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In Austin’s Zilker neighborhood, a newly refreshed empty home became a powerhouse on the market thanks to the work of Heather Amalaha, studio principal at Showhomes Premier Design Studio. Prior to staging, the five-bedroom, three-bath, 2,572-square-foot-home was completely emptied and the walls repainted and original floors refinished — so Amalaha had a blank slate to work with that was in excellent condition.
“Since most buyers struggle to visualize themselves living in a home when it’s unfurnished, our goal was to showcase the feel, flow, and function of each space while bringing out the personality of the home,” Amalaha says. Here’s how she transformed this home.
She Used Furniture to Create “Zones”
Her first step was to do a walk-through and take measurements, paying special attention to how she could highlight the best features of the home. The layout was perfect for entertaining, Amalaha said, with two large living rooms connected by a dining room. The secondary living room had French doors opening to outside.
“[It was] perfect for Austin’s indoor/outdoor lifestyle,” she says. “The challenge was helping buyers understand how to use each space and how the spaces connected.”
Amalaha saw a need to make the home feel cohesive and relaxed, so she created a design around soft, neutral tones and organic textures. For accent pieces, she used rusty orange (a small shout-out to nearby University of Texas at Austin), sandy brown, and indigo blues. Then, she picked out furniture that matched the vibe.
She Emphasized the Indoor/Outdoor Living Feel
Amalaha wanted to emphasize the home’s indoor/outdoor feel in the secondary living room. Because it had French doors on both sides, she knew furniture placement would be incredibly important.
“We removed the curtains to maximize natural light and draw attention to the high ceiling,” she says. “I floated a Sagebrook Home 3-Seater Bolstered Sofa with two Moe’s Home Oscy Swivel Chairs, creating flow from one set of doors to the other without blocking the path.”
The dining room essentially functioned as a walkway between the two living spaces, so Amalaha chose a table that helped the space remain functional without coming across as heavy or obstructive. She opted for a CB2 Silverado Chrome Rectangular Glass Table. Because the table has a transparent surface, it keeps the space looking open while visually connecting the two living rooms — all while seating six people comfortably.
She Used Big Furniture to Reveal the Size of the Space
Upstairs, Amalaha focused on the primary bedroom. It was a bit small, so she wanted to show it could hold a king bed without feeling cramped. Facing the bedroom’s French doors that open to a balcony, she placed a Moe’s Home Ashcroft Bed, pairing it with Sagebrook Home Marble Top Criss Cross Accent Tables, which also had a glass surface.
A professional photographer came in to take listing photos after the staging project was complete. Once the home was listed, online engagement went wild. In just a matter of days, the house already had 1,300 views and 90 saves on Zillow.
“The staging helped buyers see and experience the natural flow of the property,” Amalaha says. “It highlighted the home’s best features like the natural light and refinished original floors and helped them to connect emotionally with the home so buyers felt confident making an offer quickly.”
Ultimately, it took only nine days to sell the house compared with the average 68 days homes stay on the market in Austin.
