Naked or dressed? Is staging your painted furniture really important?
I have an ongoing debate with myself when it comes to staging and styling my work. A part of me feels a well-painted piece should stand alone and speak for itself. On the other hand, why not spiff her up to show off some assets?
Here’s a confession…
I’m super envious of you ‘creative-types’ who can throw together a few items and make your painted furniture look amazing. You know who you are. You can group together a couple of rusted soup cans, a painted mason jar fancied up with twine and bam, your piece looks like it should be featured in a magazine. I look for inspiration from you designers, stylists, shop owners and talented bloggers on a daily basis because…I admit…
I’m a furniture painter who struggles with styling.
Here’s how it goes down. I scour my home for staging items. I scour my sister’s home. I’d scour your home if you’d let me in. 😉 I search thrift stores and garage sales for props that may work. I end up with a room full of knick-knacks that I spend 2+ hours trying to arrange, then re-arrange… only to re-arrange again.
How Important is Staging Your Painting Furniture?
The reality is, we’re visual junkies. Much of our advertising, social interaction, and buying is online. We expect to be WOWed by images. I know I do. And if I don’t see something I like right away, something I will like is just a click away!
So staging and styling painted furniture is important. Styling a piece can draw in more eyeballs by creating additional color, height, and interest. This keeps a viewer’s attention, and in turn, may keep them coming back for more.
Does staging help sell your furniture faster?
In my experience no. Besides custom work, I sell my pieces online (kijiji & craigslist) and via word of mouth. I haven’t noticed my staged pieces selling any faster than my non-staged pieces. My own shopping habits; when I buy furniture, it’s because I love the piece. It has nothing to do with what’s sitting on top or around it.
Will styling your furniture bring additional traffic to a blog, Facebook or Pinterest page?
With all the talented bloggers, designers and store owners showcasing their painted furniture online, a well-staged piece can bring in additional traffic. When I track visitors via Google Analytics, traffic does increase when I post a popular piece of furniture.
But if staging isn’t your thing, don’t let this stop you from posting a non-staged piece. One of my post popular pins on Pinterest is of this China Cabinet that has NO staging or styling.
So you see, the debate continues!
If you’re starting a furniture painting business, staging is a wonderful tool but not necessarily a must. And like me, you can seek inspirations from those naturally talented ‘creative-types’… and learn as you go. 🙂
What are your thoughts on staging and styling your painted furniture? Are you a natural, or do you struggle with your staging efforts? Have you noticed your furniture sells faster if it’s staged? Leave your thoughts and ideas below… I always love hearing from you!
Have an amazing day!
Denise x
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I really like all of the pictures that you have here of the furniture. I would probably go with something like you have in the second picture as I really like the way the furniture goes with the room. I’ll probably have to explore some other options as I know that there are many different things I can go with.
Great blog! I too struggle with the staging… however my partner is awesome at staging. so you will see my pieces “naked” and hers adorable with car keys, mail, flowers etc….
It’s amazing what some ‘naturals’ can do with car keys, mail and flowers eh?…lol
I love this post. As a former retail visual merchandiser back in the “olden” days when such positions existed, I love the process of staging my painted furniture. But I must admit, it really is a time suck and I sometimes wonder if my time would be better spent simplifying the process and getting on to the next paint project! Even more than styled pictures I think it is important to show multiple pictures of an item for sale including close-ups of hardware, trim, etc. Oftentimes these shots are missing, even in the most beautifully styled vignettes.
I love your comment Jennifer! Makes me feel a whole lot better that a former ‘professional-stager’ also finds it time consuming! And such great advice about the multiple pictures/close-ups when selling. I know when I purchase something, I want to see ALL the details!
Hi there
I’ve just found your blog for the first time and am LOVIN’ what I see. I only usually paint stuff for myself and my family and so have never come across the question of to stage or not, however, I immediately picked up that the chandelier just added that gorgeous touch of glamour to take your beautiful piece to the next level.
I’ve just signed up as a follower as so far I’ve found your posts really inspirational. Off to look at some more!
Judi in the UK
Hi Judi in the UK … so glad you’ve found the SI Blog and welcome! x
I love the china cabinet and must say that the chandelier in the photo is the staging. Makes the whole thing glitter and glow. You don’t need to dress up a piece if it is what the customer is already looking for. But sometimes the tchotchkes are the thing that draws the attention. If you love baskets and books, add some spring flowers and create a seasonal signature of your own. Love your work.
Yes! I guess I didn’t look at the chandelier as staging because it was just hanging there..lol. When my gardens in bloom, you’ll see a lot more pics with flowers. 🙂
Staging, photographing and editing…It’s my least favorite part of the ‘reloving’ process. There are some very talented folks out there that make it look effortless…Grrr…Thanks for writing such a ‘keep it real’ post! Glad to know I’m not alone! 🙂
Robin, your work is stand alone gorgeous and doesn’t need staging! When you do stage, it looks amazing (and effortless!) so thank YOU for ‘keeping it real’ and sharing. I think it’s important for other furniture painter’s to realize (especially those just started out) that not every aspect of the business will come naturally. Some things flow, and other things take a little more effort. 🙂
I love both honestly. Here’s why. My photos suck lately, but that will be fixed soon as I get more into selling rather than decorating my own and other homes and the staging I’ve been doing (stopping that soon).
Back in the day, I made my own jewelry and sold vintage funky things, (still do).. and was a power seller on eBay, on the Voices of eBay board with weekly phone meetings with eBay staff and did workshops for them on photographing and selling jewelry and creating listings that appeal.
So the one thing that hasn’t changed, is that (even more with pinterest) people like a pretty staged photo to get their attention. It appeals to the beauty lover in all of us.
It also gives them ideas, whether what colors to wear with (jewelry) or decorate with (furniture and vintage items) as well as complimentary colors they may have overlooked or discounted, then can see works. This is what clean staging does for a house sale and I’m in that business too.
BUT you need to see the piece on its own as well, so you can REALLY check it out and imagine it for your own space.
So my advice, for what it’s worth, is do BOTH and show both every time whenever possible, leading with the staged one… and if you’re not inspired that way, keep it simple and balanced and yes, get ideas from Pinterest.
Denise, your most popular photo there, is, I bet, because of the dreamy romantic hint of the chandelier in the forefront. I love the piece, but that romantic framing of the beauty makes that photo on another level. 🙂 you do a great job of staging. Peeps will copy YOU
You’re one talented and busy lady Chez… and thanks for the compliment! It’s funny (or maybe just plain daaahhhh!) that I didn’t even think of the chandelier as staging because it was just hanging there. As you suggested, I do prefer to keep my staging simple with the focus on the furniture. I admire and am a big fan of furniture painters like Chrissie at Chrissie's Collection who never (if rarely) stages her furniture. The focus is on her GORGEOUS work and she sells very successfully! It’s nice to know it doesn’t have to be all or nothing when it comes to staging and styling.
Hi
I have a suggestion for the “stylin’ impaired”. Throw out all those tchotchies that you have been collecting and invest in one (OK two or three, but no more!) good decor items that really reflect your own aesthetic. I have a friend who sells what I call “feminine elegance” … pink and cream, lace and lux. She has 3 vintage books with beautiful gold embossed covers that can go with anything she sells: all three stacked in front of a mirror, a single one open on a painted night stand. The books are small enough that they don’t hide the piece but they draw the eye. It always looks great and the books have become her signature.
Thank you for this Karen! 🙂 I do find with all the tchotchkies I’ve been collecting, I always gravitate to a chosen few. Books and baskets being a the top two.
I struggle too! A nicely staged piece will draw me in when I’m shopping so I feel that way about my pieces. Unless it’s like your beautiful hutch that can stand on it’s own.
Thanks Josie 🙂 And the staged pieces in your store looked so beautiful! Just goes to show, we may have to put a little thought into it, but it can still look amazing.