Staging with Neutral vs. Strong statement pieces

Image Credit: Kit Goldsworthy

Do you prefer monochromatic, or neutral tones adorning your space? Think contemporary shades of grey, concrete look surfaces, whites and black. Furnishings are usually simple, yet functional.

Or perhaps you favour the bold and daring – bright and vibrant, encompassing strong statement pieces with lots of embellishment. The truth is, there is no right or wrong way when it comes to staging a home to incorporate pieces that make a statement, and those which offer a little more neutrality. It all comes down to how we highlight the best feature of a space, what will photograph well, what will make your listing desirable to buyers & one of our favourites, ensuring buyers feel right at home when they enter your property.

Often, when we are called to a consult, we develop methods which involve using our client’s existing furnishings, alongside some new pieces from our own stock – also known as integrated styling. Perhaps the couch in the living room is bold and makes a statement. We take into consideration the ideals of a prospective buyer – and determine whether to keep and supplement this statement piece with additional complementary décor. In some instances, if we feel the existing furnishings make the room look smaller, we may take action to tone the space down, or perhaps even spruce it up if needed!  

When considering the use of statement furnishings or those more neutral in appearance – here are some guidelines we like to follow…

Get creative with artwork

If you’re hesitant to use a statement piece in the form of a couch or dining table, due to a lack of space in the area, a statement piece of artwork is the next best thing! Often, a bold and sometimes heavy duty couch or table in a small living / dining area can cause the space to feel enclosed. If you don’t have a lot of floor space to play with, take it to the walls instead! A bold and colourful piece of artwork is a wonderful way to add some vibrancy to a room. This can even be implemented in smaller bedrooms. Often, the bed itself will be more neutral in nature, and this can be supplemented by some bold artwork. Our bedroom packs include a wonderful canvas for this reason. 

Dress up or down with your choice of rug

Adding a floor rug to the entry hallway or even to your lounge area can really assist to either dress the space up with a statement or, dress it down and make the room feel cosy. By nature, rugs add texture and pattern to any room, no matter their colour or make. They help to frame & anchor certain spaces, and set out dimensions for adjoining, open-plan rooms. If the rest of your furniture makes a statement – we advise opting for a subtle-toned rug choice. Stick to neutrals such as ivory or grey.

Statement sofa

A vibrant coloured sofa can sometimes be polarizing, but if styled correctly, it can also look outstanding! The thing to remember with a statement sofa, is that it should be the hero of the room, simply because it’s the largest piece of furniture in that space. That means, your soft furnishings, artwork and décor should be neutral. You also don’t want to risk a clashing of colours and patterns which could detract from the living rooms main feature (for example: magnificent view of the ocean or bushland).

Soft furnishings

If your sofa (or even bed) is already quite simple – you don’t need to rush out and purchase an expensive statement piece. Instead, you can make a statement by incorporating colourful or patterned cushions. wall art and throw rugs. This option offers an easy & cost effective means of dressing the room up and adding some life to it. Likewise, you can complement statement furniture pieces with subtle soft furnishings to help elevate the overall look. 

Image Credit: Kit Goldsworthy

Lighting

Last but not least, is of course lighting! It might not be the obvious choice but lamps and pendants can totally be used to make a statement. For example, side table lamps are both functional and an effective means of bringing some personality into an otherwise neutral room. Of course, if the room is already bold, there are many lamp options out there which don’t scream for attention. We’re are seeing a huge range of contemporary lamps & pendants hitting the market. Often these up and coming designs make a statement, and can look like a piece of artwork in themselves! Certainly, a creative way to introduce a functional statement within the area. 

All in all, the key thing to remember is that balance is paramount. Having a home completely decked out in neutral tones and furnishings renders the risk of appearing boring, while the other extreme of overdoing it with bold statement pieces can sometimes be dividing. If you need some assistance finding the balance between these two – we would love to book you in for a consult! Get in touch to find out how we can turn your space into a buyers delight!