Homeowners trying to sell their property should hide self-help manuals and novels like 50 Shades of Grey and display cookery books and Dickens instead, according to TV homes expert Sarah Beeny.

Along with the smell of freshly-baked bread and the sight of peeling paint, books can be as much of a help or hindrance to finding a prospective buyer for a home, said the presenter.

Homes should not have too many books to avoid “a chaotic feel”, according to Beeny. Too many also spoil the look of photos of the property and can make rooms seem smaller.

Booklovers with teeming shelves should consider packing the majority away and only leave out the best titles. Hardback classics such as Dickens, Austen and Bronte look particularly good on shelves and add character to a home, she said.

Children’s books also create a good impression of a family home but only if they stacked neatly on shelves rather than left lying around on the floor or surfaces.

But titles detailing unusual hobbies like taxidermy or witchcraft may deter visitors, as would self-help books and risqué titles that might hint at the owners’ private interests.

Local history and large nature books or even picture led tomes about fashion or music look good on a coffee table and can be useful talking points for visitors.

Beeny, who has produced a guide for sellers with online estate agent Tepilo, said: "Books are an unsung hero of home décor.

"They not only act as fantastic insulation and are brilliant at absorbing sound, so can totally transform many of the big open spaces we now crave, but they also say a massive amount about you and the home they sit in.

"Few can resist a quick peek at the spines on a bookcase and making some pretty bold generalisations based on them.

"So when it comes to selling your house, have a very good think about what books you want to display to those coming around to view your property.

"They can be a great icebreaker for prospective buyers but beware of over-sharing by displaying books that really should be confined to the bedroom drawer."