Staging Your Home for the Camera
The camera doesn’t miss. Neither do buyers.
Let’s be honest... most buyers will look at the photos and videos of your home 20 times before they ever walk through your door. And if the home doesn’t "feel right” online, they will likely never schedule a showing at all.
This is why media day is the single most important day of the listing process. It’s not just about cleaning. It’s about creating a mood, telling a story, and helping buyers see themselves in your space.
Staging for photos is different from staging for real life, but don’t worry, we’ll walk room by room with you, offering tailored advice.
Here’s a head start:
General
- Replace all burned-out bulbs — use the same tone (soft white or daylight) for consistency
- Turn on every light, lamp, and under-cabinet strip
- Open all blinds and window treatments
- Turn ceiling fans off
- Tidy or hide toys completely
- Remove pet bowls, crates, beds, and litter boxes
- Tuck away valuables, medications, and personal paperwork
- Hide floor mats, rugs, or runners unless they’re anchoring the space
- Remove seasonal decorations (don't "date" the photos)
Staging Moments:
- Fresh flowers: Stick to one or two arrangements — tulips or hydrangeas in a glass vase for the kitchen, eucalyptus in a ceramic vessel for the entry.
- Fruit bowl: Use bright lemons in a white or wood bowl to suggest freshness and ease.
- Welcome mat: New and clean — something classic like “Home Sweet Home” or neutral woven fiber.
- Scent strategy: No plug-ins. Instead, a light citrus or linen candle (unlit) or a small bowl of fresh rosemary near the door.
- Catchall tray: In the entry, use a small wooden tray with a couple of keys, sunglasses, and a faux houseplant to suggest a curated, everyday life.
Living Areas
- Decide in advance: Are we lighting the fireplace or firepit?
- Arrange furniture to highlight space and flow (not just for TV-viewing)
- Fold blankets and fluff pillows
- Organize bookshelves — remove excess trinkets or overly personal items
- Hide remotes, wires, and power cords
- Clear desks of papers and clutter
- Limit personal photos — a few are fine, but don’t overdo it
Staging Moments:
- Coffee table tray: Use a square or round tray with 3 layered items — a small potted plant or succulent, a couple stacked hardcover books (architecture, travel, cooking), and a candle.
- Board game moment: Lay out Scrabble, chess, etc., neatly on a family room table to suggest play and connection.
- Mantel styling: Use symmetry — two matching vases or candlesticks on each end, with a centered mirror or art. Nothing busy.
- Reading nook: Drape a knit throw over a chair, set a side table with an open book and mug (no logos), and place a soft floor lamp nearby.
- Basket styling: Use woven baskets for toys or blankets — a clean, purposeful storage cue that also feels cozy.
Kitchen
- Remove trash cans
- Empty the sink
- Clear the fridge of magnets, calendars, and kids’ art
- Simplify countertops: a coffee maker is okay, but five appliances are not
- Remove hand towels
Staging Moments:
- Appetizer moment: Place a small wooden board with a few crackers, grapes, and folded napkins — you’re suggesting entertaining, not feeding.
- Coffee station: Set up one corner with a French press or Chemex, two neutral mugs, a tiny dish of sugar cubes, and a tea towel.
- Cookbook moment: Open a stylish cookbook (e.g., Magnolia Table or Half Baked Harvest) to a visually striking page.
- Plant: Place a small basil or rosemary plant in a neutral pot on the windowsill or island to suggest fresh, intentional cooking.
- Lighting: If pendants or under-cabinet lights are present, turn them on for warmth and glow.
Dining Room
- Use a tasteful centerpiece — nothing too tall or busy
- Straighten chairs
- Remove highchairs or booster seats
Staging Moments:
- Centerpiece: Stick to a low-profile piece — think a white ceramic bowl with green apples, or a long wooden tray with 3 glass votives and greenery.
- Place settings: Use 2 or 4 sets max. Plate + linen napkin + simple flatware. No clunky chargers or wine glasses unless you’re setting a wine scene.
- Soft runner: Add a neutral linen or striped runner if the table feels cold. Avoid overly seasonal colors unless timed intentionally.
- Chairs: Straighten and evenly space, consider adding two accent head chairs with light throws for texture.
- Dining moment: Optional — set a wine scene with two empty glasses and a corkscrew in a tray next to a bottle (label turned away).
Bedrooms
- Make the beds — fluffed pillows, smoothed sheets, tucked edges
- Clear nightstands and dressers of chargers, cords, and clutter
- Hide dirty laundry or hampers
- Clean visible items from under the bed
- Stage or hide kids' toys and books
Staging Moments:
- Bed tray: Use a neutral tray with a coffee cup, a linen napkin, and a small bud vase. Optional: add a small book or folded magazine.
- Nightstand styling: One lamp, a closed book, and a water glass or candle. Never cluttered.
- Kid’s room moment: One plush toy on a neatly made bed, or a stack of 2–3 books on a shelf with a soft animal figurine.
- Primary suite: Add a large plant in the corner (real or good faux) and drape a throw at the foot of the bed for texture.
- Closet cue: If closets are visible, line up hangers and display 1-2 color-coordinated outfits facing the same way; it makes the storage feel like luxury retail.
Bathrooms
- Hide all toiletries and daily-use items (toothbrushes, razors, etc.)
- Clean all mirrors and faucets
- Remove bath mats or hang them neatly if decorative
- Keep towels neutral and freshly laundered
Staging Moments:
- Towels: White or beige only. Roll them in a small basket or fold them perfectly on a towel bar.
- Countertop tray: Wooden or stone tray with 2–3 items: artisan soap, a small vase, and a candle or brush.
- Bathtub moment: Folded robe with slippers and a bamboo bath caddy holding a book and a candle — no water needed.
- Shower cues: Keep the shower clean and the curtain perfectly pulled. No visible toiletries unless they’re styled (like 3 matching bottles in a caddy).
- Floral detail: One small eucalyptus sprig in a clear bud vase on the toilet tank or window ledge.
Exterior
- Mow the lawn, rake leaves, shovel snow, or sweep patios and walkways
- Even in winter, set up all the patio furniture, open umbrellas, etc.
- Fresh mulch, edged beds, and no weeds
- Remove empty or dead planters
- No vehicles should be parked within view of the camera (especially in the driveway)
- Hide trash cans
- Clean the grill, pool, or water features (if applicable)
Staging Moments:
- Front porch: Add a bistro table with two chairs and a folded newspaper or coffee mug.
- Front door: Consider a seasonal wreath or clean welcome sign — nothing cartoonish or loud.
- Back patio table: Set with lemonade pitcher, two glasses, and a linen napkin in a rattan tray.
- Firepit moment: Arrange chairs evenly, add 2 folded throws and a single mug on a side table. Suggest gathering and warmth.
- Garden vibe: Lean a clean watering can against the house with a potted herb nearby. Suggests care and charm.
- Lighting: If string lights are up, test them. Evening showings or twilight photos love a warm glow.
Final Thought
Decorating a home is different than staging a home — especially for the camera.
What looks cozy in person may look cluttered in photos. A shelf that feels perfectly styled to you might seem overloaded in a cropped frame. That’s why we help you rethink spaces for how they’ll read on screen… and why some changes that feel small in real life can make a huge difference in the listing photos.