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The Rule of 1/3's Will Always Win With Display Shelves

Here is what I tell my clients (or do for them) - when working with display shelves, use the rule of 1/3's. A third books, a third accessories (not personal photos if you are selling!), and a third SPACE. Here are a few examples (these were all vacant houses, so it is my inventory in the photos):

Posted by Tori Lynn Ross - Omaha's Premier Home Stager on 05/06/2008 10:36 PM

Comments (23)

omaha home staging, omaha home stager, home staging omaha, staging display shelves, staging bookshelves, tori ross, ross designs llc

Post is included in group: Stage It Forward...
Post is included in group: Real Estate Rookie
Post is included in group: Staging Crafts & Creatives
Post is included in group: VACANT HOUSE STAGING & NEW HOMES
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23 Comments on The Rule of 1/3's Will Always Win With Display Shelves

Hi Tori,

What great advice, and so simple too. Thanks, I'll be using this in the future.

05/06/2008 10:43 PM

by Orange Co. Real Estate~Lynda Eisenmann, Broker-Owner, Brea, CA (Preferred Home Brokers)

That's pretty clever and plan on using that for my house! Thanks for the tip!

05/06/2008 10:49 PM

by LaNita Cates (REMAX of Joliet)

Lynda and LaNita -- thanks for reading the post! You can really get creative with the arrangements, too.

05/06/2008 11:06 PM

by Tori Lynn Ross - Omaha's Premier Home Stager (Ross Designs, LLC)

What a great tip - I am clueless when it comes to design/staging ideas like these. Thanks for the simple rule of thumb.

05/06/2008 11:17 PM

by Bo Buchanan, Blue60.com Directory for Real Estate Pro's & IllinoisHouseHunter (Blue60.com & Kettley Realtors)

Hi Tori,

Great advice. That makes it nice and simple to remember, which is great for us guys!

05/06/2008 11:21 PM

by Bill Exeter (1031 Exchange Expert) (Exeter 1031 Exchange Services, LLC)

Bookcases are always alot of fun to do. They don't need to be jammed packed.

05/06/2008 11:22 PM

by Cindy Bryant~Houston's Home Staging & Home Stagers By Redesign Etc.~RESA~ASHSR (Redesign Etc., Inc.-Texas)

Bo & Bill - you can add more items to the shelves if the room overall is less crowded, or remove items from shelves if there is a lot going on in the room already. Stacking books on their sides can be helpful, too. Photos are great to leave with a client if you don't have another professional on hand to help.

Cindy - they absolutely don't have to be jam packed! The more upscale the better.

05/06/2008 11:29 PM

by Tori Lynn Ross - Omaha's Premier Home Stager (Ross Designs, LLC)

Thanks for the great tip. It makes it much more interesting to look at.

05/07/2008 01:17 AM

by Patty & Scott Carroll - RE/MAX, Vancouver WA (RE/MAX Equity Group)

Tori or shall I say "Omaha's Premier Home ~~Stager~~ Blogger" - great stuff! It looks like you made quite a point bump lately! Awesome!

05/07/2008 02:05 PM

by David Matney, CRS - Omaha, NE Real Estate (Alliance Real Estate)

Tori, that's a great guideline, easy to remember and foolproof. Add scale to that somehow, littlle piddly stuff on big floor to ceiling bookcases drives me crazy. I can see from your photo's that you understand what I mean by that, you've to fill that one third with acessories that don't make it look cluttered

05/07/2008 04:24 PM

by Ronelle Schroeder-Hill ~Oomph! Home Staging & Redesign~ (Oomph! Home Staging & Redesign)

Hi Tori,

That is a great way to see it. I will do mine like that. It makes sense and they look nice. Thanks again.

Chrissie Sutherland, Ready Set Stage

05/08/2008 04:17 PM

by Chrissie Sutherland (Ready Set Stage)

Hi Tori,

That is a great way to see it. I will do mine like that. It makes sense and they look nice. Thanks again.

Chrissie Sutherland, Ready Set Stage

05/08/2008 04:17 PM

by Chrissie Sutherland (Ready Set Stage)

Tori, Great job. I personally have a hard time with shelves. Thanks for the tip.

05/08/2008 06:17 PM

by Kimberley Hawley, Hawley Interiors & Staging (Hawley Interiors & Staging)

Tori, the 1/3 concept looks crisp and clean, great point.

05/09/2008 01:19 AM

by Duane Marlink, Rate A Home (Rate A Home)

Tori- Very good advice!

05/09/2008 08:21 AM

by Amber Langston (HOME BRANDERS)

Thank you for this advice, I had no idea what the rule of thumb was and this will really help me with those listings I can't convince to use a stager.

05/12/2008 12:28 AM

by Todd Clark (Realtor), GRI (Washington Co, Beaverton, Oregon) (Kastings & Associates, Oregon)

Tori,

What a great, clear way of putting it and you can't go wrong!

05/12/2008 03:23 AM

by Susan Peters - Seattle Realtor/Staging Specialist (Re/Max Mutual Realty)

Good advice and overcomes the clutter issue.

Kathy

05/12/2008 01:27 PM

by Kathy Riggle Houston Home Staging-STAGING SMART NSOLD (STAGING SMART N SOLD)

Good to know for the next time I try to arrange my shelves. I am alway re-oraganizing things and driving my husband crazy. Hee hee

05/18/2008 10:50 AM

by Michelle Hall (Century 21 Hecht)

great advice and very simple to help them remember what to do. I always HATE when I have bookcases and shelves in vacants because this alone can eat up a ton of inventory.

Phyllis Pafumi

05/22/2008 10:37 PM

by Phyllis Pafumi-ReStyled to Sell Staging Homes NJ (ReStyled to Sell Home Staging New Jersey)

I keep re-reading this to help me remember! I love easy rules.

You're right, Phyllis - hauling a set of encyclopedias or a bunch of books to a vacant is a pain!

05/23/2008 10:00 AM

by Beth Lester (Home Staging Designs of California)

Great advice, Tori! It can be so easy to over run shelves or bookcases. You definitely have to leave an equal amount of space to give the eyes time to rest.

05/26/2008 10:42 AM

by Tanya Venable, Anderson, SC/Spartanburg/ Greenville, SC/ Home Staging (Fresh Eye Designs)

Your pictures are great, a wonderful example of staging bookcases. Well done!

05/27/2008 02:54 PM

by Sharon Tara New Hampshire Home Stager (Sharon Tara Transformations)

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