It’s been haunting me for over a decade: The luxury condo I staged to perfection. The owner had a houseful of beautiful furnishings and accessories for me to work with, and the finished result was absolutely stunning.
Or so I thought.
And then I saw the listing photos on the MLS. There it was, right in the center of the coffee table, sticking out like a sore thumb in a room full of fabulous.
Why on earth did I place that bouquet of bright red roses smack dab in the center of such a soft, sophisticated room? Not white roses. Not soft yellow roses. But RED. I mean, really red!
Those roses became the focal point of the entire image. Everything else in that gorgeous space seemed to fade into the background. To this day, I still wish I could have a do-over.
But that one mistake taught me a lesson I’ve never forgotten: The camera doesn’t see what you see.
Something that looks just wonderful in person can become an enormous distraction in a photograph. Colors that complement a room can suddenly overpower it. Carefully arranged accessories can quickly look like a big mess of cluttery clutter. And details that barely register when you’re standing in a room can practically jump off the screen — and not in a good way.
When buyers get their first impression of a property through MLS photos, knowing what works in person isn’t enough. It’s just as important to understand what works through the lens.
Home staging mistakes to avoid
Here are a few home staging faux pas that might look acceptable in person — but can wreak havoc in your listing photos.
1. Red is definitely not your color
Adding a splash of red to highlight a positive feature might sound like a great idea, but in MLS photos, red has a way of stealing the show. Whether it’s a bright red bouquet, throw pillows or strategically placed artwork, the eye is naturally drawn to that bold splash of color.
You want buyers to notice the beautiful fireplace, not the tomato-red vase sitting on the mantel. Burgundy, brick and other muted shades of red are perfectly fine, but think twice before introducing more vibrant shades that tend to grab all the attention.
A little pop of red is one thing. Letting it hijack the image is another.
2. Small accessories = big clutter in photos
It’s always tempting to work with what the homeowner already has by arranging smaller groupings of accessories into pretty little displays. While those displays might look charming in person, they frequently photograph as nothing more than visual noise.
What looks like a thoughtfully arranged collection on open, built-in shelving can become a jumble of indistinguishable objects in an MLS photo. A single larger accessory or a simple grouping of two or three midsize pieces will make a stronger visual impact and give the space a more polished look.
3. Speaking of built-ins, resist the urge to fill every shelf
This is one bad staging habit I see far too often in listing photos. The room has been carefully edited and arranged to feel spacious, yet what’s the first thing to catch your eye in the image? A dizzying assortment of accessories crammed into the built-in shelving flanking the fireplace. Tone it down.
When staging a home, especially for MLS photos, you don’t need to fill every square inch. Leaving a few shelves completely bare and displaying just a handful of larger accessories is far more visually appealing and makes the entire room feel more open and airy.
4. Busy prints make for busy photos
Bold patterns, busy upholstery and heavily patterned bedding can overwhelm a photograph, especially when several compete within the same room. Instead of noticing what makes the property appealing, buyers are distracted by all that visual activity.
The trick is to rein in those fussy prints so the home’s best features take center stage.
- Bold wallpaper? Block some of it out with an oversized mirror or tall piece of furniture.
- Busy upholstery? Take it down a notch with neutral, solid-colored throw pillows.
- Patterned bedding? Flip it to the solid side, or skip the fancy bedding altogether in favor of a simple, solid-colored blanket.
A little less pattern means a lot less competition for the features buyers should be noticing.
5. Everyday kitchen items can look messy
Coffee makers, toasters, knife blocks, dish racks, utensil holders and assorted countertop essentials might be part of everyday living, but they don’t necessarily belong in a listing photo.
Even a clean, organized kitchen can look cluttered when countertops are covered with too many appliances and accessories. Ditto with the hanging pots and pans. Anything not used daily should be boxed up for the move.
If the homeowner absolutely needs to use something every day, tuck it into a nearby cabinet or drawer for easy access. Clean, clear countertops keep the focus on the kitchen itself, not the everyday chaos.
6. No set tables, tablecloths or placemats
Buyers already know what a dining table is for. They don’t need place settings, chargers, napkins and wine glasses to help them figure it out. In photographs, all those extras add visual clutter and distract from the space.
While tablecloths and placemats might seem like a great solution for concealing a few surface scratches and dings, they can also create a big block of competing color or pattern in a photo. God created scratch-cover pens for a reason. A little touch-up is a much better alternative than trying to hide those imperfections beneath a tablecloth.
Before the photographer arrives, take a few pictures of your own. Pull them up on a larger screen, not just your camera. You might be surprised by what suddenly jumps out at you.
As for those infamous red roses? I still use that photo in my workshops as a perfect example of what not to do.
