“To Art or Not to Art? Is that the Question?

This notion is particularly relevant to Realtors and Sellers who are in the midst of preparing a staging budget for residential properties soon to enter the market for sale.

Art is undoubtedly vital to first-rate staging. The pressing question is... how much art is the right amount?

The good news is that art, in almost any volume or capacity, is a very effective design tool in any stager's toolbox. Art Staging Inc. specializes in providing access to a deep inventory of on-trend, bookable art that is the best-in-industry option on a per-dollar basis.

Staging budgets are typically calculated on a month-to-month timeframe- from the moment a home is first listed for sale until the home goes to contract. The spend amount takes into consideration the home type and market value. Full staging costs- start to finish- can often times be 1% to 3% of the home’s listed price. So, a 600,000 home, for example, may require a staging budget of up to $6000 -$18,000. Many factors contribute to generating such a budget.

One such consideration is "Art Staging". With or without the rest of the furnishings and décor, Art is capable of producing an inspiring “marketable” home. And it can be done for less than $200-$300 monthly! It's important to keep in mind that when a home is properly staged, that property, many times, is on and off the market within a month or two. That equates to a smart investment by any measure. This investment piece is a critical part of the home-selling puzzle that is worth understanding. As a staging strategy, Art plays a noteworthy role impacting both time on market and its ability to sell the property at a premium price. Professional Staging, according to NAR, RESA, IAHSP studies and data, generates well-documented, favorable results for home sellers in every marketplace.

Let’s take a look at staging from the perspective of how wall Art leads as a primary décor staple.

Statistically, the key rooms that most heavily influence a prospective buyer’s purchasing decisions include living room, family room, kitchen, dining room, and master bedroom. These key spaces are generally the focus for where the lion’s share of the budget will be spent. Beyond these primary areas of the home, fully staging every additional room throughout a property can add significantly to any staging costs.

So how does one go about highlighting the remainder of the home while keeping the budget in check? What we do know is that leaving the rest of a house out of the staging process will likely make a home feel disjointed and cold.

Staging Through the Prism of Art…

Let's now consider the remainder of a home’s staging needs, especially unique spaces and rooms that arguably have a compelling influence on a would-be buyer’s decision-making process.

Entryway Art:

This is a front and center area which defaults as a "first interaction" space between a visitor and the interior of home. It provides buyers with a good indication of what's to come and thus influences early perceptions about the property.

Entryways are an opportunity to set the stage and to place a prospective buyer in an optimal frame of mind. Recall your “Red Thread” staging tool and how, as a stager, you can motivate minds by insuring a cohesive theme throughout the entirety of the home. A purposefully curated piece of wall art in the foyer sets the tone.

Office Art:

Many homeowners now perform a significant amount of work from home. This becomes a critical space to highlight with an inspiring piece of art as many buyers will likely spend a good portion of every day in this section of the house.

Second and Third Bedroom Art:

One of the first things we do with a new home, going all the way back to childhood, is to stake out and claim the bedroom that will be ours. This is to be our own individual space. The data shows that homebuyers often tour with family members, so this is a staging opportunity not to be overlooked. Bedrooms are functional and highly personal spaces for both family members and for guests. Showing them as empty shells is simply uninspiring. Consider adding one to several pieces of well-selected art, depending on the square footage and layout, and you will ensure these quarters are seen as inviting respites. Carefully selected pieces of wall art will infuse a sense of warmth and inspiration into these important rooms.

Bathroom Art:

Master baths and main floor water closets are both private and front-facing spaces within every family and guest dynamic. Don’t assume these areas are irrelevant to the overall appeal of the home. They matter. With a bit of "art" forethought, you can make bathrooms memorable assets for effectively marketing a property.

Entertainment Art:

Game, bar, theatre, music, and craft rooms, together or separate, are found in most every home. They too require the right amount of décor attention. These art-hungry spaces should be included as part of every staging budget. They can, however, be pricey expanses to fill when implementing a full staging approach. Wall art, alone, is an excellent budget friendly option that offers a great way to energize large empty spaces. Place wall Art with fun and energetic themes that encourage buyers to envision making good memories in these highly social corners of the home.

Nook Art:

It’s a mistake to assume that because an area is small and not part of the “primary rooms” staging strategy that they should be left bare and empty. Ignoring these intimate and useful areas can be risky in that they may become unmotivating detractors to prospective buyers. You don’t want to chance creating a void in the buyer’s vison of how the home can become their own. Homeowners and their families cherish such intimate spaces and a hint of art here and there reveal exciting possibilities.

Curate Carefully...

One particular dilemma with selecting art, whether pursuing a full, partial, or “art only” staging, is deciding on art that inspires yet doesn't overwhelm. Some will say to go with color neutral and subject neutral abstracts. Others want to inspire with more color and energetic subject matter. Just keep in mind that staging isn't merely a means to fill rooms; done well, staging inspires familiarity, warmth, vision and leads to faster purchases.

Like all décor, quality matters. When designing a purposeful staging keep in mind that the final product does help buyers imagine both the real and perceived value of the property at hand. The successful staging and homes sales formula is rather simple. Cut costs using low quality, inexpensive décor or no décor at all and chance keeping buyers at bay. Or invest wisely in overall staging quality and find your property selling faster and many times at a premium price. Savvy buyers will consciously and subconsciously take note of great design so always error on the side of higher quality.

Great art can easily do just that.

Happy Staging!