What Is Soft Staging?

Though you’ve probably heard about traditional home staging, it’s less likely that you’ve heard about soft staging. Though both types of staging are similar, soft staging offers some unique benefits that some homeowners prefer over traditional home staging.

In this post, we’ll define soft staging, how to soft stage a home, and share some of the unique benefits of soft staging for home sellers and potential buyers. 

Soft Staging vs. Traditional Home Staging: What’s the Difference?

What is soft staging? Well, to answer that question, it’s essential to understand the differences between traditional staging and soft staging.

Traditional home staging involves a complete redecoration of the home with new furniture, artwork, and accessories, while soft staging is a more “toned down” version of the same process. Soft staging requires just decor, artwork, and accessories (and sometimes existing furniture) to turn an empty house into a warm, inviting place that will appeal to potential buyers. Soft staging can also help define ambiguous spaces in a vacant home, like a spare bedroom or guest bathroom, to help buyers imagine how they might utilize these rooms.

Helpful Benefits of Soft Staging

The truth is — staged homes have a better track record of selling faster (and for more money!) than empty houses. Even if you don’t have the time or money to invest in conventional home staging, it’s still smart to invest in soft staging. Even a small investment in soft staging can offer the following benefits:

It’s a Cost-Effective Option

Soft staging is an excellent alternative to traditional staging if you’re working on a tight budget during the move-out process. Soft staging can be less expensive because instead of furnishing every room, you’re only bringing in decor and accessories to update the home and freshen the look.

While we never recommend skipping out on home staging to save money during the move-out process (you’ll quickly make back your investment in staging — and then some — on the sale of your home), soft staging is a great option for homeowners who are looking for a cost-effective way to update their empty home.

It Makes a Home Warmer and More Inviting

Purchasing a new home is a very emotional process. Potential buyers want to envision themselves living in their future home — not an empty house. Empty homes feel cold and sterile, while staged homes feel warmer and more inviting.

Fortunately, small details that are focused on during the soft staging process, like adding towels to the bathrooms, books or coasters on the coffee table, a bouquet of flowers on the kitchen counter, or some mirrors or framed photos to the hallway, can actually help buyers imagine themselves living in your home, which is much more challenging to do in an empty house. You’ll be amazed at just how far a few accessories can go in impacting a home buyer’s psychology.

It Provides a Definition for Each Room

It’s tough for potential buyers to imagine how to use an empty spare bedroom, a sterile-looking kitchen, or an awkward loft space without any furniture, accessories, or decor.

Soft staging these rooms with just a few accessories and pleasing décor can really take off the “hard edge” and help buyers focus on the positive aspects of the space. For example, if your living room has a beautiful bay or bow window or other upgraded features, like a gas fireplace, you might consider adding flowers, artwork, and accessories on the windowsill or around the hearth to draw the buyers’ attention to these desirable and eye-catching features.

It’s a Quick and Easy Process

Soft staging takes less time than traditional home staging because there is no need to shop for rental furniture — just accessories and decor. If you’re in a rush to get your home staged, soft staging will have your investment readily prepared for future buyers in a short amount of time.

Practical Tips for Soft Staging a Home

Follow these tips for soft staging to ensure your property feels like an inviting “home” — not just an empty house.

Focus on the Entryway

Your entryway is your home’s “first impression” on potential buyers, so consider freshening this space up with a vase of flowers, a bowl of potpourri, or an elegant lamp.

Incorporate Some Color

The human eye is drawn to colors and patterns, so empty homes with white walls aren’t as appealing to potential buyers as homes filled with tasteful colors and designs. Add colorful throw pillows, patterned rugs, and interesting artwork to your home to add much-needed personality.

Rely on Natural Light

Throw open the curtains, crank open the blinds, and keep the windows clean to allow as much natural light inside your house as possible. Natural light makes small spaces feel larger and more inviting, so maximizing your home’s natural light is extremely important to impress potential buyers.

Sell Your Texas or Florida Home Faster with Staging Services from THE STAGING COMPANY

Both traditional home staging and soft staging alike are fabulous strategies to appeal to potential buyers so that you can sell an empty house for more money (and quickly). However, only you can decide whether soft or conventional home staging is better for your real estate investment.

If you’d like to invest in home staging before selling your house, our team at THE STAGING COMPANY would love to help. We offer home staging, vacation rental furnishing, interior decorating, and other services for homeowners in Orlando, Tampa, Dallas, San Antonio, and other major cities in Texas or Florida. Contact us to get started — we’d love to help you sell your home faster and for more money!