Every year, I get the privilege of seeing the staging industry from behind the curtain—listening to stories, reviewing submissions, and watching the quiet, consistent hard work of stagers transform into national recognition. And every year, I’m blown away.
The 2025 Home Staging Industry Awards were no exception.
This year’s winners brought more than great design—they brought vision, strategy, and a deep commitment to raising the standard for what home staging can be. They staged with purpose, educated their communities, grew businesses with integrity, and brought incredible creativity to every space they touched.
View official photos from the awards show here
A Few Standout Moments – Celebrating 2025 Home Staging Industry Award Winners in Vegas
Tammy Cunningham, of Center Stage Decorating, continues to be a force in Canadian staging, this year earning recognition in multiple categories, including a luxury vacant project win. Her work reflects a refined eye and deep understanding of what buyers connect with emotionally. (Staged project pictured below)
Jason Saft, of Staged to Sell Home in Brooklyn, NY, swept several categories in the U.S., including Luxury Vacant Project of the Year. His spaces are layered, editorial, and consistently prove that staging is both art and strategy. (Work photographed below)
Maria Kirkpatrick, of MAK Staging & Design in Los Angeles, was recognized for her vacant project work—proof that Rising Stars don’t stay rising long. She’s established herself as a mainstay to watch. (Before and after photo pictured below)
Cathy Hobbs, a longtime industry icon, brought home the Short-Term Rental Project of the Year for the U.S. See photos from the short-term rental listing that inspired her peers here.
A Moment of Influence with the 2025 Home Staging Industry Award Winners
One of the most powerful moments of the evening came from Kishah Langham (pictured below), RESA® Texas State President and winner of the 2025 RESA Approved Instructor of the Year award. Kishah captivated the room with her speech about the impact of teaching RESA’s CE-approved course, Staging to Sell, What Every Agent Should Know.
She reminded us that staging isn’t just about the transformation of a space—it’s about educating real estate agents, shifting perceptions, and elevating our industry through consistent messaging and professionalism. Her words left a lasting impression, and it’s clear that her leadership is creating ripple effects in Texas and beyond.
We also had the honor of celebrating Cheryl Eisen, CEO of Interior Marketing Group, who won Best Occupied Staging Project of the Year – USA at the 2025 RESA® Home Staging Industry Awards. Known for setting the standard in luxury staging and marketing, this was Cheryl’s first time taking home a RESA® Award—and it was well-deserved. Her winning project exemplified how occupied staging can still deliver high-impact results without sacrificing sophistication. It was a standout moment, not just for Cheryl, but for everyone in the room who has followed her journey and been inspired by her presence in the industry.
More Than a Project: A Movement
The Home Staging Industry Awards are about more than beautiful rooms—they’re about recognizing the people who are lifting this industry in every direction. This year, we honored not just exceptional projects, but the partners, educators, and leaders who are making behind-the-scenes impact every single day.
Bobbie McGrath, a longtime advocate for occupied staging, received a well-deserved award for her contributions to the field as RESA Partner of the Year. And let me tell you—her excitement was contagious. She jumped and cheered her way on stage, bringing the house to life. But her speech was what truly stuck with us. Bobbie emphasized that every listing deserves a stager as part of the marketing plan—not just luxury properties or vacant homes, but even the everyday listings where an occupied consult or photo prep can completely shift the outcome. Her message resonated deeply with so many in the room who have made careers out of showing sellers that good staging isn’t reserved for the high-end—it’s essential for everyone.
Then there was Heidi Bergeland, Founder of The Minted Home and who is serving as the 2025 RESA® Minnesota State President, had a moment on stage that was something I’ve never seen before in my ten years of attending these awards.
When she accepted her award for the RESA State President of the Year, she didn’t take the stage alone—she invited Kishah Langham, a finalist in the category, to join her. Heidi shared that she had learned so much from Kishah and from Sophia Lavelle, the California State President who couldn’t attend, and that her leadership has been shaped by the examples of others around her. The room went still for a moment…not out of surprise, but because everyone felt the weight of what Heidi had just shown us: collaboration over competition, respect across experience levels, and real community in action.
These weren’t just awards, they were reminders of why we show up, why we share knowledge, and why this industry thrives when we lift each other up.
Thinking About 2026?
If you’ve ever thought about submitting your work, let this be your sign:
Start documenting now.
Take high-quality before and after photos of every project.
Track your transformations and results.
Review the award categories and qualifications ahead of time.
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being prepared.
To every stager who submitted, made the Top 10, or took home a win—thank you. You’re pushing this industry forward and setting the bar higher every year. And to those watching from the sidelines: I hope to be writing about your win this time next year.
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- Record-Breaking Attendance at CREB: 121 Calgary Agents Attend RESA’s Staging to Sell Class - March 2, 2026
