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In today’s competitive real estate market, showcasing a property’s potential is essential. Enter virtual staging—a cost-effective, powerful technique to transform vacant or outdated rooms into stunning, buyer-attracting spaces with various virtual staging styles to suit any taste.

This digital method of furnishing real estate photos not only saves money compared to physical staging but also helps buyers imagine themselves living in the home and see its full potential.

In this article, we’ll explore 11 popular virtual staging styles that can elevate your real estate listings and captivate potential buyers.

Let’s begin by taking a look at what virtual staging is and why it’s such a powerful tool to accelerate real estate sales.

What Is Virtual Staging?

Virtual staging is a game-changing tool in real estate, allowing you to showcase a property’s potential at a fraction of the cost of traditional staging.

It is the process of digitally furnishing and decorating property photos using specialized CAD software. 

Unlike traditional staging, which involves physically placing furniture and décor in a home, virtual staging is done entirely digital.

Benefits of Virtual Staging

The benefits of virtual staging are many and here are a few key advantages:

  • Cost-Effective – Virtual staging costs a fraction of traditional staging – about 97% less according to recent research
  • Shows the Home’s Full Potential – The digital form of staging helps buyers imagine themselves living in the property and see its full potential
  • Versatility – Styles can be customized to appeal to specific buyer demographics. PhotoUp offers 11 design styles to help real estate professionals cater to any target audience
  • Faster Sales – Professionally staged photos attract more attention and increase buyer interest. Realtor.com finds that on average, staged homes sell 88% faster and for 20% more than nonstaged homes.
  • Increased Property Value – Staged homes often sell for higher prices as they highlight a property’s full potential. Recent studies show that a staged home will sell for 17% more on average than a non-staged home, and 95% of staged homes sell in 11 days or less 

As you can see, the digital form of staging is not only cheaper than its traditional counterpart but also very effective for accelerating real estate sales.

By choosing the right virtual staging style, you can target your ideal buyer and maximize your property’s appeal. Ultimately, this will help vacant homes look more appealing and sell faster.

11 Virtual Staging Styles to Enhance Your Listing

With these appealing virtual staging facts in mind, let’s take a look at the 11 design styles you can choose from when using PhotoUp to virtually stage your property photos.

1. Mid-Century Modern

First on our list of styles is Mid-Century Modern. Inspired by the 1950s and 1960s, this style features sleek lines, organic shapes, and a retro yet timeless aesthetic. 

It centers around minimalism and innovation, using the least amount of materials possible to create stunning furniture.

Key elements include:

  • Wooden furniture with tapered legs
  • Neutral palettes with pops of bold color
  • Vintage-inspired lighting fixtures
  • Golden decor
  • And retro rug patterns

Perfect for: Young professionals or buyers seeking a chic, retro vibe.

2. Scandinavian

Scandinavian is an interior design style inspired by regional trends in Nordic countries that value simplicity, calmness, and functionality. 

It involves using the bare essentials to create a simple and uncluttered space.

The Scandinavian style consists of clean whites, soothing greys, and natural greens with splashes of playful accents. 

Minimalist yet cozy, this style is defined by its functionality and simplicity. 

You can expect:

  • Clean lines and uncluttered spaces
  • Light, neutral colors with natural wood tones
  • Soft textiles like throws and rugs for warmth and coziness

Perfect for: Buyers who value simplicity and practicality.

3. Coastal

The coastal style is white, wispy, and wonderful. One can nearly smell salt-kissed air and feel gritty sand between the toes as the waves crash in the distance. 

You can bring the beach indoors with this breezy, relaxing style. 

Common features include:

  • Light blue, white, and sandy beige hues
  • Nautical décor like rope details or seashell accents
  • Wicker or driftwood furniture

Perfect for: Coastal properties or buyers drawn to tranquil, vacation-inspired homes.

4. Farmhouse

Farmhouse style is country living at its best. Designed to be inviting with generous use of rough-cut wood, rustic textures, and layers of accessories found around the farm. 

This charming, rustic style combines vintage elements with modern comforts. 

Key elements include:

  • Weathered wood furniture and shiplap walls
  • Neutral colors like white, beige, and grey
  • Industrial-style lighting and barn doors
  • Today, rural aesthetics are mixed with modern comforts to create a stylish, yet cozy look

Perfect for: Families or those seeking a cozy, welcoming home.

5. American

American style is composed of furnishing, wall hangings, and accessories found in homes around the nation. 

A versatile style blending traditional and modern elements, American décor often includes:

  • Classic, oversized furniture pieces in warm, neutral tones
  • Balanced layouts with symmetrical arrangements
  • Hardwood floors and functional designs
  • The style is comfortable, approachable, and instantly feels like home

Perfect for: Buyers who appreciate timeless elegance and comfort.

6. Industrial

The industrial style draws inspiration from the industrial era with exposed beams, schematic illustrations, and darker tones with a combination of rough and smooth textures.

This edgy, urban style showcases raw materials and bold designs. 

Signature features are:

  • Exposed brick walls and metal accents
  • Leather furniture and reclaimed wood pieces
  • Neutral, earthy tones like black, grey, and brown
  • Industrial style is everything an old city loft should be

Perfect for: Loft spaces and urban properties appealing to younger buyers.

Fast & Affordable

Virtual Staging Service

Interiors. Landscapes. Commercial. Virtually transform any space.

7. Hamptons

Bright and coastal with formal colonial flare, the Hamptons features blue or aqua accents, classic patterns, and charming decor.

Sophisticated yet relaxed, Hamptons style is synonymous with elegance. 

Key elements include:

  • Light, airy spaces with soft blue and white palettes
  • High-end furnishings and coastal-inspired details
  • And open floor plans that emphasize space and flow

Perfect for: Luxury buyers or high-end coastal homes.

8. Luxury

The luxury style is all refined class: a modern take of classic Victorian design with nods to antiquity, restrained glister, masterful woodwork, and elegant floor coverings.

Opulent and dramatic, luxury staging creates a sense of grandeur. 

You can expect:

  • Plush, high-end furniture in bold colors or metallics
  • Statement lighting fixtures like chandeliers
  • Marble, glass, and other upscale materials
  • High ceilings, large windows, and golden accents

Perfect for: Premium listings or properties aimed at affluent buyers.

9. Southwestern

Southwestern style draws inspiration from the historic region of Arizona and Mexico with its generous use of patterned textiles and calming desert tones with turquoise accents.

Warm and inviting, this style reflects desert landscapes and cultural influences. 

Key features include:

  • Earthy tones like terracotta, ochre, and sage green
  • Rustic wooden furniture and woven textiles
  • Tribal patterns and pottery accents

Perfect for: Homes in arid or sunny regions.

10. Modern

Modern style is characterized by wide, low-set furnishings, a dark clean palette with often straight lines complemented by unique artistic accessories.

Sleek and contemporary, modern staging focuses on minimalism and sophistication. 

Signature elements are:

  • Monochromatic color schemes with pops of bold accents
  • Clean lines and open spaces
  • Glass, metal, and polished surfaces

Perfect for: New builds and urban homes targeting a modern aesthetic.

11. Commercial

For commercial properties, virtual staging highlights potential business layouts. The commercial style converts big vacant spaces into thoughtfully designed workplaces. 

Features might include:

  • Office furniture, workstations, or retail displays
  • Neutral color schemes with functional design
  • Open, inviting layouts for professional settings

Perfect for: Contiguous spaces, conference rooms, shared offices,  retail spaces, or mixed-use properties.

And there you have 11 design styles you can use to virtually stage your property photos. This will help you cater to any audience and taste and sell your listing faster.

Fast & Affordable

Virtual Staging Service

Interiors. Landscapes. Commercial. Virtually transform any space.

Use PhotoUp Virtual Staging for the Best Results

Virtual staging doesn’t have to break the bank. PhotoUp offers professional and affordable virtual staging services, delivering fast, high-quality results tailored to any style. 

Whether you’re working with a vacant room or an outdated space, PhotoUp can transform your listing to attract more buyers and sell faster.

Our full range of virtual staging services include:

  • Virtually staging for vacant or outdated rooms
  • Redesigns and full makeovers
  • Color changes for walls, furnishings, and flooring
  • Digital decluttering, repairs, and updates
  • Virtual landscaping
  • And more.

Whichever VS service you desire, PhotoUp specializes in photorealist, affordable staging, starting at $20 to $30 per image. We also offer a fast turnaround time of 24-48 hours. 

Additionally, your virtually staged images will be of high resolution, optimized for the web, and ready for use on your MLS and favorite real estate marketing platforms.

But that’s not all!

A Complete Real Estate Marketing Partner

Custom House Portrait by PhotoUp
Custom House Portrait by PhotoUp

On top of that, PhotoUp also offers other powerful real estate marketing services such as:

We have everything you need to enhance and market real estate photography in one user-friendly platform.

Before we leave this topic, let’s take a look at the quick and easy ordering process for our virtual staging service.

Quick and Easy Order Process

The order process is super quick and easy. Here’s how it works:

1. Upload Your Images

Sign up for a free PhotoUp account and upload the images of the spaces you want to have staged. 

2. Select Furniture

Select furniture and decor from our professionally designed library and submit your order. 

3. Approve & Download Your Images

Within 24 hours, we’ll send you low-resolution proofs of each digitally staged room for you to approve. In a few more hours, we’ll send your high-resolution images to download.

PhotoUp Virtual Staging Demo

To see how easy it is to get your images virtually staged, check out our virtual staging uploader demo:

It’s really as easy as 1-2-3!

So, what are you waiting for?

Sign up for a free PhotoUp today, and let our expert team of designers help you virtually stage your vacant property photos in any desired style.

Plus, for a limited time, you’ll get 10 free credits to use on any of our services when signing up for an account. 

We hope this blog post gave you insights into 11 of the most popular virtual staging styles to enhance your listing images. If you enjoyed reading this post, you may also want to check out the following resources:

Stina Pettersson

Professional Blogger

Stina is an entrepreneur, digital marketer, and professional blogger who's passionate about real estate photo editing, being outdoors with her pup, and sweaty gym sessions. She loves the written word and has been writing for publications like Forbes and Thrive Global. Originally from Sweden, she's called South Florida her home since 2013.

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