How We Organize, Arrange, and Declutter Our Books
How We Organize, Arrange, and Declutter Our Books
Basic Organization has had its share of organizing, arranging, and decluttering books in our clients’ homes. Are you a book lover? Some of our clients are severe readers and some series collectors. Others have accumulated stacks upon stacks and are overwhelmed. Do you have more than you need? Books collecting dust on shelves, in unopened boxes stored away, or stacked by your favorite reading chair need your attention.
Mystery…Romance…Action and Adventure. Cookbooks…Fitness…Self-Help. Whatever your genre is, I’m sure there are books of interest to you. However, it may be time to start decluttering and going through your collection. Be honest with yourself and keep only what you need.
The Basic Organization team shares their expertise in managing their books to ensure simplicity and organization.
Janet-“It’s best to store your books where you do most of your reading. Whether you have a comfy chair in your living room, lounge in your backyard, or your bed is calling, your books should have a home where you like to do your reading. This is harder if you like real books instead of an e-reader because you’ll need more space. But the home for your books can be anything from a stack on the floor to a tall bookcase. Whatever works. This way, when you have a few minutes to sit down and read, you won’t waste time looking for your book.”
Denene-“I like to organize books in broad categories by subject, keeping only books that I love, have special meaning to me, or are aesthetically pleasing. I like to place some books vertically in a bookcase, stack some horizontally, and mix in plants, photos, and other small decor for a beautiful display.”
The home for your books can be anything from a stack on the floor to a tall bookcase.
Michelle-“I am a big fan of decluttering books regularly. After I read a book, I like to pass it on to a friend first. When I find myself with a handful of books I no longer want or need, I visit McKay’s used books to sell or trade them. McKay gives you cash and trade credit for your books.”
Ann-“My best way to attack books is not buying them. I stopped buying them a few years ago and utilize my local public library. I log in to my account and request the book I want. Once it is available, they send it to the library of my choice, and I pick it up. You can also get audiobooks and eBooks from them. I love how they tell me how much money I save when I pick up the book and get my receipt.”
Sue-“I love kids books. When my children were little, I rewarded them with trips to the library or a visit to the bookstore so they could purchase their own. Honestly, I was overflowing with kids’ books. They were popular gifts for birthdays and special occasions. I sorted by holiday, bedtime stories, educational, etc. As I have gotten older, I still have a few kid’s books for the grandchildren when they visit, but mostly a few reading and decorative books for my home. They are neatly stacked on my shelves or by my reading chair. I donate often to limit the amount in my home.”
Let us know how you Organize, Arrange, and Declutter your Books in the comments below.
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Sue
I have books scattered throughout my home. Resource books for organizing are in my office. Novels and books related to other topics of interest (like cooking, decorating, and needlework) are in my family room and kitchen. I also stash some novels in the guest room. I love books. Having said that, I go through them periodically and donate the ones I no longer want to make room for new books.
Always make room for new books!
I’ve rearranged my books more times than I can count, most recently usually by category (though the categories have often changed), then in alphabetical order by author last name. Most recently, I realized that I’m ready to let go of a lot more than I thought, so one bookcase has three shelves of keepers and two that are ready for new homes, arranged by size for visual appeal.
I always think rearranging leads to decluttering of books. My reading tastes change fairly often so I find myself letting go of book regularyly.
I have what I call the “family library” in a hallway in my upstairs. It is a three-piece shelving unit, and most of the family books end up here. Some of the books for the very littles (who don’t live with me, but may visit), are in our playroom in a closet, but otherwise, most books go to the family library. My husband also has his collection in his office, but those are mostly business books. I find it handy to have a place to put books, and also where I know I can hunt one down if I want to read.
That said, I do a lot of reading on my Kindle now, so the book storage issue has become less of a problem over the years.
I would love to have a family library! Sounds fabulous.
I also do a lot of reading on my Kindle. It’s just so convenient.
Great tips! Books are definitely hard to declutter, even when you do it professionally.
I definitely organize my books by categories, though my whole system got out of whack near the start of the pandemic. I now have all professional books that I’ve read and intend to keep on a six-shelf rack in my bonus room/library. Personal books that I’ve already read are on the rest of my bookshelves, chunked by narrower categories (travel essays, self-improvement, fiction, etc.) Books I consider TBR (to-be-read) are on the three-tier bookshelf next to my desk, with a small section of already-read books written by my colleagues (so that I can wave them on camera when I’m on Zooms and want to help them promote). Library books have counter space at the edge of my kitchen, the area “behind” my office.
This way, I can find a book as easily as I might in the public library. I’ve tried using library software to (LibThing) to index my collection. It’s not hard, but a bit boring, and you have to remember to add every book to the system as you acquire it. Harrumph.
The only hard part is having an honest discussion with myself: will I REALLY ever read this book again?
I like your system.
Interesting that you are challenged with Re-reading books. I learned about myself – I never re-read books, so once I’m read them, I usually donate. I have only saved a handful of books.