We all know the importance of having eye-catching MLS photos. I'm all about taking great photos for my Los Angeles home staging clients. Beautiful,eye catching home staging photos accomplish 2 things:
- They showcase the house to appeal to the greatest number of buyers on the MLS and in marketing materials. If my photos get them in the door, then the listing agent has a better chance of selling the home.
- They showcase my ability as a home stager on my home staging website and in my portfolio
Lately, I've been using red accessories, throw pillows and bedding more and more because I recognize how those touches of red really make the photos pop. And when buyers are standing in the house, they're not disappointed by the reality vs. the photos.
Here are photos of some of our home staging projects incorporating the color red:
Valley Village Cottage Home Staging
Arcadia Townhouse Condo After Home Staging
Pasadena Mid Century Modern after home staging. We added red in the accessories to help balance the red free standing fireplace.
In every photo, the red accents really draw you into the room and causes your eye to move around the room. And let me assure you: In person, it is even more visually stimulating.
Yes, home staging is not decorating, in the traditional sense. But our job as home stagers is to stimulate the buyer's appetite to own that home. Red, used judiciously, makes a home exciting and memorable.
So, if you are ever at a loss to make your staged home more exciting, eyecatching and memorable, make sure to add a touch of red.
To see more photos of vacant and occupied home staging photos in Los Angeles, Pasadena, Arcadia, San Marino and the San Fernando Valley, visit our Los Angeles home staging website.
Follow me on Twitter @HomeStagingPro
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2010 RESA Professional Stager of the Year
Michelle has staged hundreds of Los Angeles homes, many of which have sold with multiple offers, above listing price.
She works with home sellers, listing agents and asset managers to prepare homes for sale throughout Los Angeles.
Moving Mountains Design provides vacant home staging, occupied home staging, color consultations, corporate and executive relocations, move organization, redesign, and interior design. We also stage model homes, REOs,foreclosures and auction properties for real estate investors and asset managers.
For more information about our Los Angeles home staging services, contact Michelle at (626)385-8852 or by email.
Click here to see our Los Angeles home staging portfolio
Click here to go to our Los Angeles home staging blog
Click here for more information about home staging in Los Angeles and how we can help sell your home faster and for the best price
Red does liven up a a room. i saw some red pillows on some front chairs in front of a house. Very classy
I love using it too! It keeps the eye moving and adds so much interest. Your staging is just beautiful.
Beautiful photos of your staging successes. Your staging "compositions" make the space so appealing.
Your photos and staging are beautiful as always, Michelle!
Michelle, today I heard a realtor say something that I hadn't heard in years...."sell the sizzle". What better than RED to add those pops of color and SIZZLE. Great job!
Hi Michelle - You're so right! I noticed when I had staged a vacant home I had listed last year that when I added just a few red touches around Christmas, it made the whole house seem brighter and happier (and it sold right away after that).
You're right - I'd better go shopping again!
Using bold colors in the accessorizing is such a fabulous way of bringing a pop of color in the room for staging projects and as you said Michelle it draws you into the room. Looks wonderful! Love that red fireplace now too, I think had you not addressed that and it was the main focus of the space some buyers may have thought it was a problem not an asset not knowing what to do with it. You worked your magic as usual.
Hi Michelle! I like the use of red because of the boost of energy the color gives to any setting. With balance, the pop of color can change the entire presentation for the potential buyers. Nice post!
Michelle, I love using red, it not only makes the home look better, it makes it feel better. It's also the one element that is usually missing in people's homes. I love your work, your photos look wonderful.
Beautiful photos and beautiful staging, Michelle! Agreed, red looks great in photos, as does orange.
Michelle, Love your stagings, especially the Valley Village cottage staging. And I'm jealous you get to work in mid-century modern homes, one of my favorite architectural styles that we don't see too often on the east coast.
Coincidentally I'm doing a vacant staging tomorrow at a studio apartment in New York City. I plan on using red accessories in an overall black and cream color scheme. I'll share a photo in this post in a few days.
I too am all about using a color to make a room work with its finest features and red is usually that color. Nice work.
Russ: Adding a touch of red to the front of a house is a good idea. It really catches your eye.
Thanks, Cathy Lee. Right back at you!
Sara: A home stager can make all the difference to help the listing agent make a sale. If you do not already have a home stager on your team, let me know. I'll recommend someone in your area.
Thank you Debby:o))
Ginger: While that phrase has been around for a long time, I still like it. Red helps add sizzle.
Susan: Great testimonial to the power of red.
Beth: Nothing like a good excuse to go shopping:o))
Thanks KK. When I saw the red fireplace, my first thought was "Can I paint it black?". But after I looked at my before photos, I realized I could turn it into an asset. With the right furniture an accessories I think everything works well together, even the fireplace.
Kathleen: Red is a very energetic color (orange too) and it does have to be used in balance or it can be come overwhelming. Thanks!
Carole: A little bit of the fire element (red) goes a long way.Balance is important. Thanks for your comment.
Anonymous: Thank you!
Donna: That color combination sounds yummy. I'd love to see the pictures. Feel free to post one in the comments here if you'd like. I don't get to do as many mid-century homes as I would like. I have to work on marketing to that audience more.
I thought that the Franklin stove must have been your inspiration! The house looks great.
... Robin
Robin: The fireplace is actually vintage 1970's when the house was built. Sorry no freestanding fireplaces in my inventory. They were quite popular with the International architectural movement. Thanks!
Great post Michelle! I ALWAYS love looking at your staging work! Love the red! :)
Thanks Wendy. How did your consultation go the other day?
Awesome photos. The color does make the room pop! Each of these sellers was very smart to hire you...your work is beautiful.
Thank you Sharon. What a nice comment!
Michelle:
I agree that red (in limited amounts) really does help put some punch in rooms. However, have you ever tried to photograph a home that had fire engine red walls AND ceilings (popcorn ceilings, no less). Not an easy task, let me tell you.
I think you have it just right, Michelle.
Pretty nice photography, as well.
Michelle, it's all gorgeous. The balance of red is perfect in each room. Stunning!
Michael: I have not had that experience. If I couldn't get the homeowner to paint the room a more broadly appealing color, I would suggest calling in a professional photographer. I don't have the lighting equipment or expertise to take something like that on :o)) Glad you like the photos. My lens (Nikon 14-24mm 2.8 AFS) and Photoshop deserve most of the credit.
Tanya: Thank you. Glad you like it.
Hi Michelle, it all looks so beautiful, a little red is always a good thing!
We always seem to have some red in our stagings -- not that we fight the impulse very hard! It does add life to a room (in judicious amounts). I love that mid-century room. My partner and I would give our eye teeth to be able to stage a room with barcelona chairs! I'll just have to stage vicariously through you. ;-)
Hi Michelle,
Love that red and you're right about it making the room pop. As for that fireplace, very interesting.
I agree Ana.
Laurie: I'd like to do some more mid-century moderns. I'll have to work on that.
Lynda: I wouldn't have chosen to have that fireplace, but it did work with the architecture and the style of the house. Like any good stager, I took what was there and turned it into a desirable feature.
That could be my house. I have those chairs and ottomans. My sofa almost looks like those. I did get rid of the free standing fireplace several years ago. It took up too must space in the room
Hi MM -- The staging is fab -- and your response to Lynda is so spot on,
"Like any good stager, I took what was there and turned it into a desirable feature." Bravo!
Your work is superb, Michelle. Incredible photography as well!
Kathy
Your house sounds lovely, Virginia. Too bad about the fireplace :o))
Thank you Karen!
Coming from you, that's a great compliment, Kathy. Thanks!
Your staging and choice of accessories & furnishing are just fabulous as usual Michelle! Well done!
Cynthia: Laughing at the red type. Very clever! Thank you, I'm glad you like my work.
Your photos (& Stagings) are always beautiful and top-notch. Funny & timely post, I just spent (too much) $$$$ on a bunch of red and paprika colored accessories for my inventory. Great examples, Michelle.
Connie: Great minds think alike!
Where'd you get the free standing red fireplace as an accessory? All kidding aside, I also enjoy using pops of red to draw the eye. It is so effective and it shows in your pictures. The homes look fantastic!
Michelle, as promised here are a few photos (taken with a regular rather than a wide angle lens camera unfortunately - I need to go back) of the studio apartment in New York City I staged yesterday using red as the accent color in a black and cream color scheme.
I WANT those cool low chairs that you have in the Mid Century! Love it. Beautiful, professional staging and pictures, as always MM ;))
Wow, Donna. Looks gorgeous - cool, clean & elegant. Works for me!
LKP: You can have those chairs...for a small price (wink, wink). Thanks Lori!
Michelle - I love red accents and your staging is always perfect! You always inspire me to be better :)
Thank you, Wanda!
Hi Michelle! Consult went great, only curb appeal. They did some work and they already have 2 offers. Houses are going at half price here :) Would have loved to stage it but at these prices they sell fast :)
Hi Michelle, beautiful examples of judicious touches of red to draw attention in a listing photo! I used red quite a bit when I first started staging and then went much more neutral. Time to rethink that strategy...
Red does add sizzle and drama! I learned long ago that every room can use a touch of red, and all the photos here prove it!
Wendy: Glad your consultation went well.
Michelle: Thank you. I go through phases of loving/loving less red. I think any bright color that catches a buyer's attention in photos is a good thing. It could be yellow, orange, apple green, turquoise, etc.
Kim: not sure about every room but probably most :o)) See comment to Michelle above.
Absolutely lovely Michelle-- what beautiful work and photography as well! I thought at first that the fireplace color was intentional and then read that it had already been there. You used it perfectly in the design of the room. You've inspired me to start seeing more red!
Beautiful! I just love red accents!!
Michelle,
You are so right. I think red is great in that it goes well with most color palettes.
Jo
Hi Michelle,
The red in the photos made the rooms pop! Thanks for sharing the photos with us. You did a great job!
Chris