Home staging furniture is a popular topic in decorating circles. Many articles in this genre talk about grouping similar pieces of furniture in a “common space,” like a living room or family room. Others recommend that you leave uninteresting or visually unattractive pieces in rooms where they will have little or no impact on the “house.”

A newer idea is to use a whole-house approach to decorating and staging, which many experts believe is the most effective way to create a home that looks more spacious and inviting. (The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development even offers a home staging certification course, which can be a great asset for anyone hoping to get into the field.)

The first step of home staging furniture is to create a proper inventory. According to the article, it is better to float (“dock”) furniture away from vertical walls than to push it against them.

Floating furniture will create an obvious method for visitors to flow easily through the house, and the article recommends grouping similar items together in “comfortable conversational groups.” For example, by grouping sofa sets along with chairs, you can create a grouping that makes it easy for visitors to sit and chat without being squished between two pieces of furniture.

The rental company should already have an inventory of what is offered on their lot, and should be able to provide you with a visual reference point for the placement of your furniture rentals.

Next, make sure that you are choosing the right pieces. Some experts advise having the same style and color of furniture throughout your home staging property, so that visitors can get an “appreciated” look at your interior design taste. In addition, magazines like Fine Homebuilding and Interior Design Talk suggest pairing light furniture with colors that complement each other. Certain colors can help to accentuate particular styles, while coordinating colors can draw the eye to complimentary elements.

When presenting your home staging furniture rentals, be sure to give plenty of time to research your vacant units. It can be hard to judge room conditions, which is why it is helpful to bring in an outside contractor or an interior designer to assess your empty units before the big day arrives. Be prepared to share your empty spaces with the contractors or experts that come to your home. In some cases, you may find that your home staging inventory needs to grow, because many vacant units require minor repairs or upholstery work.

Once you’ve made your home staging furniture rental selections and found the perfect pieces, it is time to make your reservations. Scheduling a deposit or down payment is usually a good idea, especially if the furniture will be delivered in stages. In order to protect yourself against surprises, it is helpful to ensure that the renters have contacted you weeks in advance.

By doing this, if a problem arises, you can schedule a visit with the renters before they move in.

After all of the planning and preparation is done, there are only a few days left until the real showings begin. Buyers should take plenty of time to view and evaluate their selections. If buyers want to get in and out of the home easily and without worry, professional stagers offer assistance throughout the home staging process.

Whether buyers choose to use their own stagers or hire a professional stager, hiring a professional stager will help to make the process run smoothly and buyers can focus on the important aspects of the home buying process.