Art for Rent - Art for Sale
It practically goes without saying that the staging of a quality home is expected in today’s market, but if you are the seller or the agent, what will set that home apart from the rest—even if you have it staged? Have you noticed that so many staged homes all look alike these days? It’s because most of the stagers are buying their accessories from the same stores.
The element that creates the most impact in home staging is art.
Art is not only an attractive element in a home staging design, but it can also be a problem solver. The right art can show a buyer how that color of paint they might not have personally chosen can actually work.
Large interiors need large art. In homes with great big walls and high ceilings, average size art can literally get lost. With the use of wide angle lenses in real estate photography, art that is not of an ample size practically disappears.
An example of the use of large art in a modern new home for sale by an investor. Art to the left is 60″x60″. Art to the right is 60″x76″.
Large art and custom art can be expensive…so no wonder we don’t see lots of it in home staging. Stagers have to consider wisely where their staging dollars will be spent. In a highly competitive market, smart stagers don’t want to heavily invest in a large piece of art that they may only be able to use a few times in their designs.
Art rental can be a breakthrough solution for Home Stagers, giving them the freedom to ‘shop’ for that perfect piece that will not only compliment their neutral furnishings, but be in perfect scale for those incredibly high ceilings or that spot that just needs something dramatic.
Homes with 2800 square feet and up need a minimum of seven large pieces of big art. That number would provide principal pieces for the living room, dining room, den, family room, master bedroom, foyer and hall. The number goes up if more rooms are being staged. Luxury properties can require 20 pieces or more. Most stagers don’t have that kind of inventory when it comes to large art.
An example of how the use of dramatic art overcomes outdated wall color. Art on either side of the bed, 36″x72″ each. Art over bench, 48″x60″.
Often, stagers and designers may be called on to complete a look that was never finished so that a house can be placed on the market for sale. It’s hard to make decisions on art and many home owners take years to acquire a collection of art for an entire home. That’s why we see beautiful homes going on the market that may have principal quality furnishings, but incomplete accessories–especially art. The owners have decided to make a move before their current home was ever completely decorated.
Nobody wants to go out and invest in art that may not work in their next residence. Yet, their home for sale will look awkward in photography if something isn’t done to complete the picture they never got to finish. In this case, art rental can be a life saver.
An example of how a 60″x84″ piece of art adds impact to an average size room with very high ceilings.
Then there is the case where a home is going on the market that is owner occupied. The main furnishings are acceptable, but the stager is asked to come in and produce a miracle where the wall hangings are dated, accessories not trending. A great way to fix this situation would be to do a “light stage”. Remove all of the owners accessories and replace them with staging items. Have them buy new bedding for the bedrooms and towels for the bathrooms. Treat the house to rented big art and voilà!
A popular way of creating even more impact in oversize spaces is to use two or more large matching canvases together. For instance, imagine the effect of two or three canvases four feet wide by five feet tall towering over a large sectional in a living room or family room. In homes with ten foot ceilings or higher, paintings need to be at least five feet tall or taller, to create a positive impression.
An example of using several oversized pieces of art for added impact. Three pieces, 48″x60″ each.
The master suite should be all about luxury. A look that can fill space and add that special touch to the master bedroom or bathroom is to use a large piece of art over a four foot wide bench with coordinating pieces over the bed.
An example of using a large 48″x72″ piece of art over a bench for a luxury look.
Shopping for the right art takes a lot of time, even if the home staging budget allows for purchasing. Having a source where art can be easily selected and delivered can save a stager precious time that will allow them to stage more homes–resulting in added efficiency and profit.
Art for Rent – Art for Sale
Christina Cook Lee is able to provide art of any size and if necessary, will even custom paint it for that unusual situation where nothing but custom will do.
Serving Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough Counties in Florida.
About the Artist
At the core of my being, I am an artist. Everything I approach in life passes through the lens of my artist’s eye.
As a child on Christmas morning, the gift I always hoped for most was art supplies. Pencils, paints, clay—any device or material I could use to produce something from my imagination.
Both of my parents were artists, so I grew up in an extremely creative environment—watching my parents create all kinds of things—and being encouraged to do the same.
