Depersonalization is a huge part of home staging since you want potential buyers to see themselves in your property. Unfortunately, many home sellers tend to overlook the most personalized part of their homes: their bookshelves. From removing family photos, personal mementos, and whatnot, home staging bookshelves is important if you want to make the best impression to buyers.
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In this post, our staging experts shared some of their tried and tested tips for staging a bookcase. Here, we listed essential dos and don’ts that you have to know for successful staging. Keep reading to see what you might be forgetting – especially tip #9!
10 home staging bookshelves ideas you can try
Bookshelves are one of our favorite parts of house staging – they are versatile, eye-catching, and can be a mood-setter, too! And if you want to try your hand on staging shelves, here are some of the practical tips we recommend, but don’t hesitate to reach out if you need more help:
1.  Start by decluttering
The first thing you have to do for bookcase staging is to clean up any clutter. Make sure you remove any items you no longer need as well as damaged décor that needs to be replaced.
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Also, if your bookshelf is damaged, see to it that it will be repaired first before staging. After all, you wouldn’t want a rickety shelf ruining the overall look of your home during showings.
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However, if your shelf is beyond repair, you can rent one out from us. You can contact our house staging company to request luxury furniture rental for any type and size of bookshelf you need.
2.  Remove personal items
Next, make sure you remove any personal items on display on your bookshelf. When staging a home, we always remind our clients that it’s all about their potential buyers and not them. By removing personal items, such as family photos, awards, or travel souvenirs, you’re giving buyers the chance to connect to your home emotionally.
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Also, depersonalization will allow them to envision themselves and their lifestyle within your home. In short, they should be able to picture their family portrait on your bookshelf when they go around your house.
3.  Display items with varying heights
Excessive symmetry is your enemy when home staging. It’s important to use displays with varying heights so they look more natural and inviting. Also, the variation in display heights will break the monotony, which will make this section of your property look more home-like.
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For example, you can stack books, use smaller decorative sculptures, and add vases at different heights. This will give more dimension to your bookshelf and will help guide the eyes of potential buyers to explore each item further.
4.  Use horizontal and vertical stacks
Similar to using different display heights, you can also do book staging horizontally or vertically. This creates a dynamic appearance that will encourage curiosity among your potential buyers. And if you have a bookworm being shown around the house, a nice stack of books will surely make a huge impression.
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Overall, you can arrange your books by size or color, but if you want to nerd out a little bit, you can also curate some bestsellers to display on your house. This is especially true if your target market is among working professionals in the Los Angeles area.
5.  Add some greenery
Knowing how to stage bookcases isn’t limited to books and décor alone. Staging companies like ours recommend adding some small greenery to give it a fresh and livelier look, especially if other areas of your home also have some indoor plants.
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For most shelves, you can opt for succulents, overhanging pothos, and snake plants since these require minimal maintenance. Feel free to add 2 to 3 plant options on your shelf as long as they are not overcrowding the space that you have.Â
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Aside from the right plant selection, you should also choose an aesthetic pot to go with it. Ceramic pots offer a modern look or you can use woven baskets if your home has a more earthy or rustic theme.
6.  Add a statement piece
Whenever we’re asked how to decorate built in bookshelves, one thing that’s always on our arsenal is a statement piece. You’d love to create a focal point on your shelf to make it more intriguing and less drab, especially if it’s located in an inconspicuous corner of your home.
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For example, we may recommend an artwork like a unique sculpture, decorative vase, framed artwork, or a vintage clock. Whatever piece you choose, make sure that it ties up your entire bookshelf theme.
7.  Utilize stylish bookends
We always say this: bookends are the unsung heroes of bookshelves! When staging books, we love playing with stylish and unique bookends, which is a great conversation starter among potential buyers. And if you’re doing DIY staging, you should also consider adding this fun touch.
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For example, you can get a marble geometric bookend for a touch of class or a football-shaped one if you prefer a themed style. Be as creative as you like, but make sure it’s still within your chosen theme.
8.  Incorporate some textures
Mixing and matching textures on your bookshelf will give it a warmer and inviting appearance. For example, you can add fabric-covered books, ceramic décor, and metallic displays to create a dynamic look.
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Overall, you should strike a balance on your preferred textures and try not to overdo it. About 2 to 3 variations would be the safe range, so your bookcase won’t look overwhelming to your potential home buyers.
9.  Mind the lighting
One of the aspects our clients overlook the most is proper lighting, be it for your bookshelf or any other part of your home. After all, what’s the use of having nice displays if it’s all left in the dark – literally. For this, we recommend positioning your bookcase near windows for natural light during the day.
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But if you have limited access to natural light, you can incorporate task lighting or decorative lighting into your staging efforts. For example, you can get bookcase lamps or adjustable arm lamps right next to the shelf. Some of our clients also opt for the more affordable LED strip lights placed under the shelving to create a soft glow.
10. Leave some empty space
Knowing how to stage a bookcase includes leaving spaces to make it look ‘breathable’. There’s no need to fill every inch with items, as this will make your shelf too cramped or crowded.
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Instead, leave some empty spaces strategically to make the staging look more natural and balanced. It will also create a sense of depth, especially for small bookcases. Above all, the empty spaces will encourage creativity on the part of your potential buyer, say, by picturing their family portrait on that empty spot.
Watch out for these mistakes when staging shelves!
To make sure that the ideas for decorating built-in bookshelves above will serve you well, you should be careful of the following mistakes:
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- Stuffing with too many books. We know it’s called a bookshelf, but it shouldn’t look like a corner in the Library of Congress. It’s best to leave some empty space and to mix it up with other pieces of décor.
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- Not considering the room style. Your bookshelf should tie up with the entire room’s setup. Otherwise, your shelf may stick like a sore thumb or be the most underwhelming feature of your home.
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- Forgetting about shelf placement. As much as you want your shelf to look nice, don’t forget to place it in the right spot. Make sure it’s not blocking foot traffic and that the items are at an accessible height, especially functional ones like books.
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- Too much symmetry. Books and décor with the same height and size will make your shelf look too rigid or unnatural. You should aim for the right balance so the entire bookcase will look inviting.
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- Too many knickknacks. There’s nothing about setting up a vignette on your bookshelf, but make sure that it doesn’t create visual clutter. Overall, you’d want a neat and decorative look, so limit the number of items you’ll use.
Need professional help staging bookshelves?
Aren’t you satisfied with the result of your DIY staging? To make sure you’re going to leave the best impression to your potential buyers, you should partner with the best home staging Los Angeles has to offer!
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Here at HolmeStage, we’ve been staging homes and commercial spaces for 11+ years. Be it your bookshelf or any other part of your home, you can count on our staging experts to bring out the best look that will turn your property into a buyer magnet.
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You can hire us for full, partial, vacant, or occupied staging – totally convenient and hassle-free. Also, we can stage all home types and sizes, whether it’s in Los Angeles County, Ventura County, Orange County, or San Bernardino County.
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If this sounds good for you, reach out to us today to get a free estimate. You can also schedule an onsite consultation with one of our specialists for a more in-depth planning!
