See How a Home Stager Gave a Sterile Bedroom a Cozy Vibe
New builds can be gorgeous, but also a challenge when it comes to decorating or staging them. Elegant, sophisticated — those were the descriptors that home stager Nedra Hines kept coming back to as she created a plan to stage a newly constructed home in a brand-new community located in Frisco, Texas (part of the Dallas/Fort Worth area). To hone in on those stylistic touch points, the owner of Effortless Charm Staging didn’t hesitate to do her homework. “I checked the listings in the area to see if and how they were staged, and how long they were on the market before going under contract,” she says. “I wanted to get a good feel for what aesthetic worked well for the area.”
Based on the home’s location and generous 3000-square-foot floor plan, Hines also had a very specific target buyer in mind for the four-bedroom, three-bathroom house. She pictured “a family-oriented couple with small to teenage children, very involved in the community and active supporters of their kids’ activities.” To attract this target buyer, Hines knew she’d have to keep the feel upscale but also inject a welcoming vibe throughout the new build so that potential homeowners could imagine themselves living comfortably in the spaces and raising their family there. New construction homes — especially those with an ultra-modern aesthetic like this one — can often come across as cold and lacking character, so Hines made sure to keep that in mind as she made her furniture and decor selections.
One of the rooms Hines had the most fun working on was a guest bedroom that featured a dark, paneled accent wall. “I was really excited about the half-wall paneling because I hadn’t staged a bedroom that had paneling before,” she says. To make the wall a focal point, Hines positioned the bed there, choosing a bed frame with a cushioned, studded headboard in a light beige color to contrast with the forest green paneling. “The dominant color scheme is white and gray so we decorated the bed with white sheets, a white duvet, forest green throw pillows, and white Euro pillows. We folded the duvet halfway down to give it a more inviting look.” she says. “We wanted the overall aesthetic to exude elegance and sophistication.”
On either side of the bed, Hines placed walnut console tables topped with tall vintage brass table lamps. With their pretty scalloped edge detail, the elegant tables were a more interesting choice than traditional nightstands. Hines tied the room together with a light blue and gray area rug and a serene landscape placed atop the wall paneling. She also added a dimmer switch to control the brightness of the ceiling fixture and give the bedroom a softer glow. “Overall, this bedroom gives off boutique hotel vibes,” she says.
With just a couple of hours spent staging, Hines took the room from an empty box to a soft and cozy bedroom. Her elegant yet welcoming design did end up resonating with buyers in the area. “At a time when buyers are still somewhat hesitant to buy a home, this one went under contract within a week and the sales price was five percent over the list price,” says Hines.
