At this year’s High Point Market, we caught up with Nikki Watson, founder of The Design Quad, the largest home staging company in the U.S. Based in Dallas-Fort Worth, Nikki and her team stage over 300 homes at a time, and rely on Coaster Furniture to help do it in style.
How Nikki Watson Makes Buyers Fall in Love with a Home
“When a house goes on the market, I set it up like a model home,” Nikki explained. “I want buyers to walk in and fall in love, to feel something. That’s my job.”
Home staging is different from interior design, Nikki tells us. Instead of tailoring a space to a family’s personal taste, she creates a look that appeals to as many people as possible. “We call it ‘real estate vanilla,’” she joked. “It has to be neutral and inviting, not too bold.”
Why Coaster Furniture Works for High-Volume Staging
With the high volume of homes they work on, Nikki looks for furniture that’s both stylish and affordable. That’s where Coaster comes in. “I was blown away when I saw the pricing and quality,” she said. “It’s well made, it looks great, and it works with our budget. I tell other designers about it all the time.”
From Flooring Rep to $5 Million Business Owner
Nikki’s journey into staging started unexpectedly. She was working in flooring sales when she met a stager and fell in love with the work. After that stager moved away, Nikki stepped in, and built a $5 million company from just $10 she borrowed from her mom.
Why Marketing, Not Just Design, Drives The Design Quad’s Success
Today, Nikki focuses on marketing while her team handles day-to-day operations. “I’m not really a stager anymore, I’m a marketer. That’s how we stay top of mind with builders, investors, and agents.”
What Interior Designers Can Learn from Pro Stager Nikki Watson
Her advice to interior designers? Try staging. “You don’t need a huge inventory. Start small. It’s a great way to grow your business, and it really works.”
Always On Trend, Always Thinking Ahead
Whether she’s scouting new trends or refreshing her warehouse, Nikki stays one step ahead, bringing beauty and connection into every home she stages.
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