Tacky Home Staging Tricks That Don’t Work

If you’ve read any of my previous posts on Home Staging, then you know that I’m a huge believer in the power of presentation. My wife is a designer, and since the beginning of my career we’ve invested thousands to stage our listings, because we know it works. I also believe that Home Stagers in general are under appreciated, and many people don’t realize how much work they do to make it look effortless.

So you might think that I’m going to write about the pro’s of home staging– but I’m not. Today I thought I would have some fun and change it up and give you my list of Tacky Home Staging Tricks That Don’t Work. A good staging job can only be spotted by a professional; you want buyers to believe that this is how anyone can live in the home. These tactics below wreak of trying way too hard, and the staging jig is up.

Breakfast in Bed

Setting the mood is one thing, but using real food and setting up a breakfast in bed feeling might be taking it a little too far. True story, I was showing a home to my clients last year that was in high demand with tons of showings. When we arrived there was another agent showing the home and another waiting ahead of us in line. When it was out turn and we got into the master bedroom there was a tray set up for breakfast in bed except the coffee and croissant weren’t on the tray- they were spilled on the bed. I’m sure the home owners were pleased to find that mess.

Staging food on top of a bed is trying a little too hard. Not to mention the potential for a mess to happen.

Fake Food Props

I love it when I see a bowl of fake fruit or better yet a dining table set up with fake food on the plates! It just screams IKEA!

Nothing says cold and uninviting like fake fruit

Fake Wine

While I’m on the topic of fake, take a look at these fake glasses of wine I snapped a picture of on a recent home showing. My guess is that the stager was trying to set the mood of sophistication and carefree living… Except this was set up in a child’s bedroom…

While I enjoy a drink from time to time, decorating with booze is a tricky subject. To many buyers, alcohol doesn’t fit in with their desired lifestyle. Just sayin’

Pointless Furniture Arrangements

To me, this is number 1 on my list of Tacky Home Staging Tricks That Don’t Work, the ‘grand daddy’ of them all. I’m always baffled as to why someone would take a perfectly good room and angle all the furniture? I think angling beds and living arrangements make a room look disjointed and most people’s first response is, “where do I put the TV?”
Showing good flow is key to home staging, but always remember that a home still needs to show people how they will live in it.

Why? I know this room is a large and spacious yet whoever staged this on an angle made it look small and ruined the function. People don’t live like this!

Well there you have it, my list of Tacky Home Staging Tricks That Don’t Work. If you are thinking of selling your home take it from me, it is form, function and pairing down that will make the biggest difference, not the fake wine or breakfast in bed!