10 Tips on Home Staging: Decorating for Both Staging and Living Environments
Sell Your Home Without Sacrificing Comfort
When selling a home, first impressions can make or break a sale. That’s where home staging comes in—it’s the art of presenting a property in its best light to potential buyers. But what if you’re still living in the home? Can you strike a balance between functionality for daily life and creating a space that attracts buyers?
Yes, you can.
This guide offers 10 practical tips to help you stage your home beautifully while maintaining a livable, stylish, and organised environment for yourself and your family.
1. 🧹 Start with a Deep Declutter
Clutter distracts buyers and makes spaces feel smaller. Begin by removing items you don’t use daily—think extra shoes, mail, kitchen appliances, or overly personal decor.
Pro Tip: Use decorative baskets or storage boxes to hide essentials. Pack items you won’t need in the next few weeks—it’ll help with moving, too!
2. 🖼️ Depersonalise Without Erasing Character
Buyers should be able to visualise themselves living in your home, not feel like they’re intruding on someone else’s life.
Do:
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Replace family photos with neutral art or nature prints
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Store collectables and religious items
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Keep bookshelves curated and minimal
Don’t:
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Remove all warmth or personality—aim for a boutique hotel feel.
3. 🎨 Use a Neutral Colour Palette
Neutral tones make spaces look brighter, larger, and more universally appealing.
Best colours for staging:
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Warm whites
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Light greys or greige
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Soft taupe or beige
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Hints of sage, blush, or navy for accents
These hues create calm while blending beautifully with your existing furniture.
4. 🛋️ Float Furniture to Open the Space
Avoid pushing all furniture against the walls. Instead, float sofas and chairs to create conversational layouts.
Use rugs to define spaces, especially in open floor plans. This technique also gives the illusion of a more spacious and functional layout.
5. 🛏️ Style the Bedrooms Like a Boutique Hotel
Your bedroom should feel like a serene retreat. Invest in crisp white or neutral bedding, plump pillows, and a simple throw blanket at the foot.
Extra tip: Matching lamps on either side of the bed create balance and symmetry, perfect for both photos and daily living.
6. 🍽️ Create an Inviting Dining Area
Set your dining table with simple place settings, a runner, and a centrepiece—like a vase with fresh flowers or a bowl of lemons.
This adds elegance and shows how the space can function socially, without making it impractical for daily use.
7. 🌿 Bring Life with Plants and Greenery
Indoor plants make rooms feel fresh, clean, and alive. They soften corners, add texture, and signal care.
Choose low-maintenance plants like:
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Snake plant
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Pothos
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Fiddle leaf fig
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Succulents
Even faux greenery works if styled well and dust-free.
8. 🚪 Maximise Storage—but Keep It Tidy
Buyers open closets. Keep yours half full, colour-coded if possible, and neatly arranged.
Use fabric bins or baskets to organise everyday items discreetly. In the kitchen, clear countertops and organised pantries or shelves with glass jars or labelled containers.
9. 💡 Focus on Lighting and Ambience
Great lighting sells homes. Use a mix of:
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Overhead lights
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Table lamps
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Floor lamps
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Sconces (if available)
Replace old bulbs with warm, soft white LEDs. Open curtains or use sheer drapes to let in natural light during showings.
10. 🕯️ Add Small Touches That Feel Like Home
You’re still living here, so make it comfortable and attractive.
Strategic staging accents:
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Scented candles or diffusers with light fragrances
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Clean, folded towels in bathrooms
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A styled tray on the coffee table with a book anda candle
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A breakfast nook set for two
These details create an aspirational, yet achievable, lifestyle image.
FAQs – Staging While Living in Your Home
❓Can I keep personal photos during staging?
It’s best to store most personal photos, but one or two stylishly framed, non-obtrusive photos may be fine in low-traffic rooms.
❓How do I hide kids’ toys or pet items?
Use ottomans with storage, bins with lids, or dedicate one closet corner to quickly stow items before showings.
❓Do I need to stage every room?
Focus on high-impact spaces: living room, kitchen, master bedroom, bathrooms, and entryway. Secondary rooms can be lightly styled.
Final Words
Home staging isn’t about faking a lifestyle—it’s about highlighting potential. And yes, you can absolutely maintain a livable space while showcasing your home’s best features.
With these tips, you’ll strike the perfect balance between function and flair, attracting buyers while continuing to enjoy your day-to-day routine.
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