Start your new home staging career today!
Start your new color consultant career today!
Earn your Home Staging Certification today!
Become a Certified Color Consultant today!
Earn an Interior Decorating Certification in 4 days!

Home Staging Certification – Interior Decorating Certification – Color Consultation Certification Courses

Decorative Art Study and Career Building for the Creatively Inspired

The Staging and Decorating Guild (formerly The Home Stagers Guild) is a comprehensive training school located in Atlanta, GA, which offers Home Staging Certification, Interior Decorating Certification, Express Decorating™ (Interior Redesign), and Color Consultant Certification courses. Founder and Instructor Melanie Serra and her new business partner Karla Urbizo, mentor and train the creative and the passionate in launching and establishing a successful career in home staging and interior decorating.

4-DAY EXPRESS DECORATING™ &
BASIC STAGING MASTERCLASS CERTIFICATION

This Home Staging Certification and Interior Decorating Certification curriculum provides each student with the knowledge and training to learn how to become a home stager and an interior decorator. You will walk away with all the tools needed to own and operate a successful home staging and interior decorating business.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

  • Design 101
  • Placement Guidelines
  • Express Decorating
  • Art of Accessorizing
  • Power of Staging
  • 12 Step SDG Staging Method
  • Pre-Staging Process
  • The Consultation
  • Decorating to Sell
  • Business of Staging
  • Marketing Your Business
  • Social Media and Your Business

2-DAY COLOR CONSULTANT
CERTIFICATION

The tools in this Color Consultant Certification Course will refresh basic color knowledge, with emphasis on color schemes, identifying undertones and selecting a paint color for unusual architectural or structural features. Join the many certified interior designers who now have color skills that add an edge to their decorating business.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

  • Psychology of Color
  • Color Theory
  • Paint 101
  • Working with Color
  • Color Harmony
  • Picking Paint Color
  • Creating Mood with Color
  • Developing a Color Scheme
  • Developing a Color Palette
  • Color for Staging
  • The Color Consultation
  • Working with Clients

OUR MISSION

The goal of the SDG™ training program is to provide a fun, and comfortable classroom setting in which students learn the basic fundamentals of home staging, interior decorating and color, tap into their creativity and feel empowered to own and operate a successful home staging and decorating business. Upon graduation, each student will receive a certificate of completion and will become a member of The Staging and Decorating Guild™. They will also be eligible to receive one year of free advertising on our website directory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sets The Staging & Decorating Guild™ training program apart from other training programs?
Founder, Melanie Serra has over 25 years’ experience and is a  leader in the Home Staging and Decorating industry.  Our curriculum is unique and unlike any other in the industry. It incorporates all segments of the business to include the Elements and Principles of Design as well as business startup strategies. Our interactive studies provide students with hands-on training in real homes to promote, stimulate and enhance creativity. Our program provides each student with the knowledge and tools to own and operate a successful business so that they can confidently hit the ground running upon completion.
What is the course fee?
The cost of the 4-day Staging & Decorating Guild Training is $2500 and $1295 for the 2-day Color Certification Course. The fee is nonrefundable but can be applied to a future class.
Do I need to have a degree in interior design?
No, you don’t have to have a degree in Interior Design or any other previous experience in a design field. However, you should have an “eye” and a flair for decorating and be passionate about interior design, decorative style, and home furnishings.
Will I receive a certificate of training?
Yes, upon graduation each student will receive a certificate of completion and will become a member of the “Staging & Decorating Guild.” You will also be eligible to advertise your business on the SDG directory.
Do I need to have previous marketing or business experience?
No, you do not have to have previous experience in business or marketing practices. You will be taught and guided in “start-up” business practices and principals, including naming your business, business licensing, bookkeeping, office practices, marketing strategies, establishing service fees, and implementing systems to handle growth.
How can adding home staging/express decorating services benefit my existing decorating business?
The SDG training provides students with the knowledge and training to become more confident and successful. Clients love the process of Express Decorating™ (Interior Redesign) and Home Staging, because they see instant results in one day or less.  Express decorating also validates their personal taste and style without breaking the bank!  By learning how to “use what the homeowner already has,” both you and your client will experience a quicker turnaround time from conception to completion on each project.  The benefits are instant gratification along with instant income! No more waiting for weeks or months to receive payment and commissions on lengthy projects.
Is this a lucrative career?
Yes, this career can be VERY lucrative! It just depends on your talent and much time you are willing and able to work at our business. We will touch on other decorating services, such as model home merchandising, color consultations, personal shopping and event and party planning etc. These additional services will help to supplement and increase income.
Can I work at this part-time and still make money?
Yes, you are your own boss and can work as much or as little as you like. However, keep in mind that the more you market yourself, the more appointments you will book and the more money you will make. Success depends on your vision and the professional goals you set in place.
What is the dress code during the training?
Dress is business casual. However, it’s important to maintain a professional image when working in client homes.
What do I need to bring to class?
Please bring a writing pad, a pen, and a smartphone or camera. You’ll want to begin to build a portfolio by taking pictures of the jobs that you stage during your training class.
Where are the courses held?
Hyatt Place Windward – 5595 Windward Pkwy, Alpharetta, GA 30004

Rave Reviews

"Melanie, Thanks so much for the fabulous course.  I learned so much and enjoyed every minute!  I feel I have everything I need to get my new business going.  You have such a gift for both learning and design.  You made each day fun and informative."

CH-Atlanta, GA

"Thank you so much for the personalized time you gave me these past few days! I’ve enjoyed every part of the course, especially being with you. Thanks for everything. What I learned will be valuable to my business in so many ways."

SUSIE SNOW, TYRONE, GA

"I just wanted to let you know how much I thoroughly enjoyed your redesign and home staging training. I was extremely fortunate to be able to train with you one-on-one and pick your brain. The lessons and material provided have been invaluable as I start my own decorating and staging business."

SA-ATLANTA, GA

"I thoroughly enjoyed your classes, Melanie!! With all of the choices for Home Staging training out there, I feel I definitely selected the right class. Not only did we learn about the nuts and bolts of home staging, but you prepared us for setting up our own businesses as well."

NAN EBERLY, ATLANTA, GA

"I often reflect on how meaningful and affirming your color course was for me; you’ll be glad to know I’m still using your textbook as my #1 study guide. What you gave me in that three-day course has led me on a long-envied path and I am eternally grateful to you for it."

JA-DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

“Melanie,  I am so very glad I made the right choice in choosing your home-staging/redesign training program. Your handbook and presentations were so well prepared each day. And the hands-on field projects were great learning experiences."

YULUNDA COX- JONESBORO, GA

"The Staging and Decorator Guild gave me the knowledge, confidence and skills I needed to make my dream become a reality. I learned so much from my classes and your positive attitude gave me the confidence I lacked. I came with most of my ideas and a business name, many ideas and I was ready to learn."

GINGER F., ATLANTA, GA

ARE YOU SERIOUS ABOUT LAUNCHING A NEW HOME STAGING AND INTERIOR DECORATING CAREER?

Upon completion, you will have learned…

  • How to tap into your creativity to make money doing what you love.
  • Everything you need to start up your staging and decorating business. We provide you with sample tools and templates.
  • How to market, promote and grow your business.
  • Fundamentals of Interior Decorating, as it pertains to Home Staging and Express Decorating™ (Interior Redesign).
  • Essential business fundamentals to keep you going.
  • How we work with interactive classroom studies along with field projects in which we work and train in real homes with real clients.
  • Systems you can incorporate to handle growth and keep you at the top of your game.

Students receive both classroom and hands-on-training.

  • Principles of interior decorating
  • Elements of redesign
  • How to select color
  • How to read a room and create themes
  • Accessory and art placement
  • Merchandising and much more!

Business Fundamentals Including

  • Marketing strategies
  • Advertising
  • Social media
  • Public relations
  • Public speaking and other marketing tips to operate a successful home staging and interior decorating business.
Yes, I want to launch my new home staging and interior decorating career today!

Do you have what it takes to be a Home Stager?

Take this short 7 question quiz to see if you have the knowledge and skills to be a successful Home Stager and join the SDG community by receiving our monthly design industry tips and ideas newsletter!

Staging and Decorating Guild™ trained members, are expertly equipped to utilize their wide range of skills, design talent, and professional training to provide the highest level of staging and decorating services for residential and commercial clients.

Your dream job is just around the corner;
let us help you find your true passion today!!

Call or email us NOW to learn more at info@staginganddecoratingguild.com – 404.943.0779

The Home Staging, Interior Decorating, and Color Consultation Classes are held in the Atlanta, GA area.