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Staging the Den

Techniques > Home Staging > Staging the Den

The sense of the room | Staging the room | See also

The sense of the room

The den (or 'study') is a personal space where you can retreat to an inner space and be yourself. It is like a bear's cave, and may be equally dim. It can include space for your hobbies, work or just relaxing with friends. Soft seating, music, TV, games, whatever toots your trumpet is just fine here.

Staging the room

The problem with the den is what makes it a den: it is personal. But when you want to sell, you need to seriously de-personalize it, as the purpose of home staging is to present a blank canvas onto which visitors can project their own personality. Yet you still want it to look like a den, so a careful balance is needed.

Tidying

Dens are particular subjects for de-cluttering as they, quite naturally, tend to be full of personal items. These should be thrown away or put away, not just straightened up. This includes all your trophies and collections. Surfaces should be largely clear, perhaps with neutral ornaments on them.

Taking pictures off the wall can leave holes and discolored rectangles. If these cannot easily be repaired, replace personal pictures with neutral ones, such as natural scenes.

Cleaning

Remove / replace any grubby old seating, no matter how comfortable it is. An alternative is to put new covers or a relaxed 'throw' over it. Cleaning may be an option, if it is not worn.

Also clean or replace the carpet, taking particular care over such as beer stains. Cleaning will also help remove smells, which can be particularly 'personal' in the den.

Lighting

A good strategy for personal places like a den is to have slightly subdued, orange-hued warm lighting. If you cannot easily make the place look good, then perhaps dimmer lighting may work.

See also

Home Staging and Cleanliness