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Day 3 of Shelter and Stage with KLH - Today's Focus: Dining Rooms!

Writer's picture: Abigail HalalAbigail Halal

Welcome back!

It’s Day 3 of Shelter and Stage with KLH! #ShelterandStagewithKLH

Today’s focus: Dining rooms!

Right now, your dining room may look like a home office – or perhaps a school... Yikes! Hang in there!

Hopefully, we all get our dining room tables back sooner than later. (Mine is currently covered with a 3,000-piece puzzle.)

Dining rooms are relatively simple to stage because the idea is less is more… The hardest part is typically decluttering!

One of the rules of staging is to turn every room back to its original purpose...

So, while you may need your dining room right now for work, school or play, when the time comes to sell, you’ll have to revert it back to a dining room.

Start by decluttering and cleaning.

Clear your surfaces… And we’re not just talking about the surface of your actual table – your floor is also a surface!

And don’t forget to clean! Check your baseboards and corners for dust bunnies and cobwebs; just like the entryway and kitchen, this room also deserves a good top to bottom cleaning!

Check your light fixture and your walls.

What about your light fixture? Is there a light bulb out? Is it dated? Could it be updated for a reasonable price? Do you have wallpaper you could remove? Walls to patch and paint?

Take a look at this dining room before and after...

Just by removing the shades from the light fixture, the fixture looks updated! (Also note they removed the wallpaper and painted! Nice work, sellers!)

Count your furniture pieces.

Look around your dining room... How many pieces of furniture are in the room? Are they oversized? Is there plenty of space to comfortably move around the table? Could some of those pieces be removed?

The Buffet, Console or China Cabinet

Many dining rooms feature a buffet - or a console table that acts as one. Or perhaps a china cabinet, or even a built-in. How many items are displayed? Remember: Less is more. You’re already planning to move! So why not start packing up these items? Just leave behind a minimal amount for display. Below are some examples! Notice that items are typically grouped in odd numbers and varying in height.

Add greenery.

Is there a space or corner where you could put a tall plant? (Real or faux!) We always recommend bringing life into the room with greenery! It's just so fresh!

Natural light!

How do your windows look? Could they use a good cleaning? The more natural light the better!

Consider an area rug.

Many people anchor their dining room table on an area rug.

While the general rule of staging is to pick-up and remove all rugs to reveal your floors (unless, of course, your floors are in rough shape), here in the dining room, an area rug works!

When your dining room table sits on a wood floor, a rug underneath can save your floors from unsightly scratches made by pulling chairs in and out.

A rug also protects your floors from spills and can muffle the noise in the room, easing conversation.

Aesthetically, a dining room rug provides a frame for the table, adding to the overall décor of the room.

You can even place a rug over carpeting to bring style into your eating space. (This is called carpet or rug layering.)

Just make sure your area rug is not too large or too small for the table or room.

More on rug sizes…

What is the rule for selecting the size of a rug in a dining room?

Well, too large and it may it seem as if you’re trying to hide the floor. Too small and it may seem as if you’re trying to hide a stain.

Choosing an appropriate rug size is not an exact science, but it’s not complete guesswork, either. While you may be able to get away with non-traditional choices in other rooms, it’s best to follow the general rules of design when it comes to your dining room rug.

To determine the size of rug you need, first measure your table, then add 36 to 48 inches to each measurement. Be sure to include any extra table leaves in your figure because you want your new rug to accommodate the entire length of your table. In most cases, an 8x10 or 9x12 rug will fit your area and leave plenty of room for your chairs.

Most rugs are rectangular, perfect for standard dining room tables. However, an 8-foot or 10-foot square rug will accommodate most square tables if you happen to own one. An 8-foot or 10-foot round rug can also set off a circular table and complement the style in your room.

As you consider your options and the best measurements for your space, take into account any sideboards or furniture pieces in the room. (Although… I already urged you above to have those removed!) Regardless, your new rug should not extend beneath any furniture pieces.

Remove personal items. (I know, we say this every time…)

As we’ve done in every room thus far, remove all personal art, decor and family photos. Remember, we want potential buyers to visualize themselves dining and entertaining in this space! Neutral, abstract art and mirrors are best!

Other features in the room…

Perhaps you have a fireplace in your dining room! (Lucky you!) Clear off the mantel completely and consider either a piece of art or a mirror to make the room feel larger and reflect more natural light! Accessorize lightly with greenery, candle sticks, etc.

Here's a great example:

Set the table! (Finally!)

Okay – the hard work is done! Now, let’s work on a simple centerpiece – the fun part! Consider a neutral table runner and vase with greenery and/or flowers with a set of candle sticks. (Consider faux greenery or flowers, especially if you’re not living at the property… It can be challenging to keep fresh flowers looking fresh when you’re not there to change the water!)

You can certainly set the table if you have more of a formal dining room. Consider using chargers or place mats, plates, bowls and utensils – this is also your opportunity to introduce a pop of color or pattern with napkins and decorative napkin rings.

Use what you have!

As always, here are some visual examples! (And thank you for subscribing to our YouTube channel!)

Now go give it a try!

Thanks for reading!

Stay safe! Stay home! Stay healthy!

Abigail Halal

Project Manager, Home Stager

KLH Home Staging

617.519.9133

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