These “Dark, Dated” Room Transformations Are So Good, I’m Stealing the Stager’s Brilliant Tricks

I recently moved into a new apartment in Los Angeles. While I love everything about it, unfortunately it doesn’t get much direct sunlight. So I’ve been on the lookout for ways to make it brighter and more welcoming. That’s when I came across this story on Apartment Therapy that shared how a home stager, Andress Eichstadt of Staging Studio, completely transformed three rooms in three different homes on the market. She turned these dark spaces into warm, inviting ones just by making small, budget-friendly adjustments.

The first room Eichstadt tackled was a “dark and dated” living room. To let in more natural light and give it a modern refresh, they removed the drapes, painted over the old wallpaper, and replaced the antique chandelier and furniture with contemporary ones. The result was a bright and airy living space, and the home was sold immediately.

The second room was a completely vacant space that looked depressing and much smaller than it really was. The stager added minimal yet aesthetically pleasing furniture pieces, artworks, and soft furnishings. This reimagination was so successful that the home went under contract in 30 days for $30,000 over the asking price. 

Lastly, the third room was a challenging living room with a fireplace. This space was not only dark but also tough to furnish because of the odd placement of the fireplace. They strategically placed light-colored furniture, rugs, artworks, and accessories to give the space a new lease of life. The soft textiles, like the rug, upholstery, pillows, and blanket, gave the space a cozy feel. Moreover, the stager added a mirror on the fireplace mantel to further brighten up the space. After staging, this home, which had been on the market for about five months, sold in about a month. 

When I read the story, I was so impressed by what Eichstadt and her team at Staging Studio had done that I decided to take notes and try to incorporate them in my own home. I particularly loved the tips of removing the window treatments and adding soft furnishings and mirrors. 

My living room has a large plant and blinds, which, like the drapes, are preventing sunlight from entering my home and are making it look dated. So I plan to move that plant to another room and get rid of the blinds (which I don’t use anyway). Additionally, I’m also going to add a mirror on my fireplace mantel (yes, I have one of those!) and bring in some soft furnishings like pillows and blankets to make it more homey.