Natalie Fernbach, owner of Cullum Design, has been transforming empty properties into beautifully styled homes for years. With her warm, approachable style and eye for detail, she has the best home staging tips and knows exactly how to help buyers fall in love with a space.
In this article, Natalie explores what home staging really is, why it’s such a powerful tool in today’s property market, and how small styling touches can make a big impact, especially when tailored to the seasons.
Header image credit: Penguin Egg Photo
What is home staging?
Home staging is the process of getting a property ready for sales or letting by working with professional interior stylists.
Cullum Design have a large furniture collection so many of the properties they work with are empty of furniture. Using items from their collection they can style a property creating strong photography for marketing as well as creating a lovely atmosphere for viewings.
Home staging is an essential part of the marketing process, more so than ever before given so much marketing is digital and people expectations of interiors are high.
What does home staging involve?
Natalie usually starts by reviewing photos and a floor plan before putting together a proposal tailored to the property. Once it’s approved, she’ll visit the site to measure up, check access and parking, and assess exactly what’s needed.
Cullum Design has a fantastic warehouse full of carefully chosen furniture and accessories, everything from sofas and beds to artwork, lamps, and cushions, so they’re well equipped to handle a wide variety of styles and spaces. No two homes are the same, and the team is great at creating a look that feels just right for each one.
What are potential buyers looking for and how does home staging affect this?
Buying a home is a big emotional (and financial!) decision, and people often make their minds up within minutes. Staging helps them picture how they’d live in the space. When a property is styled thoughtfully, with beds made up, a dining table beautifully laid, and a cosy seating area, it becomes much easier for buyers to connect with it.
I do believe that empty properties lack the energy that gives it that positive first impression. Once furniture is added the energy is transformed. It becomes a home.
Buyers also value properties that feel “move-in ready.” For overseas clients, Cullum Design occasionally sells the staged furniture to eliminate long lead times.
Natalie also often recommends a fresh coat of paint, especially if a property has been rented out and the team can help organise that as part of the package.
Credit: Marianna Booth
What is the difference between home staging and interior design?
This is a question Natalie gets asked a lot! The key difference is the goal: home staging is about styling a property to increase the marketing potential for a property on the sales or lettings market, while interior design is more personal and permanent, it’s about creating a home for the owner.
Staging is quicker, more affordable, and focuses on surface-level touches like rugs, cushions, and artwork. Interior design, on the other hand, often involves bigger decisions about layout, materials and finishes. That said, Cullum Design offers both services, so they can help whether you’re preparing to sell or looking to renovate and stay.
Seasonal home staging tips
Seasonal changes have a huge impact on how a property feels. Staging is all about drawing attention to the home’s strengths and the season can help guide what that looks like. Whether it’s brightening things up in spring or layering textures for a cosy autumn feel, thoughtful seasonal touches make a big difference.
What are your top tips for staging a home in spring?
Spring is all about light and freshness. Natalie always recommends:
- Giving the windows a good clean to let in more natural light
- Opening windows to clear out that lingering winter air
- Using faux blossom stems and seasonal foliage
- Switching out heavy blankets for lighter linens
- Refreshing the front door and buying in a new doormat
- Replacing tired plants and tidying up the garden
Cullum Design can even help with a bit of garden TLC before staging begins.
Credit: Marianna Booth and Anne Martin
How can a property feel more appealing during the summer months?
Summer is the time to let your home breathe. Natalie suggests:
- Swapping heavy curtains for lighter ones
- Choosing linens and lighter throws in pale, natural shades
- Embracing a more minimal, relaxed look
- Using citrusy scents to add freshness
- Keeping gardens looking lush and well-kept
- Removing winter coats, shoes, and anything that feels too heavy
- Styling a drinks trolley with mint, lemons, and sparkling water for a summery vibe
Also summer light shows up dirt on floors and windows so cleaning is a must! You can get away more in winter, but not in summer – everything shows, it is very unforgiving! I love herbs in the kitchen (fresh and healthy!) so keep some mint and basil, a bowl of lemons and limes. Avoid apples as they make a smell so put these in the fridge.
What staging elements help create staging a home in autumn?
As the evenings draw in, it’s all about creating warmth and cosiness. Think:
- Layering up on the soft furnishings, throws on beds and knitted throws on sofas, sheepskin throws work well too on kitchen chairs
- Soft lighting from table and floor lamps
- Autumnal colours like rusts, warm browns, deep greens
- Wooden baskets filled with logs
- Create little “moments” sections like a backgammon board open on a coffee table
- Earthy scents like cedarwood and oakmoss
- Candles… lots of candles!
As in summer I suggested the drinks trolley, in winter it’s a tea pot with some cups on a tray which is a lovely inviting and warming vignette.
Credit: Marianna Booth
How do you stage a home in winter to avoid it feeling dark or cold?
To avoid that cold, dark feeling in winter, Natalie focuses on:
- Layering textures like velvets, wool, sheepskin
- Using rich colours like burgundy and forest green
- Bringing in plenty of soft lighting to create a welcoming glow
It’s all about making the space feel warm, inviting, and somewhere you’d want to curl up on a cold evening.
Credit: Anne Martin and Matt Davis Photography
What’s your favourite season to stage for, and why?
While Natalie loves the fresh energy of spring, autumn is her favourite season to stage. Why? Because it’s the most creative!
Though Spring is my favourite time of year as I love seeing the blossom, Autumn is the more fun to stage as we are bringing in the layers again! I also like large faux foliage and theres lots of natural foliage to use like red copper leaves. The earthy scents are also a favourite.
Success stories where staging helped sell a home
There are plenty of happy clients who’ve shared their stories in Cullum Design’s Google Reviews (worth a look!).
Natalie mentioned “We do have occasions where empty properties haven’t sold and once staged multiple offers came in. But I’d say my favourite story is a family who decided to move because they couldn’t work out how to live in their historic home. Cullum Design staged the house, a listed house in Notting Hill. They loved it so much they decided to not sell and moved back in!
How much does home staging cost?
Probably less than you think! And definitely less than reducing the asking price.
Natalie would say a 1 bed flat would start from £3k plus VAT for 8 weeks hire including furniture rental, installation and collection. Also, our interior stylists can also work with property owners who have their own items and are keen to have their rooms styled prior to photography for a half day rate from £200 plus VAT. Having a professional come to help you prepare for photography is a great investment in the marketing of your property. From steaming bed linens and styling shelfs, creating strong photography is now essential, and empty homes don’t have nearly as much interest as beautifully styled ones!
Good staging pays off. One client spent £10,000 on staging, painting and decorating and got an offer more than £50,000 over the asking price. In fact, some of Cullum Design’s projects have even achieved the highest price per square foot on the street.
Contact Cullum Design
Cullum Design covers London and the surrounding area. Natalie Fernbach, who manages the business is based in Ealing and would love to help you with any staging, styling or interior design enquiries.
Mobile: 07866453831
Email: natalie@cullum-design.com
Website: www.cullum-design.com
Instagram: @cullumdesign
