Luxury Condo Staging Tips

In metropolitan cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, and beyond — condos are a hot market for luxury homeowners looking for inner-city living. Selling a condo means you'll need to stage it, but there are plenty of ways to go wrong. We're here to offer some valuable tips for staging your luxury condo space to convert potential homebuyers online for faster sales. 

While some condo owners take on the incredibly difficult task of staging their own space, it's always recommended that you contact a dedicated staging expert — especially if you're going the virtual route. Virtual staging is a must when it comes to high-end and luxury properties, as it's both more cost-effective and customizable than traditional physical staging. Unless you have a wealth of experience in staging software, photorealistic renders, and interior design — you're going to need to contact a professional who specializes in virtual staging for luxury properties.

With that being said, we can offer up some invaluable tips for staging condos to help guide those looking to hire a professional or manage the process on their own. 

1. Tidy Up Clutter 

Hiring a physical or virtual staging expert means that someone will be taking a trip to your condo to take professional photos. In the time leading up to these visits, there are some steps that homeowners can take to prepare. 

There's a saying throughout the staging world: "less is more." While this holds true for any luxury property, it's even more important with high-end condos that don't have the square footage to spare. We've even put together a small guide for making properties look more spacious when staging; you can check it out here.  Cleaning clutter off countertops, tables, and various other surfaces are imperative — as it makes the condominium look cleaner and less busy. This can include any surface of the home, including:

• Kitchen counters

• Bathroom counters

• Dining room tables

• Coffee tables 

• End tables 

• And more 

Ask any staging expert, and they'll tell you that clearing out unnecessary items or elements from home is rule #1. Plus, it makes cleaning these surfaces a much easier task. 

You can host a condo sale, have friends or family come to take extraneous items off your hands or rent a storage unit to place items or furnishings that may make your condo look overstuffed. 

2. Lighting 

Natural lighting can significantly impact staging photos, brightening up rooms and making them appear larger than life. Upgrading wattage in areas that don't receive natural lighting can ensure that the entirety of your condo gets the lighting it deserves. While you may love the cozy feel of certain spaces with dull or dimmer lighting — it's not going to do your staging efforts any favors. 

You'll also want to clear any obstructions, furnishing, or design elements that could be blocking window light. 

3. Window Treatments 

Your window treatments and coverings shouldn't be ignored, as they both affect how much natural lighting the condominium gets but also how large the condo feels. Dark or heavy curtains are not your friend when it comes to staging. While we know that many people prefer heavy window coverings for a good night's sleep, especially in cities overflooded with light, ditch them for the staging process. Neutral colors are always a safe bet, along with sheer white treatments.

4. Artwork 

We know how attached homeowners are with their art, but virtual staging is not the time to show off your collection. Instead, it's time for generic, plain, and inoffensive art pieces to shine. Or, you can even remove all of the art and let your walls breathe. Smaller spaces like condos actually benefit from some open wall space as it gives off a more spacious and open feel. 

Sometimes, a blank canvas is inviting as it gives potential homebuyers room to imagine their own art on the walls. Keeping visual distractions to a minimum is a must for staging luxury condos. 

5. Don't Forget About Corners 

Condos don't have nearly as much room to spare, which means every square foot counts. While it's common to push a plush chair, lamp, television, or various design elements into these open spaces, it's best to leave them barren to offer up more space to your potential homebuyer. 

Eliminating clutter or even furnishing from corners can really bring a space together and offer some room for imagination. 

6. Manage Your Floor Plans 

This is where having a designer or staging expert can really bring your condo to the next level, as there's an art form to creating the perfect layout for converting homebuyers. While open floor plans are often best, you can go overboard and make a space appear too open — eliminating any discernable separation of rooms. 

Strategically placing rugs or color pallet changes can go a long way in creating an easily digestible floor plan that flows. 

7. De-Personalize 

If you've noticed a theme here, it's true. Staging a home is not an excuse to show off personalized style or creative design elements. Instead, it's a way to showcase a potential future to homebuyers looking to envision living in the condominium. This is especially true in the luxury space, where a more sophisticated and neutral style gives buyers freedom and flexibility to imagine how they would bring their own personality to the condo. That means getting rid of any:

• Geometric prints

• Animal designs 

• Outdated wallpaper

• Floral prints 

• Bright or exuberant colors 

• Personal items 

• Political or religious affiliations 

You want the condo to paint the broadest stroke possible without putting anyone off instantly with bold statements or potentially contentious design elements. 

8. Virtual Staging 

Nearly every tip and trick we included in this article can be eliminated with one simple and convenient step, which is hiring a professional virtual staging professional. From furnishing and colorways to decluttering and even filling empty space with elegant inclusions, every element of a home can be managed digitally through photorealistic renderings. 

Virtual staging eliminates so many headaches while also offering unparalleled customization, all for a fraction of the cost of physical staging. 

Find the Right Virtual Staging Expert For You 

While virtual staging is most certainly the best option for agents or homeowners looking to sell their luxury condo, that doesn’t mean you should choose the first company you find. Many virtual staging companies opt for overseas designers that may not be familiar with your neighborhood or target market. They may also have limited catalogs of virtual design elements for furnishings, leaving your condo looking too stale. Here are some questions you should ask your potential virtual staging company to ensure that you’re getting the best possible results. As the market for luxury condos remains in flux, it’s crucial that sellers are equipped with the best possible marketing tools to give their property a competitive edge — and virtual staging is most certainly the way to go.