Whether staging a multimillion-dollar Beverly Hills estate or a compact Manhattan apartment, the goal remains the same: Help buyers imagine themselves living there.
Instead of just filling rooms with furniture, effective staging often ties into a home’s architecture, scale and character to create an emotional experience.
That’s the philosophy behind renowned designer Meridith Baer, founder of Meridith Baer Home, a home staging company with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and Miami.
“After staging and designing thousands of homes over the years, I have learned that people do not fall in love with a floorplan or a number of rooms,” says Baer, who details the staging lessons she’s learned in her upcoming book, “The Making of a Home,” to be released this October. “People fall in love with how a space makes them feel when they walk through the door, and that feeling is what I have always tried to create.”
The company demonstrates that by using strategic furnishings, restrained styling and carefully chosen materials, real estate professionals can transform luxury properties into a place where buyers can feel right at home.
A Modern Spanish Estate Gets a Softer Touch
Elm Estate / Beverly Hills, Calif.
This nearly $14 million recently listed, renovated 6,172-square-foot modern Spanish estate features five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, along with soaring wood-beamed ceilings, dramatic arches and expansive living spaces.
How it was staged: Rather than competing with the home’s bold architecture, the staging introduces a moody neutral palette with tactile materials and sculptural furnishings to help soften its scale. Oversized seating anchors the main living room while layered textures make the expansive space feel more comfortable and inviting. Throughout the kitchen and primary suite, restrained styling keeps the emphasis on openness, allowing the architecture to take center stage while creating a calm, retreat-like atmosphere.
© Tam Lontok
© Tam Lontok
© Tam Lontok
Highlighting the Elegance of a Regency Estate
Crescent Regency / Beverly Hills, Calif.
This nearly $20 million listed estate spans 5,619 square feet on an oversized 37,700-square-foot corner lot.
How it was staged: Meridith Baer Home staged this property by reinforcing the home’s classic symmetry with tailored furnishings and carefully structured furniture groupings that echo its more formal architecture. Layered neutral tones and refined upholstery highlight architectural details, without overwhelming them. Deeper accents in the library and den give each room its own personality while maintaining a cohesive look throughout the home. The home’s outdoor living areas continue the same design theme, extending its sense of balance and elegance beyond its walls.
© Tam Lontok
© Tam Lontok
© Tam Lontok
Creating a Relaxed California Retreat
Riven Rock Eclectic / Montecito, Calif.
Set on more than an acre within Montecito’s historic Riven Rock enclave, this $9.75 million, gated estate’s living space spans about 4,800 square feet with four bedrooms and five-plus bathrooms.
How it was staged: The staging embraces a warm California eclectic aesthetic through layered textures, sculptural furnishings and vintage-inspired pieces. Relaxed seating arrangements encourage an effortless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces, while earthy materials and soft textiles reinforce the home’s resort-like feel. The result is a home that feels collected, welcoming and distinctly connected to its coastal surroundings.
© Tam Lontok
© Tam Lontok
Making a Small Apartment Feel Larger
Continental Modern / Upper East Side, New York City
Luxury staging isn’t reserved for sprawling estates. This $970,000-listed, fully renovated 600-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment demonstrates how thoughtful design can maximize a compact footprint.
How it was staged: Meridith Baer Home used refined furnishings and a restrained color palette to create a fresh, contemporary look while enhancing the apartment’s sense of openness. Carefully scaled furniture defines separate living and dining areas. Minimal accessories and layered textiles also keep the attention focused on the home’s oversized windows, abundant natural light and sweeping city views—proving that strategic staging can make even smaller homes feel more spacious and inviting.
© MW Studio
© MW Studio
Melissa Dittmann Tracey is a contributing editor for REALTOR® Magazine and editor of the Styled, Staged & Sold blog.
