Stage To Sell

Tips for Staging Bookcases and Built-Ins

Posted on 19 November 2008

Built-in cabinetry can be a huge selling feature, but if you have an occupied listing with lots of open cabinets or bookshelves you may find that clutter has taken over and it’s making a bad impression on buyers.

Built-ins provide a wonderful storage solution, but if they are bursting at the seams a buyer will get the impression that the home does not have enough storage.

We want to give buyers the idea that “there is SO much storage space, they can’t even fill it all!” Now of course we know that the longer we live in a home the more cluttered our bookshelves, closets and cabinets become. It’s just the law of accumulation — I think I just made that one up, but it’s true! So when a home is on the market it is crucial to highlight the built-ins by Staging them like a pro:

1) Keep some shelves EMPTY!
Remember the idea here is to show an abundance of storage space. So if you have a built-in or bookcase with lots of little shelves, it’s a good idea to leave a couple empty to show your buyers they have room to grow.

2) Create balance.
Try to balance each side of the built-in or each shelf on the bookcase. Don’t put all your books to the left of the fireplace and all your vases or statues to the right. Spread them out to achieve balance. When you stand back to look at your work, the overall weight should feel about equal on both sides.

For bookshelves, my rule is that no shelf should be more than 1/2 full. I alternate which half I will fill on each shelf. For instance, on the top shelf I might put a plant on the right side. Below I would set out a stack of 3-4 books on the left. Don’t forget to use the middle of the shelves to create variety. A low bowl or a tray with candles in the center of a shelf can be the perfect decorative item.

3) Remove personal items.
I see many homes where the built-ins are chock full of family photos and the kids’ trophies. Remind your sellers that buyers want to picture themselves and their family living in the home. If they are bombarded with photos of the homeowner’s family, they get too involved with your personal life (“Oh, look, they vacationed in Hawaii! Oh, their son plays Little League!”) and forget all about the home. We want buyers to start “mentally moving in” as soon as they walk through the door, but it’s hard for them to do that when the personal photos and belongings of the current homeowners are so prominent.