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Start Your Staging Business on the Right Foot!
Something new stagers all over the world struggle with is figuring out how to start building up their staging inventory. Over the years I've gotten tons of requests for advice on this topic, and so this week I put my nose to the grindstone and got a great resource made, just for new stagers!
That being said, this list is also appropriate for anyone who wants a refresh in their own home, but it's curated so that if you're a newer stager, you can follow the guidelines of this list and have everything you need to get started!
If the budget of each item is too high or too low for your city/your clients, or the items are not suited to your taste or your city's style, then these lists can be used as inspiration and a place to start.
I've carefully selected items that are on the low side of an average budget, and the quality of each item is appropriate for a stager in a typical city, however be sure to make the final judgment call on each item yourself - nobody knows your business like you!
Finally, I prefer to purchase inventory that all goes together so that all my inventory can be used in any room, any home, and with any configuration. Green can be a great way to incorporate color without it feeling too specific. Humans see green as a neutral unless it's extremely intense since it's the most common color in nature (unless of course you're in the desert!)
When I started out in 2016 I used too many specific colors and it limited which inventory could be used in each home. That means more expensive storage, more inventory to purchase, maintain and keep on hand, and complications when it comes to packing, planning and curating the style of each staging.
As time goes on and you fill out your inventory more, you can get creative with color and style, but for your own sanity and budget, I recommend sticking to simple neutrals as often as possible in the beginning!
If I were starting over tomorrow as a brand new home stager, this is the style I would lean into because it's slightly ahead of the design curve and will last quite awhile. It's also pretty timeless and classy compared to what many stagers start with, so I hope it serves you well for years to come!
Much Love,
Amy 🥰
Scroll down to shop the lists, or head to Canva to shop visually:
FAQs
Do I need every single item on the list to be able to stage?
Nope! You can start with just the bare minimum and build from there, or you can fill out your inventory with every single item on the list for an above-average, versatile and gorgeous final result. Some stagers start with just the Living Room and/or Dining Room!
Should I buy everything at once?
Many stagers start out only offering Living Rooms and Dining Rooms, with Accessories in the kitchen. This can be a great way to build up your offerings without blowing the bank on day one.
Where do stagers get the funds to start?
If you're bootstrapping your staging business and don't have a huge budget to start, you can consider opening a new line of credit, taking out a small loan, or crowd-funding your startup budget (Kiva is great for this!), then continue to build your inventory up by reinvesting your profits/revenue into purchasing more inventory! Stagers typically charge up front so if you have enough lead time you can even order after booking jobs and use the revenue from your first few jobs to start collecting inventory.
Why is there no bed frame or mattress on the list?
For years I have used a creative method for creating faux beds that's safe, easy, and much MUCH cheaper and easier than buying, storing, and hauling bed frames and mattresses to every job site. You can find the link to my Bed Hack Guide below if you need help making it come to life!
Shop the Design Boards:
Links From The Living Room Design Board:
- SOFA
- SIDE CHAIRS
- AREA RUG
- WOODEN BENCH
- FLOOR LAMP
- COFFEE TABLE
- OLIVE TREE
- OLIVE TREE BASKET
- SIDE TABLE
- TABLE LAMP
- GOLD DISH
- WOODEN KNOT
- COFFEE TABLE BOOK
- LANDSCAPE ART
- THROW PILLOW COVERS - GREEN
- THROW PILLOW COVERS - NUBBY NEUTRAL
- THROW PILLOW COVER - PATTERNED
- IVORY THROW BLANKET
- COFFEE TABLE GREENERY
- WOODEN GEOMETRIC ART
- GOLD COVERED DISH WITH LID
Links From The Dining Room Design Board:
Links From The Bedroom Design Board:
- COMFORTER (I recommend King size even for Queen beds)
- HEADBOARD
- AREA RUG
- NIGHT STANDS
- LAMPS
- WHITE WAFFLE BLANKET (for layering)
- GREEN VELVET PILLOWS
- PILLOW CASES
- PATTERED THROW PILLOW COVERS
- TAPESTRY
- OLIVE TREE
- LANDCSAPE ART
- BIRD ART
Links From The Kitchen Design Board:
Links From The Miscellaneous Design Board:
- FOLDING TABLES (Used to create a faux bed - see my Bed Hack Guide to learn how!)
- LEATHER POUF
- FLOOR MIRROR (Great for filling up extra space)
- EUCALYPTUS TREE
- WELCOME MAT
- WREATH
- WREATH HOOK
- PILLOW FORMS (Use these with the pillow covers in the above links)
- CURTAIN PANELS (For windows or these can be used as a bed skirt - seek my Bed Hack Guide to learn how!)
Questions?
If you need help with this list or getting set up as a stager, click below for more resources including hourly mentorship calls, my $97 Staging Course for beginners, free downloadables, my podcast archives, more shoppable lists, and more!
