Edit, edit, edit...open flat surfaces extend the eye and give the illusion of space and openness.

Post a photo of your buffet for starters and let's see what we can do;)

less is more. post photos of your buffet, end tables and bookshelves!

Thanks for the help. Here's a picture. It came a bit dark as it's night time.

OK, do you have other items in the house to add and play with?

As your buffet stands it has to many like size items. You should think in odd numbers. Group items in say 3's. small, med, large. You have them all spread out.

The pictures of the other rooms are coming too dark. I need to get a light in there or take them in the daytime.

Yes, I have bowls, vases, books and stuff. Are there certain objects that are preferable? The pieces I have there were my grandmothers.

I understand but if you are staging, you need to take out the sentimental feeling and think like a buyer;)

I would start by taking off everything. Bring in one large object like a large pillar candle on a tray and build from there.

One large vase of fresh flowers that will reflect in the mirror and add light scent to room.

Okay, thank you! I will proceed by clearing the surfaces completely and use your advice. The picture itself is helpful, now that I see the photo, it looks like a grandma's house.

Thank your for understanding, Sometimes it is hard to communicate properly over the internet. I hope you try some things and post. Or line up what you have and we can see to pick and choose. That is what makes this fun;)

It looks like you have diplomas hanging on the wall, take them down and pack them. I recommend you also pack everything currently on the buffet. What are those wires? Don't let the buyers think you don't have enough electrical outlets. As for the buffet, I would add a bowl of candy. The buyer needs to picture his/her own things in the house.... Not your things.

What room is this buffet in? Are those Diplomas on the wall? I would pack them away along with any personal type items, Photos etc.

Don't be so fast with taking down the diplomas ladies, if they are impressive, the buyer would feel good knowing what type of person owns this home. People think about this stuff;)

Yes, those are diplomas. The wires are for a printer, they'll have to go, you're right. Oh my, I have a lot of work to do.

Actually Margo, the reason we, as Realtors, ask the sellers' to remove diplomas and degrees is because the buyers think about "the type of person that owns this home". The buyer gets curious and then distracted. It is a real problem when showing property. We want the buyer to focus their attention on the home itself and not the current seller. Believe me, when you leave the diplomas up - the buyers spend time looking at them and not looking the property.

I hear you Denita, but buyers spend a lot of time looking at a lot of things that don't even come with the house LOL. A friend of my husband bought a very expensive house and I know that a big part of his decision was because it was owned by a major basketball player?? You never know what people are thinking.

I totally believe it! I have had negotiations with buyers where comments come from left field because they saw something in the house that they liked or didn't like that doesn't even come with the house...LOL

I will give it all a go this weekend. This has been good advice and I appreciate the honest opinions.

Well, don't leave us hanging,,, I want to see this buffet in all it's selling glory;)

Your buffet is lovely, to accessorize, it can be as simple as a bouquet or plant, or if you have a pretty serving tray, put a tray in the middle (or one side), with a bottle of wine and 2 glasses (or a decanter and 2 glasses). I would also take down the diplomas because they're distracting. I would also remove the table in the corner. You could also put a lamp (or 2) on the buffet. If you do lamps, I would add
a bowl of fruit. We're living in our 4th house in 15 years, and we've looked at at least 100 houses over the years, and I don't agree with removing personal pictures. I think it IS important to edit, but when I'm looking at a house, I want it to feel like a home with a soul, not just a house.

Karen- just for arguments sake- can I ask you how a diploma is distracting but personal pictures are not?

Margo - I just mean in the photo posted, the diplomas are distracting. Simple is better.

Hi Margo...for arguments sake...a diploma needs to be studied/read in a nosey way to find what the seller studied. A few photos is at a glance.

It's way better to have too few accessories than ONE too many. :)

To answer your question...yes, fewer and larger pieces. In general, one or three max on a surface, in general.
1. EVERYTHING including windows sparkling clean and every light on.
2. Nothing on the floor that isn't a piece of necessary furniture. The more square footage visible the better.
3. Very few personal items. (photos, diplomas) even including hanging pretty dish towels on the oven handle.

cubbyndolly...if I were staging my personal home I'd probably eliminate 2/3 of my stuff! Hire at least a staging consultant (it won't cost too much) to advise you on what you can do yourself. It is statistically proven that staged home sell for more and faster. Realtors, statistically, sell their homes for more, and faster than non realtors, which appeared that their clients best interest weren't taken to heart. But, in reality, it's because most realtors know the value of staging. I'd ask your realtor who they would recommend. They can do the work for you, or just give you a list of things to do at a very reasonable price.

Thank you for the help. Perhaps the best way to go about this is to clear all the big surfaces at one time, put all the decorative items together then, based upon advice here, experiment with what looks best on what. Taking photos will help give me a better idea of what buyers will see.

HI Darzy;) For arguements sake- I have been in some very poorly staged homes by professionals...just sayin'

Karen- I see what you are saying. Yes, I would much prefer to see the diplomas down and a candlestick lamp one each end of this buffet.

Hi! Here I am almost 9 years later with the house sold. Health issues came up and we couldn't put the house on the market until last year. The buffet was in the library as there was a built in buffet in the dining room so no space for mine. I ended up with a stager who told us to take the diplomas down. I appreciate all the conversation from you all. I will say, that I hope to never have to sell and then pack up a house again! What a lot of work!

There are professional stagers whom you can hire to do the staging for you. Might be worth it to get your house sold although in today's real estate market it doesn't take much for a house to sell.

Hi, good to hear from you. I'm still on the Houzz site. I wonder how many of the other

posters are still with us.

Having moved many times in 50 years I have often said that "thinking about it is worse than actually doing it".

Instead of laying in bed thinking about it, pack a box or two. If one starts early doing a bit at a time, it's much easier. Purging at the same time. I feel we keep many items "just in case" or dishes used infrequently, that can be packed well ahead of time. Labeling boxes just in case you want to find something before the move is a must.

I have also found that the bigger the house you have, the more stuff you keep, so downsizing

can be a good thing.

All the best for 2022.