An Experiment With Staging

I’m a total newbie when it comes to styling and staging my refinished furniture pieces.  I don’t really know the rules.  I don’t even know if there are any rules, to be honest.  I use objects from my home to compose an interesting photo that shows the furniture in its best possible light.    I try to tell a little story with the objects so the prospective buyer can imagine how the piece could be used.  I actually enjoy staging and find it very creative.   I study furniture catalogues and magazines for ideas, inspiration and to learn from the pros.

One of my first pieces was this midcentury night stand, and I have written about it in a prior post.  Here is how it looked when I found it.

I wanted to experiment with a two tone look that I had seen on many midcentury pieces so I painted the outside with white milk paint and used a dark stain for the shelves, drawer and legs.  I took a stab at staging it with a few objects then snapped a couple shots when I had some natural light.  It looked like this.

Yes, fairly basic, but not totally horrible, I thought.  I placed my ad on Craigslist and then waited, and waited.  Nothing.  Not even one of those emails asking if it was still available. After a couple of weeks I lowered the price.  Still nothing.  A couple more weeks and another price reduction did not produce even a single inquiry.

Okay, so I got to thinking.    It can’t be the price – I had lowered it to a level that was very reasonable.  It is a solid and well constructed piece and worth the price I was asking.  It’s a really nice looking end table in person.  What could it be?  Maybe my photos just aren’t cutting it.  I decided to take another shot at my staging to obtain the best quality photos I could get.

First, I decided to change up the setting.  Admittedly, the prior setting looked a bit ho hum.  I thought I should put it where a buyer could envision using it – a bedroom.   I moved it next to a bed and began placing objects to tell a story.  I wanted the photo to depict a setting where someone could picture themselves relaxing or curling up with a book and a cup of tea.   Here is what I came up with.

And here are a couple more shots.

And another close up.

I think there is some definite improvement in my second styling attempt.  I’m continuing to learn, and hopefully improve, with each piece I complete.   I definitely think staging is a must and worth the extra effort.  Now let’s just see if this guy sells.

Thanks for reading.

Susan