For years, staging has been one of the most effective ways to help buyers picture themselves in a home. While some buyers prefer an empty slate, plenty of others appreciate the help in seeing a new home’s potential.
The trick is knowing how to properly stage a home without going over budget on the design theme, furniture, and accessories.
Now, that process will be easier for buyers browsing on Zillow.
This week, Zillow announced the launch of Virtual Staging, an AI-powered feature built directly into Zillow Showcase, its premium listing experience.
The feature gives buyers an on-demand way to view staged rooms and gives agents using Showcase another tool to highlight a home’s potential.
Read on for a quick overview of how it works and why it matters.
How Virtual Staging Works
Home shoppers browsing Showcase listings will now see a Virtual Staging icon on select featured room photos.
By tapping the icon, they can choose from a curated set of design styles, including:
- Modern
- Scandinavian
- Industrial
- Midcentury
- Luxury
- Coastal
- Farmhouse
The AI then restyles the room to reflect the chosen look, whether the space is empty or already furnished.
Shoppers can refresh the same style to generate a new furniture arrangement, swipe between staged and unstaged views, or remove furniture entirely to see the room as a blank slate.
Why It Matters
Virtual Staging is positioned as a tool to make listings stand out in a crowded marketplace. Zillow’s 2024 Consumer Housing Trends Report found that 71% of sellers are more likely to hire an agent who uses interactive media such as virtual tours or floor plans.
Staged images give buyers another reason to click, swipe, and spend more time interacting with a listing. When paired with Zillow Showcase, the impact is even more pronounced.
Data from Zillow shows that agents using Showcase on the majority of their listings:
- Win 30% more listings than non-Showcase agents
- Sell Showcase listings for $7,000 more on average than comparable non-Showcase listings
Amanda Pendleton, Zillow’s home trends expert, underscored the importance of helping buyers look beyond what they see in photos.
“Too many buyers overlook what could be the perfect home for their family simply because they can’t see past the furniture or design choices. Virtual Staging helps people envision themselves living in a space.”
AI Innovation in Action
Virtual Staging is the first major integration of technology from Virtual Staging AI, a company acquired by Zillow in October 2024.
The feature uses computer vision to restyle listing photos in real time.
Josh Weisberg, Zillow’s senior vice president of AI, said the launch reflects how the company is embedding artificial intelligence into every stage of the consumer journey.
“Virtual Staging applies the AI field of computer vision to restyle listing photos in real time to help shoppers see a home’s potential and give agents a time-saving way to stand out. It’s the next chapter in Showcase’s evolution and a step forward in making home shopping more immersive and personal.”
The company has already made the same virtual staging technology available to real estate photographers and media companies through Aryeo, at no additional cost to subscribers.
Embedding it directly into Showcase listings makes the capability consumer-facing for the first time.
Looking Ahead
Virtual Staging reflects Zillow’s larger AI vision to personalize the experience for buyers and sellers, streamline the process for agents, and fully integrate AI into its premium listing service.
By bringing this technology into Showcase, Zillow is introducing a new layer of interactivity that highlights a home’s potential in real time.
The two key takeaways for agents:
- Sellers are looking for agents who can offer interactive tools that go beyond static photos
- Buyers are responding to listings that help them imagine a home’s possibilities
Even if you don’t currently use Zillow Showcase, it is worth noting how consumer expectations are evolving. Features like Virtual Staging highlight the growing demand for immersive, AI-powered listing experiences that keep home shoppers engaged and give sellers confidence their home is being presented in the best possible light.
