Stagers are Green, too

Everywhere you look these days are articles about going “Green”. Seems you can't pick up a magazine or newspaper without noticing how important this has become in every aspect of our lives. It struck me recently that Stagers are experts in regards to repurposing, recycling and reinventing. We have to be. It's just not feasible or reasonable to buy new items for each staging job that comes along. Yet to make each home have it's own distinctive “look” requires some inspirational thought and input.

Between the initial consultation and the actual staging are many hours of prep time that would surprise most people who are not in the business. Examining photos of each room and then choosing appropriate furniture and accessories can take many hours. This time the chair that was in a living room may show up in this bedroom with a different throw and pillows to achieve a new look. The wicker chest that doubled as a coffee table is now at the end of the bed as a bench. The lamp has a slightly different shade that goes better with the bed coverings. The tray on the wicker chest was a wine tray in another living room and now has a couple of colorful mugs and faux fruit for a relaxing “Breakfast in Bed” look. The small table with a chair previously from a breakfast nook is now a desk in the room. Two small file cabinets do double duty as nightstands. Candle holders have their look changed by adding foliage and different colored candles to blend with the room's decor. And so it goes with each room to be staged.

No one would ever guess that most of these items are being reused because all good stagers know how to repurpose, recycle and reinvent. It's just our nature.

Article posted by Deanne Morris, Deanne Ellen Interiors, copyright 2009