Interior Design vs. Home Staging

Business Forum

Startup Business Basics

Business planning

Interior Design vs. Home Staging

New Topic

Post Reply

Follow Topic

Page of 2 Next »

Author
Message

digitalrick2000

posts: 8

Jul 05, 2007 5:34 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Hi everyone!

I`m new to the SuN community and I`m starting a home-based design business. I am an interior designer by profession and would like that to be the main component of my business. My realtor suggested to me to look into home staging as she felt there is a market for it here. I thought I could stage some homes and leave brochures and business cards for new home buyers and current sellers out there. My question is: Should I focus solely on interior design or use home staging as a marketing tool for my business? Thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks,

Rick

Degrees

posts: 250

Jul 05, 2007 11:59 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Rick
I would go after the staging if you really needed the money, but it seems to me that the definition of staging is to be extremely neutral, and to make the room look large. The houses I`ve seen staged were never designed by a serious architect, and the clients weren`t looking for that. If they didn`t want an architect, they probably wouldn`t want an interior designer. Naturally, getting to know local architects would be great, but also consider meeting high-end custom builders. My builder uses a designer that helps the customers pick the tile, trim, paint . . . all the fixed design elements. After that relationship starts, you may find it much easier to get the job of furnishing the space.

CraigL

posts: 9051

Jul 06, 2007 12:38 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Hi Rick ;-)
Jeff (the other one) makes a super point! It reminds me of my initial wanting to be a musician. Plenty of people told me to play Top-40 music in lounges to make money, then go out and write originals. So I did, and never managed to get the originals done.

I`ve done it both ways, in artistic careers several times. Ultimately, I`ve been convinced that if you have an artistic vision, THAT`s your focus! Sure, you can make money in the home staging, but as Jeff said, that`s almost the antithesis of interior design, excepting that you purposefully design a place to be blah.

The classic choice for all artists: Go with the money....or go with the art? :-D

CampSteve

posts: 1216

Jul 06, 2007 10:31 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

When you are in a creative industry and can apply your skills in various directions, it is easy to want to take advantage of that. The more you can do, the better, right? Well yes and no.

All the talk about finding a niche is very relevant to a designer. My recommendation is to not broaden yourself to include home staging, but to narrow down your specialty within interior design. Your market will be more specific and easier to target. Jobs will be easier to find and you will be know for your niche.

That being said, you are the boss and you make your own career decisions. There`s nothing wrong with doing a home staging job here and there. Just don`t make a big deal of it if you do. Keep the focus on your core business.

I am a poster designer, primarily travel posters. That`s pretty specific. But I do all kinds of design work from logos to comics to wedding invitations. I have some of it on my site but my marketing efforts, online and off, are centered on posters, my niche.

eagle429

posts: 26

Jul 06, 2007 4:01 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Here in Ohio (Northern) along Lake Erie, I have a WBON colleague who does that very thing you are discussing. She`s doing great! When I share about her work I compare what she does as being similar to the work completed on "HGTV Decorating Cents"...she does much more than that. Recently she was asked by a realtor if they could partner in a "informercial" of a home that was for sale and needed some major TLC. Let`s just say she did a lot of work, and the realtor who was showing the home for a certain real estate company in the area, made sure that her name was given credits at the end. BTW, the realtor and designer/stager are both members of my local WBON group.

ScrapBizKim

posts: 369

Jul 06, 2007 7:41 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Home staging is something many people don`t do well on their own when they sell their home. But, I guess the downside is that sometimes you don`t have much to work with! Can you make "early American" with wagon wheel arm rests look good?

I would love someone to come re-arrange my home NOW with my own stuff. Sort of "interior design lite". I think that`s probably a growing market, too. Isn`t there a show on HGTV where they do that? I`m always amazed at how different the room looks.

But, I agree, if you do enough home-staging gigs, you`re bound to get some actual design work from it. I think that sometimes you have to have several "arms" of your business to build a good solid customer base - especially when you`re in an artistic industry.

~Kim

digitalrick2000

posts: 8

Jul 06, 2007 10:33 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Thanks for the advice everyone! There are a few decorators in the area who do both interior decorating and home staging, some even do redesigns

I wouldn`t mind doing some home staging, I just don`t want to get stuck doing that...it`s not what I paid thousands of dollars and years of education for. I agree that I should focus my efforts on design, but that I could also gain interior design clients through home staging. I guess I`m dragging my feet, as it`s almost time for the opening curtain and I`m getting stage fright

CraigL

posts: 9051

Jul 07, 2007 12:13 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

You SO nailed it!! LOL!!

We all use some sort of barrier between our "real" self and the rest of the world. Even as toddlers we have a blanket or doll or something, no matter how fragile and small. But it represents a line in the sand between "self" and "dissolution."

When I was on stage I didn`t mind so much if the audience didn`t like a particular song. I could always say to myself, "Hey...I didn`t write the song! It`s not MY fault people don`t like it!" :-)

Then I was a lead singer for about a minute and a half. Suddenly, I had to come out from behind the piano, stand up in front with only a mic stand in front of me. I felt defenseless without that "big" keyboard in front of me.

Performing arts are difficult because there`s no pretense of you and an audience. Public speaking is a little better, stand-up comedy is the hardest. But when you put your personal ideas, imagination, and creation on the line, right there, in front of the whole wide world, you let go of that security blanket.

Being in school you can always say to yourself, "Well, I`m not *really* doing this yet....I`m just practicing. It`s not like there`s $10,000 on the line if I make a mistake, right? I`m just a student."

Now it`s real. :-D So, yup............stage fright!

Home staging is "once removed." Your client is getting rid of the house anyway, so even if they don`t like what you`ve done, so what? It won`t be there long. But interior design is long-term. Your clients are going to live with what YOU did, day and night for a long time afterward. There`s a lot riding on it, so it`s a whole lot scarier.

Maybe that`s what`s giving you the illusion of a better career path? Remember that fine line between "self" and "disillusion." :-)

Renne

posts: 1

Aug 15, 2009 7:02 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Hello Everyone,

I want to let you all know about a great home staging program that gets you certified as a home stager in 5 days and only 40 hrs. It is a great way to learn about how to use colors, furniture, and accessories, to make a house look like a home. Here are some more details:

Discover how you can earn a fantastic income designing interiors in only 5 days of training!

Do people compliment you on your style?
Have you ever thought of becoming a home staging designer?
Maybe you thought the training to become a designer would cost too much or take too long. Traditional design schools are expensive and take 2-4 years to complete. What if you could train to become a Home Staging Designer averaging $75-$150/hr in just 40 hours of exciting, hands-on and in the field, comprehensive training?

In this one-of-a-kind, coaching and training program you will learn:
- How to charge, estimate and collect for your services
- A step-by-step guide to building a successful staging business
- How to attract and retain clients
- Space planning and how to select paint colors
- Staging theory and design applications
- In field practice (over 10 hours and 3 homes)
- Personalized and individual attention (class size limited to 8)
- Contracts, memberships and start-up tools included
In this tough economy, home sellers are looking to Stager`s across the country to help them redesign their properties for faster sale and higher offers. With the training you will receive at The Academy, you can help people sell 2-3 times faster and for up to 17% higher. At The Academy of Home Staging, we give you the tools necessary to be competitive and successful in this highly sought after industry.
Next Training begins September 21st in Beverly Hills, CA
HURRY - ONLY 4 SPOTS LEFT!!

dgonzo

posts: 1

Aug 22, 2009 11:18 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

Points: 0 Vote

Rick,

As a visual artist, I have gone through this same dilemma. I am proficient in painting and jewelry making. However, both are very time consuming. I had to decide which media would work best for me as an artist and as a business. Sometimes, we visual artists tend to forget that we have to make a living. So, you need to decide if you can make a better living focusing your energies only on interior design, or if you are better served by diversifying your talents.

Maybe you should try a few staging projects, and see if it is a beneficial side income, or a time consuming annoyance.

Good Luck,

Debra

Page of 2 Next »

Post Reply

Keep the Community Clean!

StartupNation forums should be used as a platform to learn, educate others, share stories, tips & tricks and to provide constructive feedback.
Please do not use the Forums for advertising & blatant self-promotion.
Please be respectful to other members and refrain from personal attacks and vulgar language.
StartupNation reserves the right to delete any message, reply, and/or member who violates our terms of use.

Read full terms of use

Contact Us Privacy Terms of Use Become a Marketplace Provider Advertise Local Guides Site Map Home Business Start a Business

Business Forum

Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Interior Design vs. Home Staging

Keep the Community Clean!