ALL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY IMPRESSIVE STAGING
Nidhika Singh is the Certified Home Stager and owner of Impressive Staging, a highly regarded home staging company in Ajax, ON with a service area extending into the Greater Toronto Area. With a background in textile design and a Master of Arts degree, Nidhika seamlessly blends her artistic flair with her passion for creating spaces that resonate emotionally with potential buyers. From the earliest days of her childhood, she found joy and fulfillment in the art of decoration and organization, a passion that blossomed into a thriving career.
Each step, whether it was completing my education, managing a home with two young kids, or establishing Impressive Staging, contributed to the person I am today.
Today, Nidhika’s approach to home staging is not just about aesthetics; it’s about creating an experience. This philosophy, combined with her relentless dedication, is what sets her apart and continues to elevate Impressive Staging’s reputation in the real estate industry.
I want prospective buyers to not just view a home, but to feel what it’s like to live there.
Nidhika’s dedication has grown her business from just one project a month to an impressive 30 to 40 projects monthly and has earned her Top 10 spots in the RESA® Home Staging Industry Awards each year from 2019 to 2024.
BEFORE
AFTER
The Home Stager’s Perspective: A Conversation with Nidhika Singh
Q: How does your commitment to RESA®, the exclusive nonprofit trade association for stagers, align with your professional goals and values?
Nidhika: Being a staging company that has been backed by RESA® support and encouragement brings in a lot of responsibility with in us. Responsibility towards our clients who are either home owners or listing agents, who trust us with their and their client’s most expensive assets.
When we sign a contract, we take over the stress of our clients. We ensure to deliver on the committed time and best prepare the property for listing with a motto to ensure best value for our clients.
Q: How has your perception of the staging industry evolved since you started?
Nidhika: As I delved deeper into the world of staging, my perception evolved through continuous learning and hands-on experience.
I gained insights into market trends, client preferences, and the dynamic nature of the real estate industry. The challenges and successes in each project became valuable lessons, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the industry.
Q: Would you share some insights into your creative process? Where do you typically find inspiration for your staging designs, and how do you translate that into your work?
Nidhika: The process often begins with a thorough consultation with the client. Understanding their goals, preferences, and the unique features of the property lays the foundation for the staging design and helps to align the creative vision with the client’s expectations.
Then, a careful assessment of the property follows, taking into consideration its architectural style, layout, and existing design elements to identify key features to highlight and potential areas for improvement.
Once the design concept is finalized, the actual staging process begins; selecting and arranging furnishings, considering lighting and spatial flow, and adding decorative elements.
Inspiration can be drawn from various sources, including interior design magazines, online platforms, and attending design exhibitions. Additionally, the unique characteristics of the property, such as its location, history, or architectural details, can serve as inspirational starting points.
ALL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY IMPRESSIVE STAGING
Q: Staging can transform a property, but it’s not just about aesthetics. How do you balance design principles with the practical aspects of making a home more marketable?
Nidhika: Before starting the design process, it’s essential to understand the target market for the property. Knowing the demographic and preferences of potential buyers allows for a more market-appropriate design.
While incorporating trends is important, a neutral color palette enhances marketability by creating a blank canvas for buyers to envision the space as their own. Removing personal items and specific decor helps depersonalize the space, appealing to a broader audience.
Identifying and highlighting key features, like architectural details or natural lighting, further boosts the property’s appeal. Strategic furniture placement enhances both aesthetics and functionality, allowing buyers to easily visualize living in the home.
Successful staging balances design principles and practical considerations, transforming a property into a visually appealing, market-savvy space.
Q: Can you recall a particularly challenging staging project? What obstacles did you face, and how did you overcome them?
Nidhika: One of the most challenging staging projects involved an outdated property with unconventional layouts and architectural elements. The client had a limited budget for updates, and the goal was to transform the space into a modern and appealing home that would attract potential buyers.
To address the outdated design, strategic updates were made: This involved simple changes such as painting walls with neutral, modern colours, replacing hardware, and updating lighting fixtures to give the property a more contemporary feel without exceeding the budget.
A careful selection of budget-friendly yet stylish furniture was crucial. Opting for versatile pieces that could be reused in future projects helped maximize the impact of the investment.
Dealing with unconventional layouts required creative solutions involving experimenting with furniture placement, using multi-functional pieces, and creating designated zones within rooms to highlight their potential functionality.
This staging project served as a learning opportunity, emphasizing adaptability, strategic resource management, effective communication, and problem-solving skills—qualities essential for success in the dynamic field of staging.
Q: What do you believe are the most important qualities or skills that a successful home stager should possess?
Nidhika: Communication skills. Adaptability to different styles, client preferences, property types and market trends. Business acumen, market knowledge, client empathy and attention to details.
You can learn more about Impressive Staging at https://www.impressivestaging.ca/
Marketing Assistant at Real Estate Staging Association
Joanna creates marketing, advertising, and social media messaging for the purpose of conveying the organization's mission, vision and value, educating consumers, attracting new members, highlighting member accomplishments, providing content for real estate agents, and promoting strategic partners.
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