What makes “wow”?
I recently asked a large group of stagers: what makes the wow factor?
The oft referenced “wow factor”—Challenging to define, impossible to articulate. It is both out of sight, off in the fog, and a vision so clear in your mind you could touch it. One of those elusive “know it when you see it” concepts. Different for everyone, yet universally understood.
As stagers, we are called upon to conjure it often. Daily, even hourly. As in putting an outfit together, it tends to be either the first or last layer we add to a staged room. If first, it’s an anchor, the glue and we build around it. If last, it’s the finishing touch, the jewelry, the piece de resistance as we whisk out the door.
What makes “wow”? Increasingly for us at APD, it’s drama. A statement piece, such as a bold shape, material or color. Or perhaps just a statement, such as a boldly monochromatic room. While our goal is always to keep the focus on the house (not our staging pieces), we strategically inject small doses of drama to ensure each house is memorable.
Because different things “wow” different palettes, I decided to ask my fellow stagers across the country to attempt to untangle the concept. Boiled down to its essence, what makes “wow”?
Of 25 commenters, these were my favorite answers.
Wow Factor is….
CLASSY, clean lines, and comfortable. Intentional focal points to help the eye travel, color that connects spaces, greenery to add “life,” and layout that “flows.”
-McNair Bishop
CURATED, never cookie cutter.
-Amy Bromstead
The "FINISHED" feeling. A well put together design that feels professional. I could definitely feel wow without dramatic pieces or style... If I walk in and it feels classy and complete, that's it for me, regardless of the style or amount of drama.
-Jan Houston
Something very UNEXPECTED…
Mazuryk Vermeulen
And in closing, a quote from a non-stager (but I bet he’d make a good one—he gets it).
“What Is Your WOW Factor? This applies to both the service that you provide to the world and the way you market it. Make it edgy, make it snappy, and make it punchy. Even make it raunchy - but make it different! Real different!”
