Staging Question - Beds in all Rooms?

Question

Hello, I purchased a 4 bedroom home and was wondering if I needed to put beds in all rooms.  I'm on a budget and it would come out somewhat costly, but I want to do it right since I am able to use the beds for future projects anyway.  Any other staging advice would be grateful.  Thank you.

Jackie Patterson · Answer

A lot of good suggestions here.  I stage all of our properties, and it really makes a difference.  I don't feel it's necessary to stage additional bedrooms other than the master, but with 4 bedrooms, you might show one as an exercise room, sewing room, computer room, etc.  I usually stage the kitchen, bathroom (towels, shower curtain, art work, and something on counter), master bedroom, and any other main room.  I agree with the others, it needs to be classy...not garage sale items.  I've also used air mattresses as Steve suggests, and I absolutely agree.....NO used bedding!

Steve Babiak · Answer

Air mattresses ...

With a sign that says to stay off of the furniture ...

Deflated air mattresses don't take up very much space as compared to a mattress and boxspring set.

And if you take in somebody's used bedding - this is one way that bed bugs have been known to spread.

Mike V. · Answer

I stage every bedroom but I use an air mattress on top of a 2x4 frame that comes apart with only 14 screws.  Less than $30 (not counting the linens) can easily be moved and stores away easily when not in use.

Don Hines · Answer

My wife uses furniture from our house. Of course we do not have anything staged presently with the holidays coming. For the appearance of beds in each room, she might put and old mattress on empty paint cans. Frames are inexspensive, she might just use the top mattress. She likes to make one room in a house into a nursury with a baby bed, or a twin bed with some toys in the room. If a room has a feature that might not be understood, it definately needs to be staged. Example is of a room where in we moved a coat closet from the living room to a bed room that already had a closet. This increased the usable space in the living room. The space was perfect for a chest of drawers. I put a cable connection in it and she put a TV on the chest. Don't leave your prospects wondering what you were thinking when you made a special feature.Make these features a selling point.
Don

Mary R. · Answer

I hope to put my residence up for sale in a few months, and plan to stage kitchen with a new crockpot and a basket of greens, table and chairs, M bath w/basket of greens, possibly shower curtain, seat cover, living room with couch and 1-2 easy chairs, coffee table, yard with patio table and chairs
Nothing in bedrooms.

Ana Hyler · Answer

Greg,
As others have said...staging every single room would be an overkill...but for sure...stage the kitchen, the bathroom, depending on the property...maybe the front porch...and yes, the master bedroom. Remember....there is only one chance for a "FIRST IMPRESSION"... make sure you use only the finest accessories like Paul said. In the kitchen...make sure you make the buyer feel they are not only buying the property...but also a life style! Think VIP and stage it like that. Is this a proerty you renovated? Good luck and keep us informed of your progress.

Paul B. · Answer

Greg, in my opinion as long as you do a nice job with the master bedroom, you should be OK. After all, it's the ones who will be sleeping in the master bedroom who will be making the decision to buy. Having said that, if you have the time and resources to stage the house more fully, I don't think that can hurt you. However, you should be using only very fine accessories when staging the house; better to leave a room empty than stage it poorly.

Chris H. · Answer

Hello Greg,

I think this is an excellent question you posed. I am unsure if you need to stage all rooms, or just one to two to get the feel of it.

I can think of a few options that might be of some assistance to you though.

I. You could always try craigslist, estate sales, or the dump to find a mattress and boxsprings, since having a used/dirty one really wouldn't matter. You could possibly get a huge discount for looking here first.

The reason I recommend CL is because mattresses and boxsprings for this purpose don't have to be functional, only to convey the look, right? If you purchased a nice bedding comforter, pillow casings and a skirt, I think that could hide any and all dirt/damage.

II. You could possibly get a deal by buying in bulk all of the beds at once in a mattress store.

Storing these beds and all the other projects you will undertake might be an issue, but if you have consecutive deals it shouldn't be, or dirty/used/old mattresses you got for cheap, I don't think you'd feel bad for tossing them out.

Staging Question - Beds in all Rooms?

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