The key to successful staging is that the homebuyer immediately recognizes the intended purpose of the room (this is the formal Dining Room and this is the Living Room) and that the furniture and accessories emphasize the features of each room staged (such as an impressive chandelier in the Dining Room or large windows in the Master Bedroom).

Staging, unlike decorating a person's home, is not about showcasing the decorato's abilities or creating a wow factor with furniture - it is about turning an empty house into a home in which the homebuyer could imagine themselves living.