FAQs: What is the Difference Between Decorating and Staging?

Welcome back to FAQs, where maybe a minutes' worth of reading gets your most often-asked questions answered.

Easy to see why this one comes up a lot, there are a lot of commonalities:

• Arenas – aesthetic concerns, personal tastes and values
• Skill set – creativity and visualization
• Concerns – spending money, subjective solutions

What they do not share – indeed, where they could not be more opposite- are their motivation and goals. 

Decorating makes a space work better for the people in it. It could include purchases or re-purposing, space planning, finishes or colors; the status or the function. 

It is personal. Clients make choices that will make them happy. Solutions are tailored to the their circumstances-their wants and needs,  their motivations and values.  You ask a lot of questions: what do you think, how do you feel about ______? What works, what doesn't, and where have things fallen down or gotten stuck?

The goal is to have the client even more snugly ensconced in their space, and this Westchester County Decorator aims for results to  fit both the needs, and dreams of my clients. In the end, good ROI is judged by the client, it's more anecdotal than quantifiable.

Staging- preparing a property for sale is about getting it sold quickly, and for the best price. "A" solution is created  to serve all the players-property owners, buyers, and agents. A property is made to be  more universally appealing so buyers are both attracted to it, and can see themselves living there. Decor is neutral but current, engaging but not distracting.

Also factored in a whole lot of other information-what will the property list for, what is the competition like? Who will look and buy here, what makes this neighborhood special?

Great listings photos that show the best side of the property are the number one priority. Recent NAR stats report that 90% of potential buyers troll through online listings before they do anything else. Well-lit, and attractive photos engage buyers, and convert online traffic to in-person showings.

Good ROI comes on both levels, on both personal/peace of mind levels (selling a house quickly) and more measurable standards (more traffic, more offers, better offers, qualified buyers, fewer DOM).

Marie Graham is an Interior Decorator, an Accredited Home Stager and owner of The Refreshed Home. Helping homeowners make good plans, and wise decisions about their space and their things since 1981, she may be reached directly at 914.607.2895