Ah, summer! It’s coming and it’s a time when all of us think of getting away. If you’ve been sheltering in place this spring you are probably itching to get out of the house. While it may not be possible yet to go on vacations, we can take advantage of the outdoor spaces we have in our homes.
Patios, balconies, even front porches are additional usable square footage to our homes and we can take advantage of every inch. In home staging, we want to show off the promise of every space. We want the potential buyer to envision themselves in that space, take in the scenery, heck, even sit down and contemplate life for a moment. That’s why staging an outdoor space is just as important as staging an indoor one.
People, in general, can figure out what size a sofa is and mentally imprint it on a space. It’s a lot trickier with outdoor spaces, though. Outdoor furniture comes in all different sizes, styles and uses. It’s difficult to envision what a bench or bistro set might look like on a challenging outdoor space. In home staging, we want to give the home buyer an idea of how that space can be used. Seeing a lovely lounge scene on a master bedroom patio gives the buyer a real clue as to what that space can be. Maybe they never thought of having morning coffee off of their bedroom. Maybe their current patio is used for bike storage. Maybe they are so busy thinking of kitchens and bathrooms they neglect to think about themselves. But setting a scene for them to imagine their future there may just be what seals the deal on this particular home.
We want the buyer to consider the entirety of the house and so the outside must be a continuation of the incredible work done inside. When staging inside, we have walls on which to hang art or furniture that can hold lamps and accessories. Outdoor spaces have less to work with and therefore need careful consideration. We don’t hang art on exterior walls (don’t even ask) so we have to use the view as our visual accessory. Setting an elaborate tablescape outdoors is often impractical and unnecessary, so thoughtful accessorizing needs to be used to give the idea of future uses. Our job as home stagers is to give the buyer just enough of a lead to begin their fantasy and let them fill in the blanks with the particulars.
In this new era of virtual tours and online home shopping, it’s paramount to take advantage of every asset you have. Someone looking through real estate photos on their tiny apartment kitchen may see a tasteful outdoor dining table for six on a rooftop deck and dream of the dinner parties with friends they can have there. A little bench at the front entryway stirs up ideas of putting on your sneakers before a long run with the dog. A cozy lounge tucked away inspires thoughts of long conversations over wine with your partner. Setting that outdoor space with furniture and a few accessories is the home stagers’ way of inciting that fantasy in a new home buyer’s mind.
We all need a getaway - someplace to refresh and unwind. Our current situation may not make that a possibility, but if we are creative and inventive, we can find those little retreats in our very homes. As home stagers, we can use our craft to inspire people; give them options they may not see for themselves. Making full use of all spaces in and around a house sets it apart, makes it a winner and makes it a place you want to come home to.