4 Essential Items for Staging Vacant Properties
Imagine stepping into a vacant property that instantly feels like home. This transformation is no accident, as industry experts such as a CEO & Founder and a Chief Executive Officer share their top tips for effective staging. The first insight emphasizes the importance of including a bed in the primary bedroom, setting the tone for relaxation and comfort. The final of four valuable insights covers the necessity of fully furnishing key areas of the home to create a lived-in feel.
- Include a Bed in Primary Bedroom
- Add a Well-Styled Dining Table
- Place a Cozy Sofa in Living Room
- Fully Furnish Key Areas of Home
Include a Bed in Primary Bedroom
A bed in the primary bedroom is one of the most important pieces of furniture when staging a vacant property. It's the focal point of the room and helps people imagine it as a place to relax and unwind. Without it, the room can feel empty, cold, or even smaller than it is. A bed makes it clear: This is where you rest, recharge, and start your day.
A well-staged bed is more than just practical - it makes the room feel alive. Clean, neutral linens give it a fresh look, while soft throws and decorative pillows add warmth and style. Whether it's a sleek, modern setup or something cozier, the bed sets the mood. It turns a blank space into a retreat, inviting people to picture themselves there.
The bed also helps show off the size and flow of the room. It gives context for how much space is left for walking, adding furniture, or even sneaking in a storage bench at the foot. For smaller or awkwardly shaped bedrooms, it's especially helpful in showing how everything can fit.
A bed might seem like a small detail, but it's one that sticks. It makes the space feel complete, turning an empty house into something personal and inviting. It's often the moment where people think, "Yes, I could see myself here." And that's the whole point, isn't it?
Add a Well-Styled Dining Table
When I stage a vacant property, I always make sure to include a well-styled dining table. It's one of those pieces that can completely transform a space by adding warmth and a sense of connection. Buyers can instantly picture themselves hosting family dinners, celebrating holidays, or enjoying a quiet meal, which makes the home feel more personal and inviting. It's also a great way to define a space, especially in open-concept layouts where the layout might otherwise feel undefined. I keep the styling simple—neutral place settings, a centerpiece like fresh flowers or a modern bowl, and maybe some soft lighting—to make the setup feel approachable but still polished. This little touch helps buyers visualize how the space can work for their everyday life and special moments alike. It's a small detail, but it goes a long way in helping them see the house as a home.
Place a Cozy Sofa in Living Room
When staging a vacant property, a cozy and inviting sofa in the living room is always a must-have. It's impactful because the living room is often the heart of the home, and a well-placed sofa immediately helps potential buyers envision themselves relaxing or entertaining in the space.
A sofa also anchors the room, making it feel complete and functional rather than cold and empty. Paired with a rug, a coffee table, and maybe some throw pillows or a blanket, it creates a warm and welcoming vibe that makes the property feel like home. This setup enhances the staging by helping buyers emotionally connect to the space, which is often what tips the scales in favor of a sale.
Fully Furnish Key Areas of Home
Vacant homes are always the most complicated to sell since buyers have no sense of how big furniture is. They don't know if their sectional couch will crowd the living room, or if the king bed will leave any available space to walk in the bedroom. Whenever I talk to a client about listing a vacant home, I always encourage them to show the property fully furnished.
If that's not possible, I focus on the areas of the home that homebuyers consider most important—generally the living area and the primary bedroom. In a living room, I always recommend staging with a large couch, highlighting how many people could be in the room watching TV or relaxing at once, and if I can, I provide a separate, more casual seating area. In the primary bedroom, I want to see a bed and two nightstands that highlight the space.
With these two types of furniture and these two spaces highlighted, potential buyers can understand how much space there truly is and can start seeing themselves enjoying those spaces. The result has always been increased buyer interest, which ultimately results in a higher sales price.
