Our most recent stage took us to the Brookfield Village area of Hilliard. This 4-bedroom, 2.5-bath home with over 2,300 square feet was packed with space for everyone in the family. In this blog, we’ll take you on a quick tour of the home.

Below:  The front of the home is so inviting.  The front porch is a perfect spot to drink your coffee while wrapped in a blanket, and wave to your neighbors walking by.

 

Below:  Inside, a hallway back to the kitchen-breakfast-living area greets you.

 

Below:  We will make a stop in the designated office downstairs. This space could also be used for a second living room, but with so many people working from home or hybrid, we used the space as a calming office.

 

Below:  Next up is the dining room. Grays and blues work wonderfully in this space for the ultimate dining experience. Family and friends will gather around for dinner and great conversation!

 

Below:  Towards the back of the house, we have the kitchen-breakfast-living area that we mentioned above. The perfect amount of accessories was placed to show off the kitchen in this Hilliard home. What a beautiful space!

 

Below:  We set the table with soft blues and greens to tie into the connecting living room and kitchen. And look at those cute napkin rings! This is a perfect spot to sip coffee in the morning and eat a hearty breakfast before work. We love this space – it’s so inviting!

 

Below:  In the living room, we brought in some golds and blues. We love the built-in shelves surrounding the fireplace in this living room.

 

Below:  A powder room and laundry room finish out the main level.

 

Below:  The four bedrooms upstairs all had unique features. A garden-inspired primary bedroom feels like a sanctuary, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results!

 

Below:  We love the soaker tub and small shower, with floor to ceiling tiles in the background. What a great solution for the space, and what a space to fully relax. It’s an eye catcher, and buyers are going to love it!

 

Below:  This bedroom was a designated guest bedroom. Soft blush and ivory colors are a perfect combination in this Hilliard guest bedroom. Guests are going to LOVE it.

 

Below:  Next up is the green room, and we have the perfect room for the wall. It was fate! Traveling back in time a hundred million years ago to the land of dinosaurs, that we replicated in this kid’s room in Hilliard. One of our favorite parts of the job is creating these fun spaces for kids – we tend to get carried away when we’re in the space, but can you blame us?

 

Below:  The soft blue walls were perfect for a sea-inspired room. We love creating spaces like this mermaid-themed bedroom to let the children’s imaginations run wild! What a wonderful room for a child.

 

Below:  We finish the upstairs out with a fully updated guest bath. It’s clean, calming and perfect for kids or guests.

 

Below:  Lastly, a spacious deck overlooking a backyard, perfect for spring and summer activities!

We at Sanctuary Staging are so grateful to be given the opportunity to stage this gorgeous home, and can’t wait to watch it fly off the market!

We at Sanctuary Staging are definitely not cookie cutter stagers.  We absolutely review and study spaces, and aim to respect the home’s design, as this really lets the home stand out from others for sale.  This blog is going to deep dive into design styles we see most often, and provide a few examples of some of our most eye-catching designs.

 

1.  LUXURY SPACES

Jaw-dropping homes with high-quality materials and attention to every detail create the ultimate recipe for a luxury stage. We pride ourselves in showcasing the potential of these high price point homes.

 

2.  SMALL SPACES

Smaller square footage homes, condos and townhouses require strategic placement of furniture and accessories to maximize the space. Space and flow become your best friends to display the home in its best light.

 

3.  TRANSITIONAL SPACES

Transitional design, which appeals to the masses, includes touches of traditional modern design within the space. Classic, timeless design is the primary goal. You will find many of Sanctuary Staging’s stages fall into this category of design.

 

 4.  MODERN SPACES

Clean lines, simplistic but powerful design, and updated light fixtures create the perfect formula for modern design.

 

5.  MID-CENTURY MODERN SPACES

Sleek design paying homage to the 1940s-1960s style. By using bold colors and sleek furniture, we were able to turn back time in these gorgeous homes. We love to let our imaginations run wild in these homes with geometric pieces, sleek design and even vintage record players to bring nostalgia and joy into the homes.

 

6.  TRADITIONAL SPACES

Formal, ornate and classic touches create the ultimate presentation of traditional design.

 

7.  RUSTIC SPACES

A strong presence of natural elements inspire rustic homes. Sanctuary Staging possesses thousands of decorative items that work wonderfully in rustic homes.

 

8.  FARMHOUSE SPACES

Simplicity, warmth and a bit of country living create a farmhouse feel that work perfectly in many of our home staging projects.

 

9.  HISTORIC SPACES

Our downtown century homes with perseveration endeavors usually consist of stunning brick wall backgrounds, dark woodwork trim and natural wood floors. Our goal is to create functionality for today’s homebuyers, while still respecting the previous designs of the past that give the homes so much personality and warmth. It’s a balance, but we at Sanctuary Staging love the challenge of combining old with new for a memorable space.

 

10.  KIDS’ SPACES

A place for children to use their vivid imaginations. Usually in designated themes, whether a mermaid in the sea, a jungle safari, or camping in the wilderness, Sanctuary Staging loves creating a space for the little ones.

 

11.  SPECIAL SPACES

We’ve encountered several special projects in our hundreds of homes stages. These fall outside the normal staging box, and we love adding our special touches to the memorable spaces.

 

Bringing you another blog filled with inspiration!  This time around, we are focusing on tray vignettes.  Whether it be on the kitchen island, the primary bed, or a coffee table, we are here helping you with solutions to make your house feel more like a home.

Above:  A French press for those ready to hit the ground running the morning, with a wood and metal tray to tie into the warm-toned napkin and lid.  This makes us want to sit at a cafe and enjoy our surroundings for a bit.

 

 

Above:  After a long day at the office, a bottle of wine and two glasses waits for you on the breakfast table.

 

 

Above:  Coffee table vases and decor keep a tidy look in this gray-toned Columbus AirBnb.

 

 

Above:  A second story bar might be what every house is missing.  Above a mirrored silver tray with a martini shaker and champagne keeps us prepared when we need to pop open a bottle.

 

 

Above:  We were fancy in this Powell home with the San Pellegrino glasses in a medallion-patterned tray.  Textures are always welcome to pique interest to any space.

 

 

Above:  We wanted to let the pond stand out in the background by bringing in many of those blue-green colors as we could into the space.  Imagine reading a book and overlooking the windows for a tranquil afternoon.

 

 

Above:  Pure luxury at its finest in Powell, Ohio.  Time to lay back and relax with a bottle of wine.  This tray tied into the natural tones of the room and was the finishing touches to this bedroom.

 

 

Above:  These three distinguished dogs usually make an appearance in an office or basement, and this became the perfect spot for them on this basement bar.  Ready to serve up a cocktail!

Above:  Another place to daydream in this Westerville sunroom, overlooking natural woods.  A place to get carried away reading a good book and sipping on coffee.  A simple silver tray was introduced to hold coffee vignette.  The perfect size for this small table and chairs!

 

 

Above:  A wood tray with rope handles carried a bottle of champagne and cheese knives, ready for surprise visitors at any time!

 

 

Above: Sometimes simple symmetry and a few different textures is all you need to finish out a space.

Above:  A raised wood tray holding wine and glasses is another tray ready for entertaining.

 

 

Above:  A Columbus basement bar ready for full entertaining with various beverage selections.  We kept it neat but plentiful for this eye-catching bar.

 

 

Above:  A dark tray surrounded by a fluffy blanket in front of the fireplace.  I don’t know about you, but this seems like a great set-up for a relaxing evening.

 

 

Above:  A tray with decorative objects in the background and a couple coffee-table books in the forefront.  Neat, intentional decor finished out this living room.

Above:  Browns and blues create a cohesive look with this living room ottoman decor.  The masculine jug, wood potted plan and glass-and-metal vase create interesting textures in this living room.

 

 

Above:  Rise and shine!  What a perfect start to the day!  Ready to bust out the griddle and cook a morning breakfast for guests.

 

 

Above:  A homemade tray with a beautiful design, tying in the soft, smoky blue decor surrounding it.

 

 

Above:  And last, another sunroom with a lovely vignette on this versatile tray.

In this home recently listed for sale, we took the greens and aqua tones from throughout the house and created a cohesive, feel-good stage. Touches of personality and functionality were major selling components of this house.

We’ll guide you through the home with captions below.

Below:  The exterior and entry set the tone for a memorable home, complete with green tones brought out throughout the interior.

 

Below:  This living room is just inviting, with plenty of spots to relax and enjoy the view.

 

Below:  A kitchen / cafe combo, ready to cook up a hearty breakfast and a cup of coffee before the day starts.

 

Below:  A main level laundry and half bath are small but are much appreciated by buyers!

 

Below:  A primary bedroom suite with a soothing wall color and decor to coordinator. This space automatically puts us in the “tranquility zone” – exactly what a bedroom should do!

 

Below:  An aqua color on the walls makes us feel like we are immersed in the Caribbean sea! Come take us away! A loft to relax while finishing homework, reading a captivating book or just lounging and scrolling on your phone. Sign us up!

 

Below:  A perfect spot for a teen to relax, complete with a desk to study and a daybed to lounge. Earthy tones and loads of texture make this a great place to escape!

 

Below:  A secondary bedroom for visitors with those teal and green colors to tie it all in.  We couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out.

 

Below:  Another full bathroom near the guest bedroom with simple yet impactful items.

We appreciate you reading this blog today, and hopefully you took away some inspiration.  As always, if you’re in need of home staging services, give us a call at (740) 275-8781.  We look forward to hearing from you!

For this blog, we will be focusing on dining rooms, and more specifically around centerpieces and table settings.  Since the dining room – if you still have a designated dining space – will be utilized more this time of year, we thought we’d give some inspiration on how we generally set the table for stages!  Here are nine examples of how we staged past dining rooms to help highlight the spaces.

1.  Powell, Ohio:  Golds, browns and ambers play well with the neutral walls and carpet.  A patterned runner and a large oversized vase with simple place settings make this an enjoyable place to gather.

 

2.  Columbus, Ohio:  Personality mixed with functionality make this downtown AirBnb work.  Don’t be afraid to have fun and show some personality!  How unique is the ferris wheel centerpiece?

 

3.  Hilliard, Ohio:  A wide view and a close-up for this Hilliard condo dining room.  We picked up the blues off of the wall art and added navy napkins.  The brown tones in the napkin rings played off the vase for a perfectly cohesive look.

 

4.  Upper Arlington, Ohio:  We matched the chairs with a tan textured runner, and picked up the black in the gorgeous chandelier and artwork within the candlesticks and lantern.  Color coordination ties everything together in this space.

 

5.  Upper Arlington, Ohio:  A textured vase planked by two plants and off-white decor just play off the art perfectly.  One of our favorite dining rooms.  Simple but impactful.

 

6.  Franklin Park, Columbus, Ohio:  A fun dark plum walls and a tablescape filled with textures gave even more personality to this condo.  Plum, gold and green were a perfect color combo.  Color brings so much personality into a space!

 

7.   Worthington, Ohio:  Blues and golds make an appearance in this open dining room.  Patterned napkins give interesting details to the space.  We couldn’t be happier with this space, and buyers loved it too!

 

8.  Lewis Center, Ohio:  When your dining centerpiece literally comes from a shipwreck, it just takes the cake.

 

9.  Bexley, Ohio:  Here’s a luxury dining room with touches of traditional flair.  Ceramic pottery and a tall lantern centerpiece play well with the warm-toned floors and lighting.  Another home run, and we were so honored and excited to bring our touches to this home.

Weather is getting cooler and we don’t know about you, but we are ready to cozy up by the fire and start hibernating for the winter!  Which got us to thinking, how in the decorating world can you make some simple changes to make your home feel warm and cozy?  We’re here to give you the top 5 ways to cozy up your space!

 1.  TEXTILES:  Fabrics are key here in the staging and decorating world.  Layers of pillows, blankets, towels, robes and napkins are several ways to bring the cozy in.  This tip is fairly obvious, but we LOVE bringing in patterned and coordinating pieces to make buyers want to plop right on the sofa and watch some TV or read a good book.

 

2.  COHESION:  This is a bit harder to explain, but have you ever been to a home where things may just feel “off”?  Maybe the sofa is on one end of the room and there’s one chair on the other, and it just doesn’t feel connected?  There is a science to decorating, and we are here to let you in on a couple secrets.

Rugs are our secret weapon.  Pick the right size and you’re already lightyears ahead.  Don’t forget the coffee table and end tables to anchor the space in a living room.  In bedrooms, you need nightstands to help complete the space.  We prefer symmetry, so you can do one side of the bed a nightstand, and a tree or light fixture on the other, or even better – two matching nightstands and lamps.

Now this one may be mind-blowing, but artwork is another way to achieve that cohesive look.  And if you don’t already do this, no judgment because you are not alone in this!   But here’s a secret:  the center of free-standing art (meaning nothing below like a dresser or table) should be 60″ from the floor.  There are exceptions, but this will make MAJOR strides in the way that your pieces feel connected in your home.

 

3.  COLOR SELECTION:  The color wheel is your ultimate friend here.  Colors will ultimately play with your mood, so be honest about how you feel when you look at particular colors.  Especially in staging, we take a holistic look at the house and decide what colors will look best, and sprinkle in those certain colors throughout the house.  There are several ways that you can mix and match colors, but our best piece of advice is to follow that color wheel!

 

4.  PROPORTION and FLOW:  Have you ever seen furniture that’s wayyyy to big for the space that you can hardly move around?  I don’t know about you, but that gives me instant anxiety.  On the contrary, I’ve been in spaces that I’m thinking, “there’s something missing”.  Both proportion and flow work hand in hand on creating that balance between too much and too little.  Are you able to walk through spaces with plenty of room on either side of you?  If not, time to part with some things.  Best piece of advice:  make sure there aren’t pathways being blocked, even partially, by furniture.

Oh, and art!!  There is yet another trick to art (who knew there were so many rules…)  Look at the height and width when you’re hanging art.  Art should take up about 60-75% of the wall space.  That includes width AND height.  And above sofas and other furniture, it should take up the same proportion (60-75%) of the width of your piece of furniture.

 

5.  FILL YOUR HOME WITH THINGS YOU LOVE!  Marie Kondo lover here.  If something brings you joy, keep it and display it!  Display photos of your favorite vacation.  If you have a green thumb, display plants around your house (faux is also just fine).  If you love a certain aroma at holiday-time, fill a cake stand with chocolate-chip cookies, or light a scented candle that helps you relax.  And if you don’t love it, give it away to a consignment shop or goodwill.  Tis the season for giving.

We hope this small but mighty list helps point you in the right direction!

When it comes to staging homes, we generally have a couple pricing options for the seller:

(1) the main areas like the primary bedroom suite, kitchen, living rooms, and any main areas that are going to give the most powerful impact and first impression to buyers, and

(2) The whole home to create the ultimate vision for potential buyers.

There’s a reason that the primary bedroom suite is in the first option.  Buyers are looking for the ultimate escape, the place to just kick up your feet and go in full tranquility mode.  Here are some of our primary bedrooms we have staged recently.  We hope you enjoy and get some inspiration to do a little re-decorating in your bedroom.  And if you don’t, you can always hire us to do it for you!

 

Above:  A shimmering comforter mixed with warm furniture play off of the soft blue walls and wood floors.  It almost makes us feel like we’re relaxing on the beach somewhere!

 

 

Above:  Here we staged this Upper Arlington home with a little farmhouse feel in the distressed furniture, and added fluffy pillows and blankets with just a little touch of color throughout.

 

 

Above:  Does anyone get as excited as me about the vacuum lines?  Soft neutrals were just perfect in this bedroom.  Two matching pieces of art above the nightstands create symmetry, and we fell in love with this space.  Buyers did too, as this New Albany home flew off the market!

 

 

Above:  When you have a fireplace in your bedroom, as many century homes do, it creates a deeper appreciation of the history of these older homes.  We matched our furniture to the fireplace surround to create cohesiveness.  Ready for a catnap!

 

 

Above:  A clean bedroom with whites, creams and grays created a romantic, soft space that would be incredibly inviting when it’s time to lay your head down after a long day.

 

 

Above:  This third floor was dedicated solely to the primary suite, which made it the ultimate getaway.  We created two sitting areas, including at the window to overlook the Short North and read and daydream.

Staging, as you most likely know, is to highlight the features of a home to appeal to potential buyers.  We make each room attractive in a way that makes the space warm and welcoming, and ultimately, makes buyers want to drop everything they’re doing to make an offer before it’s too late!

That being said, we at Sanctuary Staging also try to make the space make the most sense to buyers.  What would buyers ultimately put in this space?  And one thing that I see in many homes – self admittedly in mine too sometimes!, when I initially walk them is the kitchen counter space usually being cluttered with school paperwork or items left over from our cars, etc.  Basically the ultimate dumping ground for “miscellaneous items”.

Today is about inspiring our readers through some of our staging photos around kitchen counter decor.  What makes sense, what is “just enough”, and ultimately what leaves enough space for the actual function of the kitchen:  to prep and cook!

Above:  Rich wood tones played off of the white and black/charcoal features of this kitchen.  We brought in wood cutting boards, herbs and spices, and healthy-ish cookbook, and a few canisters.  All functional pieces right at your fingertips when cooking!

 

 

Above:  The perfect example of “just enough” staging in a Westerville kitchen.  Cutting boards and herbs are our thing.  Pairing different heights of our decor is another subtle way to draw interest to a space.

 

 

Above:  Cookbooks, a tea kettle, and two color-coordinated books on the left side of the range.  On the right of the range, a grouping of herbs to drop into your pot, and the a corner vignette including a vase, candle, and greenery.  Plenty of room to prep and cook.    Now what to make for dinner?

 

 

Above:  How about the kitchen island?  Let us help with that too!  We staged this Pickerington kitchen with a bowl of apples to tie in the warm color of the cabinetry.  Completing the island stage is place setting with a special touch of an artichoke on top, that complements the surrounding warm tones.  What a fun kitchen!!!

 

 

Above:  This cafe-inspired kitchen was staged with the seller’s artwork above the cabinets.  Below, we created zones with a canister for prepping near the pantry, wine and glasses near the refrigerator, and herbs and a mortar & pestle near the range.

 

 

Above:  A wide angle plus a couple close-ups of this Worthington kitchen.  Cutting boards with a cute salt-and-pepper shaker and a succulent plant for looks.  On the other side, a serving tray of sparkling water & a fern, because plants are life!

 

 

Above:  Lastly, we just absolutely love the wood tone of the cutting board against this dark hexagon backsplash.  Modern + warmth just feels right in this stage.  The corner consisted of canisters and cutting boards, while near the range we staged with a salt-and-pepper set, a rosemary planter and a Paris market cookbook.

We’ve seen lofts used in many different ways, and we’d love to inspire by showcasing a few memorable lofts we staged below:

Above:  This loft serves dual purposes as a living/lounging area and a mini homework/office space.  We had the perfect accessories and art to tie in with the dark blue-gray accent wall (Hint:  We have the perfect accessories to go with about any color!)

 

 

Above:  You may see a trend here, that at Sanctuary Staging we like to make “zones” of large living spaces like we did it in this gigantic loft. One half was a lounge space, and the other half was a dedicated office area. Plenty of possibilities in one space, and that’s the beauty of the versatility of lofts!

 

 

Above:  Child-inspired color and decor completed this Bexley bonus space.  Two window nooks, a table for games or homework, and a cozy place to lounge made this a perfect escape for kids of any age.

 

 

Above:  As I look at this space, “Teenage Dream” by Katy Perry is playing in my head.  It is truly a dream, and a part of me is a little envious I didn’t get to enjoy a spot like this as a teenager: lounging with my friends, gossiping on the phone (yes I mean a landline), maybe painting our nails.  What an awesome space!

 

 

Above:  The perfect movie spot for all ages.  I think that’s what we like so much about lofts:  they can cater to any age!

 

 

Above:  this space shows two different photo angles, to see how we maximized the space without taking up any of the walkway.  A small lounge area, perfect for coffee or a cocktail, and a study area for (home)work.  Whatever works for your family!

 

 

Above:  Another colorful loft that we absolutely loved staging.  What a space to curl up and enjoy your surroundings.

Everywhere you look, whether it be on Instagram, in stores, and any other avenue, muted earthy colors are showing up everywhere in home design. People enjoy bringing the outdoors into their space through plants, the correct color tones, or any other calming element from nature. At Sanctuary Staging we aim to keep design timeless with a few sprinkles of “on-trend” design to appeal to the full scope of buyers.

Here are just a few examples of our design work in action!

Above:  From the zebra-stripe pillow, to the coffee table plants, to the textured lamps, we brought in comforting elements into this downtown living room.

Above:  When you have a sunroom, you just to have to play up the nature elements!  A tree in the corner, with a textured wood-front console table, and natural light pouring in through the windows.  This room is calling our name to relax!

Above:  This one takes on more coastal elements, such as the almost star-fish inspired bedding, the variations of blue in the pillows and throw, a dark wood frame on the right piece of art, and an overall tranquil feel.

Above:  We did not need to do much in this half bath except let the nature-inspired wallpaper do the talking.  We’ve worked with these interior designers in previous projects and have a wonderful working relationship, and are always in awe of the design-choices they make.

Above:  a map-covered vase, a plant cage, and a patterned wood art piece in the background showed natural decor working well together.

Above:  A garden-themed bedroom for anyone with a green thumb!

Above:  And lastly, a botanical-inspired room, that we can see anyone enjoying!