Staging bookshelves when you are selling your home, especially if they are built-ins, are very important.
If the bookcase is jammed full, all the prospective buyer will see is stuff. There eyes will be drawn to the all the items and miss the rest of the architectural features of the room.
If the bookshelves are built-in…..your goal it to highlight the feature for the potential buyer.
When I am asked what to put in bookshelves my answer is easy, books! They are the easiest item besides being the purpose of the shelf. I like to mix a few nick-knacks into the shelves for interest. Perhaps 1-2 per shelf depending on the size of the shelf and size of the item.
Place the books in different patterns. Horizontal, vertical, to the left of the shelf, right of the shelf and the center. Use bookends or any items with weight to anchor one side or both sides.
My goal when staging bookshelves is to have just as much blank space as occupied space. So a 50/50 ratio or about half full is a nice guideline. 2/3 full would be my absolute maximum.
If the bookshelf is free standing and not an architectural feature of the house, there is no reason to call attention to it. Make it a pleasant decoration of the room but not a feature.
A professional home stager will be happy to assist you with getting your home in top selling condition right down to the bookshelves!
