{"id":11666,"date":"2019-08-29T12:44:52","date_gmt":"2019-08-29T19:44:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=11666"},"modified":"2026-04-02T08:37:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T15:37:22","slug":"apartment-staging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/apartment-staging\/","title":{"rendered":"Apartment Staging that Sells: 10 Pro Techniques to Get the Best Offer for Your Unit"},"content":{"rendered":"

In larger markets, the available real estate often includes a more diverse mix of property styles to accommodate limited space and the high cost of living. Top New York City real estate broker Dylan Hoffman<\/a> sells a lot of apartment units, in fact, which can present a few challenges: How do you make your apartment stand out from one in the building next door, which mirrors yours in size, layout, and price?<\/p>\n

It all comes down to presentation. According to data from HomeLight\u2019s Top Agent Insights survey, 80% of agents<\/a> say that staged homes sell faster. In the apartment resale world, though, if you don\u2019t use staging, you\u2019re dead in the water.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf one unit is empty or poorly staged and another is smartly outfitted with all the right pieces, the staged apartment will sell immediately, and the other one will sit,\u201d says Hoffman.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Imagine Monica\u2019s apartment from Friends<\/i>. Now picture it unfurnished. Which one feels more inviting? Not every apartment can pull off purple walls, but certain apartment staging techniques will help you compete and attract a great offer. Here are 10 ideas to get you started.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Source: (Filios Sazeides\/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. Don\u2019t leave buyers wondering \u201cWhat will fit?\u201d<\/h3>\n

Find a way to assure the potential buyers that their king-size bed or beloved\u00a0antique desk will fit through the building\u2019s elevator or stairwell and into their apartment. Refrain from any elements that might suggest the opposite.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsing blowup mattresses, cardboard boxes, or other fake bed nonsense will ultimately put fear into the new buyer,\u201d\u00a0 explains interior designer, architect and founder of the Portland-based home staging company Spade and Archer Design Agency Justin Riordan<\/a>. \u201cThey might think it will be impossible to get their bed into their new space and thus they will back out of making an offer on the space.\u201d<\/p>\n

Instead, work with your agent to create fact sheets that offer the dimensions of each room as a takeaway at showings. Instead of having potential buyers fret over the size of the bedroom, or pull out their tape measures, do the work for them upfront. Make it easy for buyers by anticipating their questions.<\/p>\n

2. Define vague spaces<\/h3>\n

The goal of staging an apartment is to show buyers how they could comfortably live in a space. That can be a challenge in smaller units or open concept apartments where functional areas like living and dining rooms aren\u2019t designated. Use staging to create those spaces with rugs, furniture, and accents.<\/p>\n

Dining rooms can be tricky because you might be dealing with a small eat-in area or just a fraction of your living room space, and your setup needs to be proportional to the rest of the unit.<\/p>\n

To get the right number of seats for your dining area, Riordan recommends the following formula:<\/p>\n

1. Take the total number of bedrooms your apartment has.
\n2. Multiply that number by two. Then, add two additional seats for guests.<\/p>\n

With that calculation:<\/p>\n