The difference between a piece that sells quickly at full asking price and one that languishes for weeks often comes down to presentation. When selling high-end designer furniture, first impressions aren't merely important—they're everything. Buyers in the luxury market expect excellence, and your preparation should reflect the quality of the piece you're selling.
Complete All Repairs and Restoration First
Before listing your furniture, address any issues that might give buyers pause. That loose leg on your Cassina dining chair, the scratched corner of your Poliform sideboard, or the worn armrest on your B&B Italia sofa—these aren't charming imperfections; they're obstacles to sale.
Professional repairs demonstrate respect for both the piece and potential buyers. If your leather upholstery shows significant wear, consider professional leather restoration. The investment often pays for itself in the final sale price, and buyers appreciate furniture that's ready to use immediately rather than requiring them to invest their own time and expense.
Similarly, wobbly mechanisms, sticky drawers, or faulty lighting fixtures should be addressed before photography and listing. These functional issues can tank a sale faster than aesthetic concerns, as they suggest neglect and raise questions about what other problems might lurk beneath the surface.
The Critical Importance of Cleaning
A thorough clean isn't optional—it's essential. For upholstered pieces, professional steam cleaning removes accumulated dust, refreshes the fabric, and can dramatically improve the appearance. This is particularly crucial for lighter-coloured upholstery, where years of subtle soiling might not be immediately apparent to you but will be glaringly obvious in photographs.
Leather requires specialist cleaning products designed for the material. Avoid household cleaners that can strip oils and damage the finish. For high-end leather like that used by Minotti or Flexform, consider professional leather cleaning and conditioning to restore its lustre.
Hard surfaces—timber, metal, glass—should be cleaned with appropriate products. Polish timber to bring out its grain, remove water marks from glass, and ensure metal fixtures shine. These details matter enormously in photographs and can mean the difference between a piece that looks tired and one that appears lovingly maintained.
Photographing in an Uncluttered Environment
Even the most exquisite Eames lounge chair will struggle to sell if photographed amidst domestic chaos. Your furniture needs to be the hero of its images, not competing with children's toys, stacks of books, or busy wallpaper patterns.
Clear the surrounding area completely. Remove rugs that distract from the piece, relocate nearby furniture that obscures the frame, and ensure backgrounds are as neutral as possible. Natural light is ideal—position pieces near windows, but avoid harsh direct sunlight, which can create unflattering shadows.
If your home environment is inherently cluttered or your piece is too large to photograph effectively in situ, consider temporarily relocating it to a garage, covered outdoor area, or spare room where you can control the setting. A plain wall and good lighting trump a beautifully decorated but visually busy room every time.
The Professional Advantage
At HFOC, our experts handle photography as part of our full-service offering, ensuring your pieces are presented to professional standards. We understand lighting, angles, and composition—the technical aspects that transform adequate photos into compelling ones that drive sales.
However, if you're preparing items before our team views them, these guidelines ensure your furniture is ready for its close-up. Clean, repaired, and properly presented pieces photograph beautifully and sell faster.
Worth the Effort
Preparing your designer furniture properly requires time and, at times, financial investment, but the returns justify the effort. Pieces that present well command higher prices, attract serious buyers quickly, and reflect the quality that originally drew you to them. Your B&B Italia sofa deserves better than dusty upholstery and cluttered photographs—give it the send-off its design excellence warrants.