We recently connected with Lauren Long and have shared our conversation below.
Lauren, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear how you think where to draw the line in terms of asking friends and family to support your business – what’s okay and what’s over the line?
Asking friends and family to support my business has always felt difficult. It’s uncomfortable to ask for help and I never want people to feel obligated. But what I’ve earned is that true friends and family are more than willing to step in when they see you building something you care about.
I wouldn’t be where I am right now without that support. I’ve had friends show up when it’s 100 degrees outside to help unload the moving truck on staging days. It’s not glamorous work but man it makes a difference! My family members have been especially generous, always letting me borrow pieces of furniture from their own homes when I need them! These acts of kindness remind me that people who care about you want to see you succeed.
For me, the line is about intention. I’m never going to take advantage of my friends or family. I see it as an incredible gift when someone chooses to support me, whether it’s with their time, their furniture, or sharing my name in a room full of people- but I don’t ever expect it.
Since starting my business six months ago, I’ve completed 55 stagings. All but my very first one have come through referral. That alone could bring me to tears! It means people who know me and have worked with me trust me enough to pass my name along, and that word of mouth has built my business.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I actually got into home staging by helping out a friend who already had her own staging business. At the time, I never imagined it would become a career for me. She was my biggest motivator, always believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. When she decided to step away and asked if I wanted to purchase her inventory to start my own business, my immediate reaction was “I don’t think so.” It felt too big, too scary, and honestly something I wasn’t sure I was capable of. But over the next few months, the idea kept coming back to me, and with her encouragement and support, I finally realized it was something I could not only do, but something I was good at. Looking back now, I’m so thankful she pushed me to step into it.
Today, through my business, Lauren Long Living, I provide professional home staging services for homeowners and real estate agents. I come in with fresh eyes to transform a property so that it appeals to the widest range of buyers possible. Staging is such a valuable tool in real estate: it helps homes sell faster and often at higher prices, because buyers are able to imagine themselves living in the space. I handle everything from furniture, rugs, accessories, styling, etc.. so that the finished product is warm, welcoming, and market-ready.
What sets me apart, I think, is how much I truly care about the work I do. This isn’t just about placing furniture in a room- it’s about creating an atmosphere that helps a family move forward into their next chapter. I approach every project with the mindset that it should be better than the one before it. I want each staging to not only meet but exceed the expectations of the agent and the homeowner. My goal is always to make my clients proud to present their listings, and to make buyers feel at home the moment they walk through the door.
If there’s one thing I’d want potential clients and followers to know about me and my brand, it’s that I’m all in. I care deeply about this craft, I care about the people I’m working with, and I care about delivering something that makes selling a home just a little easier and a lot more beautiful.
Have you ever had to pivot?
I’ve always loved interior design, but for a long time I wasn’t sure how to turn that passion into a career. Before I found staging, I was working one-on-one with clients, designing rooms in their homes. I even offered e-design services, where I would come up with a full design plan and source all the furniture for them. But honestly, I didn’t love it. There was so much back-and-forth, so much time spent finalizing details, and because I wasn’t confident enough to charge what most designers charge, I was pouring in hours of work and getting paid very little in return.
Eventually, I realized it wasn’t sustainable. It wasn’t financially a good use of my time, and more importantly, I didn’t feel fulfilled by the process. I slowly stopped taking on that kind of work because I knew deep down it wasn’t where I wanted to be. What I really wanted was to walk into an empty room and completely transform it. That’s where the magic happens for me—and that’s exactly what staging allows me to do.
Pivoting from one-on-one interior design work to home staging was the best decision I could have made. Now, I still get to design and create beautiful spaces, but I get to do it independently, in a way that feels energizing and exciting. Staging is the place where my love for design and my love for transformation finally found the right home.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
I think my reputation has been built on the fact that I’m a perfectionist. I’m never going to leave a job unless I feel proud of the way it turned out. If that means staying at a house until 10 p.m. to make sure every detail is right, I’ll do it. If that means walking away mid-installation to buy a different piece of furniture that fits the space better, I’ll do that too. I care deeply about the end result, and I think people can see that in my work.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about putting furniture in a room, it’s about creating a feeling that helps a house sell. My clients know I’ll go above and beyond to make that happen, and I believe that’s what has really shaped my reputation in this market.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.laurenlongliving.com
- Instagram: @laurenlongliving
Image Credits
Chris Cherry