If there’s one tool in every real estate agent and home seller’s arsenal that’s proven most effective in this competitive market, it’s staging.
Described as the art of preparing a home to look more visually appealing, staging can be drastically beneficial in terms of speed of sale and selling price. On average, the Real Estate Staging Association estimates that staged homes sell up to $40,000 over the original listing price. At the same time, these properties typically sell 73% faster, with unstaged ones staying on the market for up to 108 days.
However, for staging to work, there needs to be specific intent behind each area. Rather than just filing it up for the sake of decorating, staging each room with mindfulness helps buyers better envision themselves there. Currently, one of the best rooms you can stage in an entertainment room. This is in line with a 2024 Space Solutions report that reveals up to 80% of respondents want a dedicated entertainment room in their homes.
That said, given that people have varying ideas of what an entertainment room looks like, here are easy tips on staging this kind of space in a way that will attract everyone:
Showcase social seating solutions
For most people, entertainment rooms double as lounges meant for extended periods of use, usually with the addition of guests. As such, you’ll want to include seating solutions that specifically focus on comfort and connection. Sectionals are a type of seating that can work best in this kind of room, since they can be modified to suit diverse spaces and occasions. This means that while their larger build can accommodate a bigger number of people, the units can be rearranged for optimal mobility and functionality.
The chain store IKEA even has models like their Friheten, which has a sleeper unit. In a pinch, you can use this to stage an entertainment room that doubles as a guest room. Just make sure to mind your sofa placement. As a rule of thumb, try not to disrupt traffic patterns or stick your furniture up against other bigger pieces so the room looks usable and inviting for everyone. Instead, try to place your sectional in the middle of the room, with enough room between units. This also serves to ground the space and provide a clear visual focus. Doing this will also ensure that your prospective home buyers will not have to struggle to navigate the room during their visit. This is markedly important if you’re trying to highlight the accessibility of the space or if you’re hosting something like an open house, where the area may be more crowded.
Highlight key electronics
In an increasingly digitalized era, most homebuyers are looking for spaces that can accommodate the gadgets and devices they regularly rely on. This is especially true in entertainment rooms, where it’s likely that most of the home’s tech will be featured anyway. With this in mind, it’s wise to include these innovations in your own staging.
The smart electronics on QVC can work well in this regard, given that they’re highly accessible and fit into what most entertainment setups require. In particular, the Bose Smart Ultra Sound Bar and LG StanbyME Rollable Smart Touch Screen can successfully paint a picture of a versatile space. After all, you can use this screen for a variety of interests, like movie marathons, game nights, and the like. Since it’s also got full swivel rotation and a five-wheel design, you can easily move this around to suit whatever new scenario or prospective buyer you’re staging for. For best results, remember to position these electronics in places that are natural to the room but where they can be fully captured and appreciated, even if viewed through pictures or virtual open houses. These can include on your media console, facing in front of your seating solutions, or next to plugs, ports, and sockets.
Incorporate flattering lighting
Lastly, invest in the right lighting, as this can make or break how effectively your staging captures your desired ambiance. Depending on the lighting choices you make, you can liven up and elevate a space that may otherwise look too cold and detached. This is why even professional photographers are careful to choose the right time of day to flatter real estate properties under natural light.
In regards to an entertainment room, you’ll want to concentrate on warm and cozy lighting solutions, as these can encourage ideas of relaxation and intimacy. On a more practical level, this kind of lighting treatment will also better complement any screens you may be using, ensuring the room doesn’t feel too bright or harsh. For maximum flexibility, a staged entertainment room can benefit from floor lamps with flexible necks, such as Target’s Willard Multi Joint Floor Lamp. Since this uses multiple joints along its length, you can direct it to illuminate specific areas of the room in line with whatever activity you’re simulating for your staging. Generally speaking, you’ll want to concentrate most of the illumination around the busiest parts of the room. This includes couches, coffee or activity tables, reading nooks, and snack bars.