I think that staging your home is very important in selling your home. The reason is simple; would you buy something that didn't look attractive? Would you go to the store and buy a bag of candy that had a hole in it or even a can of food that was dented? Most people wouldn't and the reason is because it doesn't look attractive.
One of the best things a Seller can do to prepare their home for selling is to put away all belongings that would be distracting to a potential buyer. Pictures, trinkits, remote controls, excessive blankets and pillows are all items that may cause a Buyer to lose focus on the house. We absolutely do not want that to happen. That Buyer is in your home because something they saw got them interested enough to want to see it.
There is no shame in having the items you have but you must look at your home as a product you are presenting to the world. Your product needs to be tighty, neat, and look respectful so that when a Buyer comes through your home they focus on how beautiful your home is and how comforting it makes them feel when they are in it. You want them to focus on all of the positive attributes of your home and not on how they would do things differently if they had lived there. At that point they are distracted and not giving your home the thought that it deserves.