home stager. No matter where you’re based, Dayton, Akron, Toledo or Lorain, there are thousands of Ohio homeowners looking for home stagers right now, so it’s time to get learning so you can set up your home staging business…

Step 1: Take a home staging certification course in Ohio

A home staging qualification speaks volumes. When you’re looking into home staging training in Ohio, you’ll find a variety of courses of differing standards, some of which may result in certification. While there are no legal prerequisites for a home stager to have earned a certificate, it’s certainly something that helps your business stand out from the crowd and will help prove your credentials. While anyone can claim to be a home stager, only the most dedicated professionals will have taken the time to study and earn their home staging certification. Here at the Home Staging Institute, we provide high-quality courses, and upon successful completion of our courses you’ll receive our coveted certificate so you can prove to potential clients that you have the skills and dedication it takes to successfully stage their homes for sale. Check out our course information to find out more about home staging certification in Ohio.

One of our past students, Brittany from Columbus, took the Professional Course through the Home Staging Institute and earned her home staging certification while juggling a part-time job and two young kids. Within just two weeks of completing the course, she booked her first staging project through a friend of a friend – then landed a second client later that same week via Instagram. Brittany now partners with three local real estate agents and stages homes full-time across Franklin County.

Step 2: Understand the local Ohio market

When you’re thinking of becoming a home stager in Ohio, it’s wise to spend some time understanding the local market. While many of the skills you learn on a home staging course will be applicable to many different settings, Ohio also its own specific nuances. Understand the unique needs of Ohio homeowners, and you’re on the right track to becoming an excellent home stager in the Buckeye state. You’ll need to take into account the different locations. Is the property a rural homestead or a riverside apartment? Are you creating a vision of perfect city living or a countryside idyll?  While your skills lie in understanding what will appeal to buyers, you will also have to ensure that your ideas match the perceptions of your client. An in-depth knowledge of the local area and the property market will certainly put you in good stead.

Step 3: Learn from other home stagers in Ohio

So you’ve completed a home staging course and spent time researching the local market, now it’s time to do some market research in your city, and the greater Ohio area. Search online for ‘home stagers in Ohio’, or get more specific with ‘home stagers in Columbus’ or ‘home stagers in Cincinnati’ and check out the websites of the businesses that come up. Take a look at the services they offer. Is there anything in particular that makes their business stand out? Make notes and see how you can incorporate all the best aspects of your competitors into your own business.

Step 4: Start a home staging business in Ohio

Once you have your certification under your belt, it’s time to get official and set up your Ohio home staging business!

So you’ll need to…

• Register your business with the relevant authorities (details here)
• Set up a website and professional email address (Use code HSIDiscount for 40% off at StagingWebsites.com)
• You may want a dedicated cell phone number
• Open a business bank account
• Ensure you have all the right insurance policies in place
• Design and trademark a logo and other marketing materials
• Begin finding reputable suppliers (we provide a supplier list as part of our home staging courses)

Step 5: Begin marketing

Your business will go nowhere if no one has ever heard of you, so it’s time to spread the word! Make the most of social media, and keep your website fresh and up-to-date with relevant content. Get in touch with real estate agents in Ohio and see if they will recommend your complementary services to their clients. It really is a win-win if your staging gets a better price for the properties they’re marketing.

Once you begin to establish a client base, you can build a portfolio of images to demonstrate your skills, and these can be used to further market your home staging business.

If you’re serious about becoming a home stager in Ohio, we recommend starting with the Professional Course. It’s flexible, affordable, and earns you a home staging certification that helps you stand out in a competitive local market.

Other facts about becoming a home stager in Ohio

How much do home stagers make in Ohio?

According to our research, home stagers in Ohio typically earn between $36,000 and $56,000 annually, with hourly rates ranging from $18 to $28. Professionals with more experience or those in high-demand areas may earn over $66,000 per year. Income levels can vary based on factors such as location, clientele, and the number of projects handled.

Do I need a license to become a home stager in Ohio?

No, you don’t need a license to work as a home stager in Ohio, so you’re ready to go. However, with an unlicensed profession, it’s always a good idea to earn your home staging certification in order to prove your abilities as an accredited home stager.

Do you need a degree to become a home stager in Ohio?

You don’t need any qualifications at all to become a home stager in Ohio, but the competition can be strong, and while a great track record can speak for itself, when you’re starting out, gaining home staging certification can really help boost your profile and credibility.

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Whether it’s Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Edmond or Broken Arrow, there are homes all over Oklahoma in need of the skills of a professional home stager. Real estate agents throughout the state are hiring home stagers in order to maximize sales.

What does a home stager do?

A home stager gets a home ready for sale. They will make the property as attractive as possible, to as many people as possible. This could include enhancing curb appeal, decluttering, and hiring cleaners, or decorators. They are likely to rearrange furniture, perhaps replacing furniture with temporary, hired items. They’ll accessorise and use lighting to emphasise bright airy rooms or cozy nooks. Basically, they’ll transform the property to be at its most saleable!

A home stager has a great imagination and a lot of creativity. They are also incredibly practical and an excellent problem solver. Does this sound like you?

So, how do you become a home stager in Oklahoma?

We’ll look at this from the point of view of starting your own home staging business. If you want to start with getting a home staging job, read our articles on resume tips, how to get a home staging job, and our overview of home staging careers.

Becoming a home stager is actually not complicated at all. You don’t need to take a long and expensive degree course, nor do you need to be licensed. If this is a career you’re considering, you’re probably experienced in interior décor, even if that’s purely within your own home. That’s great, that’s all excellent experience. You know you’re an artist, you know you have both an eye for design and a finger on the pulse of the real estate market. Now it’s time to take things further…

Steps to becoming a home stager in Oklahoma

A new career is exciting, but how will you get started on this journey? Read on to find out what to do next…

Step 1: Take a home staging certification course in Oklahoma

Knowledge is so valuable in this industry, and there’s a lot to learn, so home staging training in Oklahoma is a great first step. With the Home Staging Institute, you can study at your own pace, and study when it suits you, so it’s perfect to fit around work or other commitments. What’s more, you can be fully certified in as little as four weeks!

Our home study courses are convenient and cost-effective. We’ve tailored our courses for convenience, and we’ve designed our study materials to be fun and interesting. Home staging is an exciting career, and we try to bring this excitement into the learning experience.

But what you really need to know, is that all our courses result in industry-recognised certification. Not all courses offer this, so do bear this in mind when you’re choosing your home staging course.

One of our students, Amanda from Tulsa, took the Professional Course at the Home Staging Institute and completed her home staging certification in under a month. Just two weeks after finishing the course, she landed her first staging job through a referral from her local neighborhood Facebook group. She now stages three to four homes per month and says the course gave her the tools and confidence to present herself professionally from day one.

Step 2: Understand the local Oklahoma market

Once you’ve set off on your journey towards earning your home staging certification, you can then begin to research the local market. When you start working as a professional home stager, it’s going to be so important to have a full understanding of the market. A good home stager will know that homes in different areas require a different type of staging and that certain areas will attract a different demographic, and therefore, will have different requirements. A property next to the best school in the area is going to attract families, and an apartment close to the business district could appeal most to young professionals. All this you will incorporate into your staging designs. No two home staging projects are ever alike, and that’s part of the fun!

Step 3: Learn from other home stagers in Oklahoma

As we’ve said, there’s a lot to learn. You’ll gain a great deal of knowledge if you take a home staging course, but you can also pick up some tips from other home stagers. You can do this by making friends with other home stagers in Oklahoma, swapping design ideas, supplier recommendations and other tips, or you can research the competition by searching on Google. The results that come up should give you a wealth of material to pore through. Grab a notebook and make some notes.

Pick up tips for home staging website design, as this is something you’ll need to do yourself soon. Check out the details of the services they offer and see if they mention their pricing structure. Look at the types of images they use. Can you learn anything from this? Don’t forget to click through to their social media feeds too, as this is also something you’ll be wanting to get started with soon. 

Step 4: Start a home staging business in Oklahoma

Now you’re well on your way to a successful small business, there are just some practicalities to get in place…

You’ll need to…

• Invent a company name and register your business (official details can be found here)
• Learn how to use accounting software or hire an accountant
• Get a decent laptop, you’ll need it for creating images and content for your website and social media as well as corresponding with clients
• Set up your website and social media channels (Unlock 40% off at StagingWebsites.com with voucher code HSIDiscount).
• Get a dedicated cell phone number for your business
• Compile a list of local suppliers, furniture rental companies, movers etc.

 Step 5: Begin marketing

There’s no point being the best home stager in Oklahoma City if no one knows you exist! It’s time to get talking, it’s time to spread the word.

Call up all the local realtors and ask if they’d be happy to recommend you to their clients. Your home staging certification should confirm to them the legitimacy of your business.

Get a set of business cards designed and printed. Carry some with you at all times so you can hand them out to people, and look out for noticeboards that allow local businesses to display their cards. Take advantage of any advertising opportunities you can find.

Join local business organizations and take this opportunity to network with other local entrepreneurs. 

Have a presence on all the social media channels and keep them up to date. Images speak volumes online, so don’t forget to get proof of your skills with a photoshoot of your best projects. If your photography skills are not that great, it could be worth hiring a professional photographer. This could pay for itself if the resulting images bring the work flooding in.

If you’re ready to take the next step toward becoming a home stager in Oklahoma, enrolling in the Professional Course is a smart place to start. You’ll receive a home staging certification that opens doors, builds trust with realtors and sellers, and sets you apart in a growing industry.

Other facts about becoming a home stager in Oklahoma

How much do home stagers make in Oklahoma?

According to our research, home stagers in Oklahoma generally earn between $34,000 and $54,000 annually, with hourly rates ranging from $17 to $27. Professionals with more experience or working in high-demand areas may earn over $64,000 per year. Income can vary depending on factors like location, client base, and the number of projects handled.

Do I need a license to become a home stager in Oklahoma?

No, there is no requirement to have a license to be a home stager in Oklahoma, but if you’re looking for a way to prove the credibility of your business, you can take a home staging course. The resulting certification is perfect for proving your credentials with realtors and other clients.

Do you need a degree to become a home stager in Oklahoma?

No, you do not need a degree to become a home stager in Oklahoma, and while there are no legal requirements for home stagers to have any qualifications at all, the benefits of having a home staging certification are huge, so it’s highly recommended.

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