Every year the various design houses release their forecasts for trends which they have observed from researching the target audience’s needs, their preferences, and modern realities of daily living. Paying attention, changing your own tastes and mind to truly appeal to the buyer most likely to purchase.
- Minimalism: Something not too difficult for Stagers to work with is the continuance of the “less is more” mantra: maintaining soothing color palettes to relax and refresh the soul using natural colors and environmentally friendly materials. Curves, and rounds, simple sofas, and chairs.
- This year comfort is more important than beauty. No matter how expensive and rich it looks, it is important how practical and comfortable it is in everyday use. Stagers need to work more towards this comfort and luxury look and feel.
- Diversity of style. Instead of matchy, matchy consider purchasing & using different styles of furniture while they should be smaller vs larger for regular sized properties, they still need to be in proportion to everything in the room. Example: the scale and proportion of the conversation chair related to the sofa is crucial for balance and harmony in the space.
- Tech: Large household appliances are being replaced by small electronics & more people than ever use smart devices for ventilation, air ionization, space ergonomics, lighting. Stagers can pay attention to ergonomics, switch outlets to include USB ports and recommend security doorbell cam to be installed.Stagers can help improve air quality & sanitation, recommend energy efficiency by switching to LED lightbulbs throughout the house. This will save the buyer money not just because the bulb lasts 25,000 hours vs 1,000 for a regular bulb but one Energy Star-certified LED light bulb uses up to 90% less energy than old incandescent bulbs and can save you more than $80 in electricity costs over its lifetime…that is just one bulb- imagine a house full.
- Biophilic: As apartments, houses and offices are located away from forests and fresh air the trend is to bring the look and feel inside. Outside influencers in art & cushions from the forest, green and brown shades, pale yellow reminds people of sunlight and watery, barely there blue, brings the calmness of water. Materials rattan, concrete, stone, wood and even straw.
- Wellness design is a sizzling topic. Self care & well-being we have been hearing about for a while, but environments geared to facilitate healthy living will make a HUGE difference to how a buyer feels in a space- and what the buyers are looking for. Watch for more on this topic in our November Staging magazine. In the meanwhile, take a peek at this revolutionary new project happening in Toronto, Canada, where Elton John and his family have purchased a penthouse at www.KINGtoronto.com/penthousesDescribed as a floating sanctuary on a mountain above a central courtyard. Each peak overlooks a different part of the city and rises above the diverse public space at the ground level.
One of a kind for its unique design & the deep integration of nature through the trees, foliage and outdoor terraces, meaningful sustainability, curved surfaces and stunning, panoramic views. Notice lots of windows(no drapery stagers) art with a view and live tree inside the house - Multi- Functional home: Stagers who are top of their game have always auto suggested function of space with the work they do. The shift is to multi functional homes. Situational isolation created the demand for bespoke spaces, even in the humblest of homes, for various dedicated activities like luxe movie rooms, games & hobby spaces, Spa’s, wellness, and exercise.
- Designer Laundry, garage, and mudrooms: What the pandemic taught us is, every space matters. Even the most utilitarian of spaces are being given the “glam” look. A report showed 87% of buyers across all demographics want a dedicated, fully equipped laundry room on the main floor which also serves other functions.
- Nostalgia aka Eclectic: ultimately a blend of styles and eras providing a more personal, warm connection to the passing of time.
- Accessories with a message:
There are so many trends evolving this year as a result of the pandemic. We missed seeing our loved ones, so it shouldn’t surprise us then that the faces and bodies drawn with a few minimalist lines as Picasso are wending their way onto prints, cushions, and vases.
From Pier One: The Danya B Encircled Reader Iron Sculpture effectively captures the joy of reading and precious relaxation.
Stagers frequently report interference from “suggestions” from real estate agents and sellers (often from a misguided perspective) totally can jeopardise the end result of the work staging professionals produced. When someone insists a stager changes the art, or a cushion -even a sofa, because that individual doesn’t like it, is missing the point. Staging is for the buyer – not the agent or the seller. Curating the experience is part of the stager’s creativity -one seemingly simple change can totally wreck the whole bespoke effect on the buyer AND YES, it matters greatly to the person selling the house. The work of a stager is NOT to “just” bring some furnishings to “juzh up” a house; when a stager is well trained, tuned into the buyer needs, the work secures the equity in the house- NOT just get it sold.
There is no better time than right now to take the plunge if you are interested in starting a home staging business or training a team member to be your in-house stager at your brokerage. Contact me, Christine Rae today to learn more! Or request our information booklet to become a home stager and start your real estate staging business with staging certification from CSP International™!
