A Photo Primer for Staging Your Tabletops

Counters, tables and other level surfaces are
begging for decoration when it's time to stage your home. 

Let's talk about the tables in your home on the market. 

Whether it's a sofa table, coffee table, nightstand, end table, vanity top, or even a mantel, a flat surface is an opportunity to deliver that crucial "Buy this house!" message to people touring your home.

Each tabletop should tell a story. The story, in essence, is how lovely it would be to live in this home. 

I've selected photos that demonstrate the best tabletop staging tips I know. 

When it's time to create a tablescape, shop your own home, including closets, garage, attic, outdoors and even the recycle bin for interesting stuff to use or upcycle. Look for items that have interesting shapes and textures. Your props should be handsome and pretty without being overly detailed or distracting. 

Most of us decorate our coffee tables and other surfaces at holiday time, but how about when your home is for sale? Use your skills and imagination as a DIY stager to make these surfaces speak to buyers. 

Every table vignette needs a natural-looking element, like this silk plant. Other 
choices  would be shells, wood, baskets, rocks, or fruit. These items don't need to
be real, but they need to look like they came from nature. Photo: Southern Living. 

Vary the heights of your chosen objects to make a pleasing group. The tallest item is
usually the focal point. You can use a stack of books to build height.
Feel free to mix real plants with silk plants, and to cover books that don't "match."

Whenever there is something special about your home, emphasize it. Table decor
is an easy way top showcase specialness, like a water view or historic location. Note:
Many people will look at book spines and covers to judge owners and their tastes.  

Some tables you will want to fill with lots of books, plants, baskets and bowls for a luxurious
display, and in other places a sparse setting like this one is all you need. It depends on your 
home's style. Avoid displaying collections of things that might be too distracting.  

A bathroom vanity is easy to stage. Use something shiny, something natural, and
something soft. Keep the color scheme simple, trendy, and refreshing.
Buyers want a bathroom that feels, looks and smells clean! 

A tray of any kind will unify a bunch of items. This silver tray provides a grounding
for a milk glass vase, some white books, and the shabby basket.
Remember not to stage with small valuables that could be stolen.

Got nitty-gritty? Hide the unsexy things like remote controls and grooming essentials
in attractive baskets or boxes. They'll be handy but less obvious. 

An unstaged tabletop is a missed opportunity to impress a potential buyer. I hope you'll have fun clearing off and reinventing the flat surfaces in your home when you stage it to sell!

I give you other ways to deliver the right messages to buyers in my eBooks, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar, and No-Sew Curtains and Draperies to Stage Your Home. Each eBook costs you just $5, but stretches your home staging budget from here, all the way to a purchase offer!