The RESA mission for the home staging industry is to have well-established standards that are practiced universally. By sharing tips from those of us who have extensive experience, RESA aims to raise the bar for all home stagers so that they can be successful as well.
RESA recently asked me a question for their Ask the Experts Series
“What should I consider when staging a historical home?”
This is such an appropriate question for me, as I currently live in a 200-year-old home! As the founder and instructor of the Expert Psychological Staging® and Psychological Color Expert certification courses, I definitely have some tips to share with you.
Staging a home to sell is a somewhat different animal when you are dealing with a historic or period home. Most historic homes sell to a specific kind of buyer (like myself!) who is looking for character and architectural details that are not typically found in new homes.
Your first goal when staging a historical home should be to put the focus on the properties distinct architecture which will make likely buyers fall in love at first sight.
Your second goal should be to minimize buyer’s objections of old homes, such as their smaller rooms, ill-functioning kitchens, dingy bathrooms, and limited storage. Period-sensitive updates may be needed to make the home marketable to a wider range of buyers. Here’s one such bathroom remodel I consulted on for a historic 1920s property:
Historic homeowners tend to be collectors and don’t always realize how crowded their interior has become over time.
If you are staging an occupied historic home, focus on helping them eliminate the clutter that often accumulates in older homes and detracts from architectural features.
Tone down busy patterns and remove any ornate decor. In my RESA-accredited Expert Psychological Staging® certification course, I train stagers how to create furniture and art arrangements that direct attention to (but don’t block the view of) architectural focal points and easily draw buyers through the most challenging floor plans.
Historic homes usually have beautiful windows and trim, so be sure to expose those so would-be buyers take notice. By taking down heavy window treatments, you reveal the beauty and craftsmanship of historic trim and make the rooms appear larger by letting in more natural light and drawing the eye to the view outside.
Take a look at this before and after of an occupied historic home staging by June 2018 Expert Psychological Staging® graduates:
If the walls need painting (and they likely do), neutrals with a discernible undertone of blue or green to enrich the look of wood furniture and flooring. Even truer, less neutral blues and greens freshen up historic homes and don’t need to be avoided.
Use color carefully to keep the attention on the architecture of a historic home, whether that’s custom trim, built-ins, transom windows, or fireplaces. Avoid tans, grays, and blush colors on walls with stained wood trim, which will create a dreary, washed-out effect. I address the appropriate use of historic paint colors, as well as how to create inviting and harmonious color palettes for any home, in my Psychological Color Expert™ certification course.
Staging and photo styling is particularly important when selling a historic home. I use color and staging props to create a story in listing photos, always with the goal of drawing attention to the architectural selling points that win over old house lovers.
Don’t be overwhelmed by the prospect of staging a historic home – it can be one of the most rewarding and dramatic transformations you can make!
For more insight into staging, design, and paint color, check out my award-winning blog at www.thedecorologist.com.
- Tips for Staging a Historic Home for Sale - October 19, 2022
- 4 Mistakes to Avoid When Starting a Staging Business - March 8, 2021
- The Home Staging Mistake You Are Probably Making - August 9, 2018
