Selling a home is a complicated process that can take a turn for the worse if the aesthetics seem off. Home staging can make or break a sale and that is why going through a home staging class is imperative to learn about interior design flow. This guide breaks down the 8 best home staging courses on the market.
Who Needs To Take A Home Staging Course?
While it’s not a regulation to need a home stager certificate to stage homes many companies prefer those who have one. There are a few groups of people that having one would serve them well.
Those who have no interior design knowledge and are looking to learn more about the basics.
Those who are looking to apply for jobs in competitive home staging companies.
Someone who wants to gain basic interior design knowledge without going to school full time.
While there are many other examples of who these types of programs would be a good fit for, these are the primary instances. The training you get through a credible course can put you on par immediately with those who have experience and help you enter the space with a lot more ease.
The 8 Best Home Staging Courses
Below are the 8 best home stager courses that can help you to start a career as a home stager. Our top pick is the most affordable and one that we feel can help you get started on the right track.
1. Home Staging Institute (The Best Home Staging Courses)
Since opening in 2007 the Home Staging Institute has graduated thousands of home stagers granting them their home staging certificate. More importantly, the course was founded by Jackie Riley, a home stager herself who realized she could take her success story and help others create their own through home stager courses.
They’ve been endorsed by major companies like Trulia, Redfin, Houzz, and more.
What’s Included in the Course?
They over four separate home staging courses that cater to different needs of individuals. Let’s talk about what’s included (or not) in each course.
Basic Course
- No exam or certification
- Six Units
- Lifetime access
- Four weeks to complete
Professional Course
- Exam and certification
- Six Units
- Lifetime access
- Six to eight weeks to complete
Advanced Course
- Exam and certification
- 10 Units
- Lifetime access
- Four weeks to complete
Realtor’s Home Staging Course
- Exam and certification
- Four Units
- Lifetime access
- One to two weeks to complete
What You Will Learn
While the courses differ widely in the number of units they offer, they all cover some of the most important concepts when it comes to home interior design and staging.
One of these important concepts is the understanding of interior design. What will break or make a space? How do colors work with and against each other?
The course goes beyond that to include the business side of things where they talk about client fees and pricing. More importantly, there is a marketing aspect to this course to help showcase your masterpiece in the best possible way.
Requirements
There are no requirements to enroll in this course.
Pricing
Pricing ranges between $177-$498.
Our Rating: 4.8 out of 5
2. Staging Diva (Second Of The Best Home Staging Courses)
Debra Gould is the founder of Staging Dva and has been in this industry for quite some time. After being featured on CNN Money, HGTV, and countless other media outlets, she started to share her home staging secrets through writing and video guides.
Staging Diva was born in 2005 and has had thousands of students in over 23 countries take their Staging Diva Home Staging Business Program.
What’s Included in the Course?
This course is made up of five different modules consisting of two hours each. Each module is followed up by a checklist and notetaking to ensure you understood the material. There are follow-up assignments and quizzes to reinforce ideas but don’t worry you won’t need to submit results.
What You Will Learn
Let’s break down the five courses.
Cash in Decorating Homes to Sell
- Why you will benefit in this industry
- Strategies to starting a business
- Blueprint for growing your business
- What do other stagers charge?
- Plus many more things included
The Business of Home Staging
- What your need to start
- Top 10 low-budget ways to grow your business
- How to build trust and credibility
- Plus more
Taking the Mystery Out of Home Staging Consultations
- What to wear to a consultation
- How to start your consultation
- Invoice templates
- And much More
Sales and Marketing Secrets
- Overcoming obstacles
- Knowing your audience and how to reach them
- Defining success
- Plus more is included
Over 30 Ways to Make Money in Home Staging
- Overcoming obstacles
- Reasons to form alliances
- Alliances vs partnerships
- More
Requirements
There are no requirements for this class.
Pricing
Prices start at $995 and work their way up to just under $1300 for added benefits.
Our Rating: 4.5 out of 5
3. Staging Studio
Staging Studio is a fan favorite because they will kick you off with a few freebies so you know exactly how their business works. Their home stager courses have made them an award-winning, multi-million home staging business providing great education and daily blogs to their fanbase.
They offer multiple different courses that stay up-to-date with the times like staging your Airbnb. With tons of testimonials, many of them claimed their business revenues have grown 10x!
What’s Included in the Course?
They have over 10 home staging courses to choose from thanks to all their specialty courses. Let’s talk about the main go-to’s and then look at the add-ons.
Staging Design Professional Online Home Staging Course
- 1-hour coaching call
- 50+ forms and contract templates
- Everything you need to know to get certified
- Staging basic skills with modules on marketing and pricing
Hands-On Master Class Experience
- 3-day experience at their base in San Antonio
- Learn the secrets behind their business
- Real experience staging with guidance
Add-on classes include:
- Short Term Rental Stylist
- Master Color Consultant
- Pricing Lab for House Stagers
- A Stagers Guide to Wholesale
- Home Staging Statistics Infographic
- Social Media and Marketing Templates
- Path to Profitability
- Marketing Presentation
What You Will Learn
Their home stager training is geared towards that specific niche to give more detailed instruction for your own experience. While basic interior design and business concepts are covered, they are applied to your situation whether it be Airbnb design or real estate staging.
Requirements
There are no requirements for taking this class.
Pricing
- Pro – $749
- Expert -$1249
- Master – $ 2400
Our Rating: 4.4 out of 5
4. QC Design School
QC Design school has been around for 35 years and is a dominant online school for all things interior design. Since 1985, they have graduated thousands of successful students thanks to their unique approach focusing on dual-certification.
They put a big focus on both redesign and design certification as home staging requires both.
What’s Included in the Course?
There are six courses in their home stager training. Throughout these six classes, you can expect to get 350+ pages of course content, 50 online assignments, and 4+ hours of instructional video.
What You Will Learn
- Unit A – Understand the world of staging homes from a birds-eye view. Also, do a complete walk-through of a home staging process.
- Unit B – Applying strategies for each room in the house including decluttering and using prominent style element theories.
- Unit C – Learn to create different moods throwing lighting and light fixtures. Understand window treatments.
- Unit D – Work with drawings and sketches to apply measurements and planning. Understand floor plans and how to interpret from a bird’s eye view of home staging.
- Unit E – Professional stage a home with the information learned from the previous four units.
- Unit F Option to add on the business unit explaining how the business side of it works.
Requirements
There are no requirements for enrolling in this home staging course.
Pricing
The price is $1448 but you can save $300 when you pay in full. They offer a 21-day money-back guarantee as well.
Our Rating: 4.2 out of 5
5. CSP International Staging Training
The CSP International Staging Business Training Academy offers an international two-tiered certification process that prepares you to start your own business! CSP is an award-winning company that has been recognized internationally since 2005.
From setting up your business to acquiring your clients, CSP helps you every step of the way during the home staging process. Uniquely, CSP offers live training. Since COVID they have moved to online classes.
What’s Included in the Course?
You can expect to be thoroughly trained in the staging industry because they offer the following benefits with their courses.
- Online courses with both recorded and live training
- Live support and community support
- Hands-on training experiences
- Entrepreneurial and marketing skills
What You Will Learn
The home staging program is a two-tier system. The first is the credential for Certified Staging Professional designation and the second is Residential Staging Expert designation. Through these classes, they will provide you with forms and contracts to use in real experiences as you develop your business.
You can also add on the Fast Track Tool Kit which includes personal one-on-one sessions with Christina Rae to go over the fundamentals of home staging, design, and business.
Requirements
There are no entry requirements to enroll in this class.
Pricing
There are several different prices for learning with CSP. At $2999 the course is more expensive and the fast track option prices at $4455.
Our Rating: 4.1 out of 5
6. The Decorologist
The Decorologist takes a psychology approach to its teaching making them immediately stand out. Focusing on how the buyer thinks is the name of the game here which is why they have seen so much success.
Kristie Barret, the founder of The Decorologist, brought her expertise in Residential Paint Color, Home Staging, and Decoration and psychology together to produce powerful educational content.
What’s Included in the Course?
They offer several different classes you can choose from. But the main one is her Online The Best Home Staging Training – EPS. With this, you can expect to earn the Real Estate Staging Association credential.
With different modules and photo/video scenarios, you will learn and see what it looks like to restage a home from a physiological perspective. With 650+ slides you are sure to be confident with the material.
She also offers a 200 page manual on home staging.
What You Will Learn
Here are the main principles learned in this home staging course.
- Stage occupied and vacant homes
- Apply psychology of color and color placement
- Create architectural harmony
- Alter visual perception with lighting and furniture
- Manage clients
- Appeal to buyers
- Conduct consultations
Requirements
There are no requirements to enroll.
Pricing
Prices start at $1299.
Our Rating: 4.0 out of 5
7. The Decorating and Staging Academy
The Decorating and Staging Academy is recognized by a number of industry-leading organizations such as RESA, IDS, Decorating Den, among many more. This is because they have a lineup of teachers that are credible leaders in this industry and have been featured on HGTV and other industry media.
They focus on a combination of classroom time and fieldwork which is why they have seen thousands of successful students graduate.
What’s Included in the Course?
This home staging training intensive three-day workshop with a focus on growing and starting your business in the staging industry. Since COVID there has been more demand for online classes which is why this is an option as well.
Working directly with industry experts is a huge part of their program which is why they have such a great team.
What You Will Learn
The overall class outline is divided into three sections.
The overall class outline.
This includes everything from the basics of home staging to the most intricate details of color and perception.
Business and marketing.
This focuses on growing and starting your business with an emphasis on important marketing strategies.
Additional resources
These are additional resources you can continue to use outside of the class.
Requirements
There are no requirements to enroll.
Pricing
- Online learning – $1500
- Live Learning – $1795
Our Rating: 4.0 out of 5
8. Style Listed Sold Academy
The Style Listed Sold Academy puts an emphasis on everyone being able to take their class even if you are a complete beginner to home staging. This certified class has a lot to offer but they also offer continuing education classes and coaching sessions if needed.
That’s because Shauna Lynn, the founder, hated seeing those struggle with staging and managing their business. That’s because she was laid off during the financial crisis of 2008 and struggled herself. That’s when she launched her own stage company and later SLS.
What’s Included in the Course?
You can expect to have:
- 22 modules in bite-size lessons
- RESP Certification
- Live sessions
- A hard copy home staging manual
- Insider tips
- A members-only section of the app
- Unlimited email support
What You Will Learn
The home staging training covers all the inner workings of the home staging industry so you can get a comprehensive feel of the material. They also put a big emphasis on consultations and managing your clients so you can think long-term instead of just immediately starting.
You can also purchase add-ons to have the learning materials for a lifetime or put a focus on the paperwork templates and details in consultations.
Requirements
There are no enrollment requirements.
Pricing
This class starts at $1495 with the option to add on materials.
Our Rating: 3.9 out of 5
Conclusion
Each home staging certification company offers a slight twist on its very own courses. This is great because there is a perfect fit out there for everyone looking to refine their skills or start for the first time. Whether you want to take a psychological approach or a more traditional path the experts have had success across the globe.
Choosing a credible company is important because of the financial investment. These top home staging courses offer comprehensive approaches to the entire industry including building and managing your home staging business long term.