Virtual Staging Tutorial and Software (step by step)

Can you do a virtual staging tutorial and what software is used? How is it done; How did you become a virtual stagger? From where do you take the Virtual Staging Furniture?

Below I am reviewing the best virtual staging software plus other options out there; video tutorials were demonstrating my virtual staging solution and workflow; answers to the most common questions about virtual staging.
You can follow the exact steps and learn how to do it yourself for free. Besides, you will find my personal opinion and possible results with the different applications; in short, all about virtual staging software.

Virtual Staging Software

Virtual staging software is a marketing term invented by the industry of virtual staggers and digital companies. The virtual staging processes involve multiple types of software applications for one to achieve a complete and realistic staging, in addition to the design and staging skills.

For the past few years, the combination of 3Ds Max with Corona Render or V-ray keeps its top place as the best set of software for virtual staging. The only negative is the skills and time required for a stager to learn the software and virtual craft magic of digital furniture adaptation.

In recent years we’ve seen a few other companies developed “do it your self” virtual staging web-based applications, which can be used with little or no skills. The massive downside of this is the lack of design intent behind. It may be perceived as a drag-and-drop application for furniture and decors, which is very far from staging.

Of course, everything has its exception, and some companies use the DIY software with their staging skills to virtually stage. Still, then the drawback of “not being realistic enough with a limited library of options for staging” comes in place.

As a short conclusion, we can divide the world of virtual staging software in two.

• Complete bespoke way with very realistic results (3ds max + Render engine)
• DIY or any other BIM software (easy and quick, but limited and far from realistic)

This is how this idea for making easy to understand tutorials for virtual staging software was born. To teach and make the industry a better way, which will result in improved services for the buyers and all real estate vendors in general.

What is Virtual Staging?

In short, the virtual staging is a home staging but done in 3D with virtual reality software. All the principles from home staging are applied to the spaces but only to the listing photos.

I believe there are lots of answers to What is virtual staging, but none of them is so informative as the video below.

What Virtual Staging Software is free?

There is no complete free option as software for virtual staging, but it can become 100% free if you learn how to do it yourself. This will require you to spend time and learn how to work with different types of software applications, acquire & practice design, and staging skills to achieve desired results.

The DIY Virtual Staging Software + Tutorials

I’ve been asked how I do virtual staging and what software I use a thousand times by our customers and by other colleagues in the virtual staging industry and fellow home staggers.

If you want to learn how to do the virtual staging and use the software yourself and for free, continue to read. I am exposing how I do virtual staging, what does it take to become a virtual stagger, how do I get my virtual staging furniture, what software I use, and the entire workflow.

If this inside information does not relate to all and you are looking to place an order for virtual staging, please read the yellow box below.

If you are not interested in learning how to do the virtual staging yourself, but instead want to try our virtual staging services, you can do this by going on the Virtual Staging Expert page (click here)

To follow the virtual staging tutorials below requires additional knowledge about the following software:

• Autodesk 3Ds Max (any version above 2014)
• SketchUp (Pro) and (Free) versions

• Corona Render engine / V-ray Render Engine / Arnold Render Engine

• Adobe Photoshop ( or any software with capability to work and amend .jpg and .png files)

Main Features of the Virtual Staging Software method below

Each software comes with its advantages and drawbacks, along with all features offered. For example with:

3Ds Max – Photo-realistic and quick results can be achieved.

SketchUp is Flexible and Free (excl the cost of the rendering software).

Regardless of the software, the result with the workflow below will be almost equal.

What virtual staging software to choose?

If you are complete beginner, you can start with SketchUp, it’s easy to learn, it has a free version capable of doing all of the necessary work.

Below I have made a fun comparison between SketchUp and 3DsMax for virtual staging.

SketchUp for Virtual Staging

Consider watching both videos to see the difference between each of the softwares.

3Ds Max for Virtual Staging

If you are a beginner but want to proceed with the heavy artillery and your pick is 3Ds Max, below is the 3Ds Max vs Sketchup video comparison.

Virtual Staging Software for Photographers

If you are a beginner photographer or huge business, and you are buying virtual staging services are up-sale to your clients. Or perhaps you want to learn how to work with the software? Luckily, you are in the right place. On this page, you will find the right content, which will help you to offset the costs by learning how to do virtual staging.

Or instead, you were thinking of changing your virtual staging provider?
Drop us a line at george@tallbox.co.uk
We offer a 30 mins no-obligation strategy consultation!

How to do Virtual Staging for Free (with video)

Being first on the whole internet is always a great thing; we at TALLBOX decided to lift the curtains and show you how exactly virtual staging is done and what does it takes.

How to do Virtual Staging for free?

Get 3Ds Max, Corona / V-ray or Arnold render engines

You will need to download and pay for the software to follow the tutorials below.

Link to trial versions of all Softwares:
– 3Ds Max
– Corona render
– V-ray render
– Arnold render
– SketchUp

Get Photoshop or any post-production software

You will need software capable of editing images
– Photoshop (paid version)
– Photopea (web analog of Photoshop and free)

Be ready to spend time and practice virtual staging

Virtual staging requires time to learn. Yes, you will learn how to do it quickly, but the quality results will take time.

Learn Design Principles

If you want to become virtual stagger, you will need to learn a lot of design principles.

Start your first step

Watch the Virtual Staging tutorial – Step 1. It will give you an understanding of the basics, what is virtual staging, and how long it takes to make it.

Virtual Staging Tutorial

Step 1

For start with step 1, watch both videos, to get the best idea what this virtual staging tutorial is really about.

If you are new to virtual staging, this is the right video to start learning. (tutorial not suitable for beginners with the software mentioned below)

Virtual Staging Software: 3DS MAX; CORONA RENDERER

Text from our virtual staging youtube channel:

In this video tutorial, I am presenting you how to stage virtually the right way by using 6 rules which I have developed to help me virtually stage by using a real design approach, more than 900 properties per year. The whole process reduced my turnaround time and improved design.

You might be thinking that doing virtual staging in 2020 is easy, as there are so many websites with assets where you can just drag and drop. In reality, overall, the conversion rate of the “cataloged” virtually staged real estate is poor. If you are new to 3ds max and Corona renderer, you might not be able to follow the exact steps which I show in the video, but you can learn the structure of every virtual staging image.

For any further questions, let us know on the YouTube channel – the comments.

Diy Virtual Staging vs Virtual Staging in professional software

Before you continue and decide with the next step, take a look at the review I did between web-based virtual staging software and a professional one (which is in the videos below). Both software applications have their pros and cons.

Virtual Staging Software: 3DS MAX; CORONA RENDERER + WEB-BASED APP

Step 2

Everything in Virtual Staging starts with Perspective Match. This is the time where real estate photography gets implemented in the virtual staging software.

Virtual Staging Software: 3DS MAX; CORONA RENDERER

Text from our virtual staging youtube channel:

In this video, I am guiding you through the first steps for a successful virtual staging project. Everything starts with a Perspective match in 3Ds max. During the video, I have made some intentional mistakes, so you can learn how to avoid them just by watching.

Step 3

Text from our virtual staging youtube channel:

Virtual staging with 3ds max can be challenging if you don’t have the right 3D models.

SketchUp and its enormous library (3D Warehouse) of millions of 3D models is the starting point for any beginner virtual stagger to find FREE assets requiring a little or no modeling in 3ds max for their virtual staging projects. In this tutorial, I am showing you how I prepare (with minimum efforts) a SketchUp model with 3ds Max 2018 for virtual staging.

In this video you will see how almost every beginner can:

– find free 3d models for 3ds max
– export and import from SketchUp to 3ds max
– work with materials
– textures
– set essential lighting with HDRI;
– corona sun
– make the model ready for use with virtual staging

Virtual Staging Software: SketchUp; 3DS MAX; CORONA RENDERER

Step 4 (360 Virtual Staging tutorial) – Part 1

This Virtual Staging 360 tutorial is probably the first tutorial on the whole internet showing how exactly you can insert 3d objects, furniture, and decors in a panoramic image with 3ds max, something which we call – virtual staging 360.

Virtual Staging 360 tutorial – Part 2

In Part 1, I showed you how to import the backdrop panorama and build the room geometry with some basic lighting. In this Secondary Part of the Virtual Staging 360, I’m adding furniture, more refined lighting, and some other tricks to improve the room’s overall feeling. Below is the link to the project “as is” without the fine-tuning details. In Part 3, we’ll take a closer look at some of these details, refine them and add even more realistic features to the staging.

Link to the current stage of the Virtual Staging project: https://www.tallboxdesign.com/360-virtual-staging/

Virtual Staging Software: 3DS MAX 2021; CORONA RENDERER

Step 5 (Virtual Staging Software – almost free)

Learn how to do Virtual Staging almost for free with SketchUp and V-ray. Master the technique of Perspective Match (Photo matching); Add lights and How to create Wrapper material in SketchUp. Simple steps, easy to digest – great results.

Virtual Staging Software: Sketch Up; V-ray for SketchUp

Interior Design Virtual Staging | THE 3 IMPORTANT RULES

Do you know that you can use Interior Design workflow along with the virtual staging method? You will see how a mood board and a floorplan are used for the direction of the staging.

By using the method from the virtual staging software we teach, we have performed nine revisions until the ultimate result has been achieved.

Brace yourself to learn techniques about virtual staging nobody talks about. Make sure to watch the whole video and master your virtual staging skills!

You can download the photo, give it a try and let me know in the comments about your results: http://bit.ly/interiorstaging

Virtual Staging Software: 3ds Max; Corona Renderer; Photoshop & 3rd party plugins

Virtual Staging Furniture

Another versi anticipated tutorial about Virtual Staging Furniture. Stay tuned and check in this page regularly, in the next few days you will be watch entire tutorial on how to get your virtual staging furniture for free (diy method) or from where you can buy them.

The rest of the videos can be watched on the virtual staging youtube channel by clicking on the image:

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