Amazon is a great place to start when shopping for beautiful bookshelf accessories. For home staging, you’ll need pieces that are affordable, easy to style, and neutral. Balancing just the right amount of books and decor pieces with enough negative space is especially important when showcasing a home that’s for sale.
That’s because when it comes to home staging, the goal is to use your decor to highlight the permanent features of the home — in this case, a built-in bookshelf. The best bookshelf fillers for home staging are neutral, stylish, and simple. In short, they help buyers focus on the home itself — not your “stuff.” Take a look at our bookshelf styling ideas and decor inspo to see what well-staged bookshelves have in common:
If you’re not planning a home sale, you have a lot of flexibility and creative license when it comes to decorating a bookshelf. Family photos and travel memorabilia? Sure, add it to the decor! But if you’re staging your home for sale, showcasing your favorite books and treasures is not the goal. Why? Too much personalization in a staged home can be a distraction for home buyers.
Books
Obviously, you want to start with books! When it comes to staging a bookshelf in a for-sale home, try to keep the books neutral (nothing overtly religious or political). Remember, you need to leave plenty of negative space on the shelves to avoid looking too full or cluttered. If you’re a bit of a bookworm, don’t shop for more books — start packing and paring down.
Don’t have many books on hand? Get them at thrift stores. Buy hardbacks (no paperbacks for staging), and shop by color, title, and texture. You can cover books you already own in white paper (or simply flip the existing covers inside out) to get a more even, neutral look. Place the largest books first, stacking some vertically and some horizontally.
Vases and Vessels
Layer heights on each shelf, especially really tall shelves that have a lot of space. Otherwise, it looks like something is missing. Vases and vessels work especially well for this purpose. These items are big and fill a lot of vertical space. Place them on shelves next.
Signature Design by Ashley Miette 2 Piece Hammered Vase Set
Villeroy & Boch Collier Blanc Tall Vase
TERESA’S COLLECTIONS Ceramic Black Vase Set of 2
BIGIVACA Ceramic Vases,Set of 3
Rivet Modern Geometric Pattern Decorative Stoneware Vase
Greenery
Some of my favorite bookshelf accessories to order from Amazon are high-quality faux plants. They’re a great way to add texture and interest and bring a little life to your shelves.
Der Rose 3 Pack Mini Potted Fake Plants
Artificial Fern in Wood Pot
BESAMENATURE Artificial Snake Plant
FUNARTY 6 Pcs Artificial Eucalyptus Leaves, Long Stems 25″ Tall
Bowls and Trays
Bowls and trays are fantastic tools for shelf styling because they’re so easy to layer. They’re also an easy way to bring in another pattern or texture. Add a few small accessories into bowls for a bit more visual interest.
Elegance Eclipse Bowl, 10″ x 9.75″, Black/Copper
THY COLLECTIBLES Wooden Bowl
Serene Spaces Living Extra Large Free-Form Edge Glazed Ceramic Bowl
Elegance Hammered Oval Centerpiece Bowl, 17″ x 9″, Silver
Accessories
Lastly, tuck in a few beautiful objects of interest, like geode bookends, little sculptures, or geometric-inspired pieces. It helps break up the repetitive lines of books and adds a touch of intellectual interest and texture.
Frametory, 8×8 Aluminum Frames with Ivory Mats
Black Agate Bookends
Gold Metal Jacks Decor, 5″
Creative Co-Op Large Corrugated Cast Iron Llama
Peakoly Wood Chain Link Decor
Black & Gold Iron Sphere, 7“
Need Help Getting Your Bookshelves “Just Right?”
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