*Mix and Mingle Sponsor May 2026 – Sponsor Content: Burbeck Interiors.

**Excerpt taken from Centre Stage: The Home Staging Report, created by Burbeck Interiors. To read the full report contact: info@burbeckgroup.com

Home staging or property staging is the art of using furniture, lighting and elements of interior design, to prepare a property for sale. Home staging elevates a property to realise its full potential, increasing its market appeal. For best results, a property should be empty of any existing furniture or artwork.

“Put simply, staging means preparing the home for a potential buyer – or “setting the stage,” if you will. The goal is to make the home as appealing as possible to the most potential buyers.”*

A well-presented property will instantly attract greater interest from buyers, both online, and when viewing a property. The majority of buyers in the UK will initially search for properties online before viewings, using just a few photos, it is essential that it stands out from the crowd, from the very first moment that it is marketed.

When subsequently viewing property with an agent, home stagers use design techniques to create an immersive experience, giving the potential buyers the feeling they could ‘move in immediately’.

The skill with home staging, is to create a design scheme that will appear to the target demographic of the property, so that potential buyers can envisage living there.

“If you can create an interior where somebody feels as if they could just turn up with their suitcases, then the job’s been done.” Alex Willcocks*

A staged property will sell faster for a higher price, by generating more interest in the property.

Over the last few years demand for professional property staging services have undoubtedly increased, many people having heard about staging via estate agents when they start the marketing process.

100% of estate agents surveyed in 2025 said that the demand for property staging has increased in the last 5 years

Unlike a full interior design scheme, the furniture, lighting and accessories are rented by the vendor for the duration of the marketing period. A good property staging and interior design company, will curate a design scheme specifically for each property, to ensure that it enhances its specific features.

Our survey respondents agree that property staging has a positive impact on the sale price achieved when marketing a property, as well as speeding up the sales process.

98% of agents & developers say that professionally stages property sells faster and for higher value