We were originally contacted by a real estate agent who needed a Whittier condo staged very quickly. The property was scheduled to go on the market the following week, so we rearranged our calendar and found a way to accommodate the requested staging date.
Unfortunately, the homeowner had a limited budget and initially decided not to move forward with our proposal. The agent was very apologetic and later hired another staging company.
A short time later, the agent called us again. The staging wasn't working as well as she had hoped for the condo, particularly with the scale of the rooms. The other staging was scheduled to be removed the following day, and she asked if we could step in and stage the property on the date we had originally reserved.
Our calendar was already tight, but we understood the urgency and made it happen.
This was an occupied condo, so the homeowner already had several pieces that needed to remain. Our job was to work around those items, select the right additions, and make the entire home feel lighter and more spacious.
The primary bedroom was one of the most important areas. The room was not very large, and the existing mattress was substantial. The previous staging included a black velvet headboard, which added too much visual weight to the room. The bed had also been covered with simple, wrinkled sheets that did not properly conceal or complement its large base.
For our staging, we selected a light-colored headboard that softened the room and balanced the size of the mattress. We used crisp, neutral bedding with several carefully arranged layers, making sure the base of the bed was completely covered and the entire presentation looked polished.
We added textured lamps with warm gold accents and connected those finishes to dimensional shadow-box artwork that also featured black and gold details. Decorative accessories brought in additional texture and gave the room an elevated look. By keeping most of the palette light and neutral, then introducing black and gold in smaller amounts, the bedroom felt sophisticated without appearing heavy or small.
We followed the same approach in the family room and dining area. Because the condo had dark brown wood flooring, using too much dark furniture would have made the rooms feel smaller. We carefully selected light-colored furniture with the right scale for the available space and added touches of gold to bring out the richness and warmth of the existing floors.
The dining chairs were fully upholstered in a lighter fabric, which helped break up the large amount of dark wood. A light area rug, bright upholstery, and restrained gold accessories gave the living spaces character while keeping them visually open.
This Whittier project is a good example of why professional home staging is not simply about bringing furniture into a property. Every selection must consider the room’s size, existing finishes, architecture, and the pieces that will remain in the home.
Once the staging was completed, the condo no longer felt small. It felt bright, cohesive, elevated, and ready for buyers. The property sold in only five days.
Bionki Interiors provides professional home staging in Whittier and throughout Los Angeles and surrounding Southern California communities. If you are preparing a home for the market and want staging that complements its size, finishes, and target buyer, contact me, Pantea Bionki, at Bionki Interiors at (909) 706-5347.
