Staging The Kitchen: Tips and Tricks

Home staging is an art; there’s just no two ways about it. Ask most people which room is the most important room in the house, though, and they will answer: the kitchen. This is why many stagers pour love and care into staging the kitchen.

Getting the Kitchen Ready for Sale Before Staging

• First and foremost, clean it; make it sparkle.
• Scrub the baseboards and vacuum the corners.
• Polish chrome fixtures, dust ceiling fans and replace burned-out light bulbs, even over the stove.
• If you typically cook meals that leave a lingering odor, consider dining out or bringing home take-out while your home is on the market. You don’t want a buyer walking into the house, sniffing the air and exclaiming, “Yuck, smells like bacon.”
• Don’t ever leave dirty dishes in the sink nor in the dishwasher. Buyers open dishwashers. Don’t ask me why.
• Wipe down all the cabinets, inside and out. Polish the hardware — if it’s worn or dated, consider replacing knobs / handles.
• Alphabetize your spices. Turn all coffee cup handles facing the same direction. Buyers will notice and think you are meticulous about the rest of the home, too.
• Consider replacing extremely dirty drip pans under the burners on the stove. Pull off the stove knobs and polish them.
• If you can’t clean an old stove, it can be almost as much to buy a new stove than replace burner plates.
• Remove all cleaning products and sponges from the sink counter.
• Get rid of magnets, photos or notes attached to the refrigerator.
• Leave nothing on the counters but a cookbook, fruit or decorative items. Yes, that means remove the coffeemaker; I know, I’m sorry. Put it under the sink.

After Staging the Kitchen

• By bringing in a small table and two chairs, the dining area will spring to life. Suddenly, the use of this space is evident.
• Placing a rug under the table defines the area and makes it appear separate yet still part of the rest of the kitchen.
• Putting books and ceramic figurines in the bookcase showcases its purpose, yet none of those items crowd the shelving.
• Arranging plants on the counter, table and behind the chair brings warmth to the area, and hanging artwork on the wall gives it a homey feeling.
• A stager often uses subdued earth-tone colors to complement, say, the granite counters and travertine tile, making the updates  pop.

Kitchen Staging Tips to Remember

• Smaller tables make eat-in kitchen spaces appear larger.
• If the dining area is spacious, set the table for an intimate breakfast for two.
• Arrange knickknacks in odd groupings such as 3, 5 or 7.
• Use color sparingly in a dramatic kitchen and complement existing color schemes.
• Bring in plants to liven up the space.
• Creative placement of rugs and artwork adds depth and dimension.
• Use a stand to hold an open cookbook of colorful photographs.
• Don’t block windows, let in the light.
• Consider placing large bowls of polished fruit on the counter, next to gourmet olive oil or a full bottle of red wine.

Source Credit:

Elizabeth Weintraub

May 2018