Because I'm both a licensed real estate agent and an interior designer, I get to watch buyers and sellers confuse these two disciplines constantly. They're related, but they serve opposite goals.
Staging: Designed for Buyers
Staging is the art of preparing a home for someone else to fall in love with it. The goal isn't to make the space reflect the seller's taste — it's to make it appeal to the broadest set of buyers in that price bracket.
Good staging:
- Neutralizes strong personal choices (remove the green velvet sectional, bring in a greige one)
- Defines the function of every room clearly
- Makes the space photograph well — a skill that's distinct from making it feel good in person
Typical cost: $1,500–$5,000 for a partial stage; $5,000–$15,000+ for a full vacant-home stage. ROI is typically 3x–5x on the staging spend in final sale price, when done well.
Interior Design: Designed for the People Living There
Interior design is the opposite: it's about making a space work for you. Your lifestyle, your functional needs, your aesthetic.
Good interior design:
- Starts with how you actually use the space, not how it should look in photos
- Plans furniture placement, traffic flow, and natural light before anything is purchased
- Sources pieces that hold up — structurally and aesthetically — over years
This is the work I do with homeowners post-purchase.
Which Do You Need?
- Selling a home? Staging, always. Interior design is for after.
- Just bought a home? Interior design — staged furniture goes out when escrow closes.
- Staying a few more years but want an update? Interior design — probably partial, prioritizing the rooms you use most.
I offer both services. Get in touch to talk about what your space needs.