Consulting with a professional interior designer when staging your home can help you make important decisions, such as choosing accessories and appropriately scaled furniture, and remove an unnecessary stressor from your to-do list.
One such local company offering these design services is Design Studio Interiors, located in Camana Bay. Provenance Properties spoke with its owner and principal, Michelle Butler, who provided seven helpful tips for staging your luxury home.
Place-making
When approaching the staging of your home, the starting point is determining a sense of place. Michelle suggested asking yourself such questions as: What is the goal for the room you are staging? Is this a warm open setting perfect for hosting or is this a cosy den designed for reading in the afternoon light? Establish the desire for the room as the starting point.
Lighting
The process of staging usually occurs after the purchase of furniture and any finishing items. Michelle advises you to ensure each space is home to appropriate lighting and placement for each time of the day. Daytime lighting calls for lamps; evening lighting calls for candlelight or lanterns.
Pro tip: When preparing for nighttime lighting, ensure the lights are low level, so the eye is not drawn up.
S702 at The Residences at Seafire, designed by Design Studio Interiors
Mirrors
An easy, low-pressure way to add light to a room is by including mirrors in the design or staging of a room, Michelle says. Including mirrors adds additional light to a room and, depending on the finishing of the mirror, it can sparkle beautifully as a statement piece.
S1001 at The Residences at Seafire, designed by Design Studio Interiors
Art
It is better to keep a wall blank, then find the appropriate piece, rather than to purchase art that doesn’t suit the sense of place you’ve created.
S702 at The Residences at Seafire, designed by Design Studio Interiors
Paint or wallpaper
A budget-friendly addition to the staging of a room is paint or wallpaper. Michelle noted that these “jewel box moments” are the standout additions that guests or potential purchasers will remember most.
Pro tip: Don’t be afraid of dark colours in your staging or design.
S702 at The Residences at Seafire, designed by Design Studio Interiors
Plants
The addition of living plants to a space can add brightness and improve air quality. Plants are “healthy and happy and very easy to move around” in a space, Michelle says.
OLEA Sales & Presentation Centre located in Camana Bay, designed by Design Studio Interiors
Top bedding
A worthy investment in the staging of a bedroom is a set of beautiful plush pillows and a duvet. These additions add an elevated sense to any bedroom.
Pro tip: When choosing bedding, all-white is always a great choice.
S1001 at The Residences at Seafire, designed by Design Studio Interiors
When you list your home with Provenance Properties, our team often works with experts like Michelle Butler to ensure you receive a bespoke full-service experience.
For more information on Provenance Properties, the exclusive Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate in the Cayman Islands and member of CIREBA, visit provenanceproperties.com or email info@provenanceproperties.com to speak to a Sales Specialist directly.
About the author
Alanna Warwick-Smith is a senior marketing communications coordinator supporting the business development and real estate marketing team for Dart. Alanna has worked in Dart’s flagship development of Camana Bay for the past nine years, when she began her career working at the town’s bookstore. A lover of the written word, Alanna reads and writes poetry in her spare time, and has written content for a range of platforms in the past, including her own blog and Camana Bay Times.
