Staging vs. Decorating: What’s the Difference?

Jennifer Chalmers
Nov 5
2 min read

If you're preparing your home for a refresh or getting ready to list, you’ve likely heard the terms staging and decorating. They may sound similar, but they serve completely different purposes and produce different results.

And understanding the difference makes all the difference.

Let's start with Home Staging: Preparing to Sell

Look at it this way, home staging is marketing, not personal style.

The goal of staging is simple: make your home appeal to as many buyers as possible, highlight the home’s features and not the belongings, create flow, space and emotional connection and help potential buyers picture their life there!And yes, you guessed it, staging always starts with decluttering!!

Because in staging…

Less is more
Space + light = value
Neutral = inviting
Every item serves a purpose
Personal items step aside to let the home shine

Think of staging as “curating” a space:

Remove → Simplify → Highlight

Sometimes that means: removing personal photos, reducing furniture, simplifying decor, swapping bold colours for neutral tones, small upgrades to modernize the space (light fixtures, paint, hardware)

Staging says: “This could be your home.”

So what's different about Decorating? It's personalizing your home!

Decorating, is all about you!

When we decorate, we focus on your personal style, on comfort and style, layering textures and colours. You want to add character and warmth and customize it to your taste.

Decorating often includes new paint and colour palettes and sometimes new furniture and reconfiguring layouts. This can also include sourcing and styling new accessories, DIY accents and wallpaper (if you have a lot of patience, wink)

Unlike staging, decorating celebrates personality.Think cozy throws, sentimental pieces, colour — all the layers that make a house feel like home.

Decorating says: “Welcome home, this space is yours.”