See How a Stager Transformed This Dark, Cramped Basement into a Bright, Airy One
Basement rental units can easily become dark and dreary if they’re not designed with care and intention. That was certainly the case with this one-bedroom basement apartment owned by Libby Fehsenfeld. But because Libby is a home stager (and the owner of Tralala Interiors in Asheville, North Carolina), it didn’t take much for her to turn the space around, transforming it into a livable retreat that photographs beautifully.
“You can see the entire space from one vantage point,” Fehsenfeld explains. “You can see the living room, kitchen, and bedroom all from any point in the apartment. So I knew it needed to be cohesive and flow together.” Here’s what she did.
She focused on filling the space with light.
Before Fehsenfeld worked on the space, it had college dorm vibes — there was very little natural light, and the only interior light sources were fluorescent overheads. Her plan was to bring more light into the space, modernize it, and add some more character. “It had a really sterile feel to it,” she recalls.
The very first step the stager took was adding in new light sources. She added beautiful plug-in sconces next to the bed, swapped out the overhead light in the kitchen, and brought two lamps into the living room.
Next, she replaced all the metal blinds that were on the windows with renter-friendly faux wood blinds that could be cut to size. This meant that she could ensure that the blinds were appropriately sized for each window without spending a fortune on custom window treatments.
She picked one color and made it the theme of the unit.
“To make everything cohesive, I picked a color and carried that through multiple areas,” the stager says. “I pulled the blue from the focal wall in the bedroom and brought it into the kitchen in the chairs that I refurbished and the rug.”
She continued that touch of blue in the window curtains she hung in the living room as well as finishing touches such as the teakettle, planter pot, and throw pillows.
She implemented inexpensive yet impactful changes.
And finally, she modernized the space through inexpensive but impactful finishes. A peel-and-stick kitchen backsplash, updated furniture, and modernized hardware bring the whole space together. “I think the changes I made make the space more cohesive and brighter,” she says.
The entire basement rental update cost $3,070. With a renter-friendly approach, this makeover demonstrates how cost-effective updates can make a big impact. This impact is especially important for staging a home that is up for rent or on the sales market.
“We’re renting it out for above market value, and since redesigning it’s always been successfully rented,” the stager says. “As you know, folks are always looking online first. The photos really do need to showcase what they’re getting. The brightness, the added accessories, and the modernization are relayed in those photos.”