The Subtle Power of Home Staging: Local Success Stories

In this edition, I wanted to highlight the quiet yet transformative power of home staging, and how it can elevate the way a property is perceived both online and in person.

We’ve recently marketed three contrasting homes, each showcasing just how effective good styling can be in helping buyers connect with a space. The first is a stone-built terraced home on Queens Parade in Annfield Plain. This isn’t a show home or professionally staged property; it’s a lived-in home that has been beautifully styled by its owner with real thought and care. The result is a sophisticated, welcoming space that immediately captures the imagination.

Rather than stripping it back, the owner has leaned into the property’s personality cleverly combining neutral tones, elegant furnishings and well-chosen accessories to create a setting that buyers can relate to and be inspired by.

The layout offers a clear sense of scale and purpose, while the styling brings warmth, balance and flow. It’s a wonderful example of how lived-in homes can be just as impactful as staged show homes - perhaps even more so, because they feel authentic. We also have recently marketed a beautiful end link property on Aynsley Terrace, constructed circa 1930-1940.

This is again a brilliant example of how lived-in homes can be just as impactful as staged show home - commanding attention from the moment you step inside, this outstanding two-bedroom residence masterfully blends period character with bold, contemporary accents. Every room reveals a confident design approach, with statement features and a cohesive, sophisticated palette that elevates the home far beyond the ordinary.

Over at Old School Close, we’ve gone down a more traditional route with a newly built show home. This, too, has been carefully styled to show off the space at its best. Every photograph clearly defines each room’s purpose, allowing prospective buyers to understand the proportions, layout and potential of the house from the moment they start scrolling. Compared with images of empty, unfurnished rooms where scale can be ambiguous and atmosphere is hard to convey, the difference is striking. There’s a sense of connection, and the listing holds attention for longer, encouraging viewers to explore further and imagine themselves living there. This beautiful staging has been provided by North East Home Staging.

So, whether it’s a lovingly lived-in home like Queens Parade or Anysley Terrace, or a blank canvas like the new build at Old School Close, the right presentation can make all the difference. If you're considering selling and want to explore creative ways to market your home, we’d be more than happy to cast our eye over it. Book a free market appraisal and let’s think outside the box together.

Aidan Donnelly, MNAEA - Harrington Brown