It’s big – very big – in America as well as countries such as Australia, Italy, Sweden and France but is now beginning to take off here.

We’re talking home staging, also referred to as interior styling.

Effectively showing off your property in its best possible light.

But not misleading purchasers, insists Emma Norman who’s launched her own home staging business, Coastal Home Styling.

Instead showing the potential of your property.

And it works.

Before…

Emma said: “I was contacted by a couple who had been trying to sell their four bedroom detached property in Bearwood but had received no decent offers despite reducing the price.

“I spent five days dressing the rooms, including painting and adding accessories.

“Within ten days of going back on the market it had been sold, achieving its asking price.

…and after.

“The staging cost less than 0.5 per cent of the property’s value.”

Emma started Coastal Home Styling in March.

Her background is in art and design.

She studied at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, specialising in textiles, and graduating with a BA Hons degree.

Emma pursued a career in fashion for a while but always had a passion for interiors, having renovated a few of her own properties.

She relocated to Dorset 14 years ago and decided to go back to college and study interiors part-time, while working and raising a family.

In 2019 Emma started work for a local architectural practice, including working on interiors projects.

The pandemic led to redundancy last year which is when Emma decided to retrain as a professional home stager and launch her own staging and styling company.

After many months of studying, she passed her Certified Home Staging & Styling Professional (CHSSP) course with distinction.

Emma is also a member of the Home Staging Association.

She subsequently went on to write a business plan, build a website and set herself up on social media.

Emma said: “I not only get to work with properties but also engage with people and help them to achieve their property goals.

“Whether this is getting their houses ready for market to help them sell faster for the best possible price or improving their current living spaces.

“My services range from basic home staging consultations, decluttering and organising advice services and final property showcasing through to home styling, mood boards, floor plans, 3D visuals and furniture/accessory shopping lists.

“The business covers the Bournemouth area and surrounding postcodes and I can assist everyone from vendors, property owners, developers and estate agents to letting agents and landlords.

Before…

“Home Staging is huge in America and many other countries including Australia, Italy, Sweden and France to name but a few.

“It is a comparatively new, but growing, Industry in the UK and I expect that once people have more knowledge of its benefits it will become mainstream over here too.

“I’m so passionate about home staging and the benefits it brings.

“It is a very affordable service, unlike interior design, and can add thousands to the value of a home.

…and after.

“Properties can be staged relatively quickly and they usually go on to achieve a sale within weeks of being marketed.

“I stage both occupied and empty properties and our services are totally flexible according to the needs and budget of the client.

“I am passionate about helping people and have always wanted to have a career that makes me excited to get out of bed in the morning.

“Being a home stager ticks these boxes for me!“

Emma added that her particular heroine was Meridith Baer.

The American entrepreneur, businesswoman and designer is best known for establishing the practice of home staging.

She founded her own home staging business in the United States in 1998.

Meridith Baer Home now has more than 250 employees and 35 designers, providing home staging, interior design and luxury home furniture leasing services and is recognised as the world’s number one home staging firm.

“The way she built her business is quite inspirational,” said Emma.

• coastalhomestyling.co.uk