Staging Homes and Weddings

Just over a week ago I got to go to Utah to visit my family and help my mom stage a couple houses she is selling up there. It was so nice to see my beautiful family. I love them so much and have really missed them since I have been gone. But enough about that. As I left for Utah waiting in the beautiful LAX airport :) it dawned on me that staging a home is very similar to decorating/staging for a wedding. So I will share with you a few tips that you can use whether you are planning your wedding or getting ready to sell your home.

These are the two houses.....aren't they gorgeous? hahahaha...not yet

Tip #1 Location, Location Location..
If you find a house in a great area but looks ugly as all get out then you are going to get a better deal and you can make the outside even better with some plants and a little TLC. Same goes for your venue. If the location is great for your guests and it needs a little sprucing...PERFECT. You are going to get a better deal on the price and it will be more your own.

Tip #2 Less is More
The pictures are before and after shots. As you can see it didn't take a lot to define this area as the dining room. The best part is we bought that table for $100 with eight chairs (which we didn't use for this house) and instead got some nice leather chairs at Overstock warehouse sale for $70 for the pair. The centerpieces were a combination of tins from ikea and flowers from Tai Pan Trading. With just these few pieces we were able to define the space and make it look beautiful. With a wedding you need just enough to be able to define the feel and style you are going for without overwhelming your guests. If you are wanting a vintage theme (like me :)) you just need enough vintage items for the guests to feel as though they are in a different time period. Be sure to not put so much that it looks cluttered.

Tip #3 Pick a Theme and Stick with It
It is important that as you stage a home that you pick the style you are going with and stick to it. The color scheme throughout the house will help give it flow. The flow is what makes people feel comfortable and feel like it could be their house one day. Think about the model homes you have been in. The reason people love them is because the style stays the same throughout and it tells your subconscious, "This is a nice place".  With your wedding style you want to do the same thing. From the rehearsal through to the end of the reception you want to keep a style that will help your guests feel what you as a couple are all about. My fiance always says that we would have been so happy in the 1950's (not that we aren't happy now). We like things simple and quaint. So we are planning a vintage wedding from simple decorations, an old bread box for the rolls, a wooden toolbox to hold silverware and napkins. It just needs to flow and keep the same style throughout.

I have some great projects and ideas I am working on this week so check back soon for more ideas and tutorials for your wedding and life in general!


Emily