By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine
Nearly three-quarters of about 1,700 home owners recently surveyed say that they use their dining rooms on a daily or weekly basis, according to the 2014 Houzz Decorating Trends Survey.
The majority of home owners surveyed say they want big tables in their dining rooms too. More specifically, rectangular tables with dark wood or glass that can seat up to six people. That is among the top requests of many remodeling home owner’s wish lists, according to the survey.
Dining Room Staging Solutions
Sandra Holmes, president of Home Staging Concepts in Weston, Fla., and president-elect of the International Association of Home Staging Professionals, had a home she staged where the existing dining table and buffet were outdating the space. What’s more, the all-white was causing the room’s potential to get overlooked.
What she did: Holmes channeled a more modern, tropical look for this Miami condo’s dining room, bringing in a glass table, modern chairs and artwork, a textured rug, and set the table to show it ready for a dinner party.
Here’s more inspiration for dining room makeovers of your listings.
Try mismatched furniture to create more appeal.
Set the table for a dinner party.
Add a centerpiece on the table, whether a bowl of bright-colored fruit or fresh flowers.
Use a slipcover over the chairs to keep it simple, elegant.
Squeeze in the largest table the space can comfortably fit to show off the full entertainment space.
Dress up the walls, with artwork or a mirror.
Stagers are devoting more attention to the great outdoors. Why? Because buyers are paying more attention to exteriors, says staging pioneer Barb Schwarz. Nearly 63 percent of residential architects say interest in outdoor living areas is increasing. Among the most desired features are seating and dining areas, fire pits, grills, and decorative water elements, according to a 2013 American Institute of Architects survey. Schwarz recommends carving out three unique outdoor spaces when staging a deck and yard. For example, create a dining area with a table, chairs, and colorful place settings; set up a cozy seating area with padded wicker chairs around a fire pit; and use stepping stones to lead to a peaceful retreat, such as a small bistro table or a bench overlooking plantings and a gurgling fountain.
Stagers are creating lifestyle vignettes. Donna M. Dazzo with Designed to Appeal went bold in staging a game room in a high-end loft in New York (right). She created a scene with games on a table, bright accents and furnishings, and vibrant artwork (which she commissions from art dealers) to add life to an otherwise sterile room. Knowing or researching an area could reveal distinctive interests that could be incorporated. Audra Slinkey of Home Staging Resource, a national staging and redesign training company, suggests a wine room or wine rack for a region brimming with wine lovers. In a commuter town, Slinkey says, carve out an inviting home office for telecommuters. “We have to look at trends and surveys and really research the buyer demographic for the home,” she says. “Each little pocket has its own cultural appeal.”
