"Staging" has become an important part of selling a home. The term still may be unfamiliar to many, but the concept certainly is not. In the magazine business it's called styling, and simply put, it's about romancing. It's all those elements that are brought to a photo shoot to enhance a room, inside or out: flowers, bowls of fresh fruit, throws, spots of color in accessories such as pillows, collectibles. Retailers and manufacturers know just how important these "magazine worthy" touches are, and they spend a bundle to photograph their products in the best light, literally and figuratively, which is why some of today's relevant cues for making your home inviting come from retailer catalogs.
"Catalogs have become the new magazines," said Gale Steves, a former editor-in-chief for Home magazine and currently a home-design consultant based in New York. "They're lifestyle catalogs that merchandise in very interesting ways that catch the eye. It's up to you to interpret."
Retailer Ethan Allen, for example, produces a magazine distinguished by its large format and edgy graphic covers. They're visually compelling with tight, low-angled photography and packed with witty takes on design, such as the top 10 signs you need a design pro. Some examples: Your dining room makes you want to go out to eat; someone nominated your home for a TV makeover show; there's no decent backdrop for family photos, so you always shoot outside.
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