Norway’s red-hot housing market fuels boom in home staging services
Homeowners in Norway are spending thousands to professionally stage their properties as competition intensifies in the country’s overheated housing market. Demand for home styling services has surged, with some real estate agents now requiring sellers to use staging before listing.
Siri Arnøy, a former offshore catering worker in Stavanger, left the oil industry to start Fresh Boligstyling—a decision that has paid off as business booms. “It’s good times,” she says, now preparing to hire staff to handle the workload. Her company charges from 11,500 kroner (about €1,000) to style a one-room apartment, with prices rising for larger homes. “The trend is clear: more and more people are using home staging.”
The practice involves replacing personal furniture with neutral, market-appealing decor—think plush cushions, throws, and strategic lighting—to maximize a property’s appeal. “We create a setting that suits the home but remains understated,” Arnøy explains while arranging a dining table for a viewing. “Fresh herbs, apples, and small touches make all the difference.”
Agents demand staging as market tightens
Stavanger, a hub for Norway’s oil industry, is among the cities where bidding wars and final sale prices far above asking have become routine. “It’s a seller’s bonanza,” says Ordin Fikstvedt, a real estate agent with Proaktiv Stavanger and a 30-year industry veteran. “Supply is scarce, and buyer demand is sky-high.” While he acknowledges the market’s frenzy, he insists staging remains critical: “Even in a hot market, presenting a home well ensures it reaches the widest possible audience.”
Some agents now make staging a prerequisite. Marianne Main, CEO of Main Boligstyling in Oslo, reports record demand: “We saw insane growth in 2025, and 2026 is already busier. Some agents won’t take listings unless sellers agree to staging.” Her firm can outfit over 100 homes simultaneously from its inventory.
National trend spans cities and property types
The surge isn’t limited to Stavanger. Interiors firms in Oslo, Bergen, Tromsø, and Trondheim report similar spikes, styling everything from new builds to historic apartments. “We’re fully booked,” says Severin Tøkje of Hus & Hjem Styling in Bergen. Vibeke Skagemo of VI-BO AS in Trondheim attributes the trend to digital culture: “Buyers expect Instagram-worthy homes.”
Homeowner Tone Christiansen opted for professional staging before selling her Stavanger house. “We wanted it neutral, clean, and appealing—something we couldn’t achieve ourselves,” she says.
Costs typically range from 10,000 to 30,000 kroner (€900–2,700), depending on property size. “People think we just bring a bag of decor,” says Liv Tone Fredriksen of Boligkonsulentene, which styles multiple homes daily from a 350-square-meter warehouse. “In reality, we arrive with a moving truck’s worth of furniture.”
Norway’s February housing prices rose 0.5%, with Trondheim, Bergen, and Stavanger leading growth, per Eiendom Norge. Only Oslo saw a slight dip after seasonal adjustments.
Source: NRK Rogaland