A Solution for Cluttered Bookshelves
As an author and avid reader, you’re probably not surprised to learn that books are some of my favorite possessions! Given a chunk of time without prior commitments, small or large, and you’re likely to find me enjoying a good book. When I learned that February 20th of every year is Clean Out Your Bookcase Day, I decided that this holiday, although perhaps obscure, is worthy of celebrating! Following are my tips for decluttering and organizing your bookcase, as well as a suggestion for how to celebrate your accomplishment when you finish.
Before diving into any project, it’s always a good idea to start by asking yourself some questions and making a plan. So choose a bookcase you’d like to work on, and ask:
Think
Spend some time thinking about the bookcase as it is now. What do you like or not like about the way the bookcase looks and functions?Here are some specific questions to consider:
Do you like the overall look?
What have you (or others in the home) complained about regarding the bookcase?
Does it look messy and disorganized or tidy and in good order?
Is it too crowded or not full enough?
Is it organized in a way that you can find what you need?
Are there not enough or too many decorative elements?
My personal favorite question: If we could wave a magic wand and this bookcase was exactly the way you want it, what would it look like? How would it function? Websites and Pinterest boards can give you inspiration and tips for styling a bookcase; feel free to use these as a resource while you imagine and plan for your perfect end result.
Plan
Now that you know what’s working, what’s not working, and your ultimate goal, it’s time to make your plan! I would recommend recording your plan in some way, either on paper or in a digital format. The more detailed you are in your plan, the more likely you are to complete it, especially if you are interrupted during the process. Recruit other household members to help if appropriate for any or all steps in the process.
How you’ll carry out your plan depends on how much time you’ve got available. If you’ve got a big chunk of time (ideal but not necessary), you’ll likely be able to complete all the steps at once. If not, you might be breaking the work up over several days. Either way works as long as you’re committed to seeing it through to the end.
Do
It’s time for action!
Here are my suggested steps for decluttering and organizing your bookcase. If you’re doing this in small segments of time, you can use the same steps but focus on one shelf at a time.
Gather a few empty boxes for donations, recycling, items that go in another area of the home, or items that need to be given/returned to someone.
Pull everything off, organizing into categories as you go.
Items leaving the bookcase:
Donate: Consider donating any book you don’t intend to read (for the first time or again). If it’s not being used, it’s just taking up space. Someone else could enjoy that book! Also consider donating any other item on your shelves that you don’t use or enjoy looking at anymore.
Recycle: paper, cardboard, etc.
Another area of the home or give/return to someone: Be sure to distribute these quickly so that box isn’t still around months from now.
Items you will be keeping
Books
Did you like the way your books were organized before, or would you like to change it up? There’s no one right way to do it! You can organize alphabetically by author’s last name, by genre, by color, or any way you want!
As you pull off the books, put categories together according to how you want them organized on the shelves.
Decorative items
Many people like to include other items besides books in their bookcases. Plants, trinkets, and photos can give some visual interest if you have space for them. You may have some items elsewhere in the home that you’d like to incorporate into your bookcase. If so, grab them and add them to the ones you’ve pulled off.
Donate any decorative items you don’t enjoy anymore.
Clean: This is the perfect time to clean the shelves, books, and decorative items. Don’t miss this golden opportunity!
Replace and Organize:
Now for the fun part! Remember your magic wand wish? It’s time to assemble the bookcase you wanted!
This may be a trial and error process. Don’t hesitate to try different arrangements until you find the one that works best for you and that is most pleasing to the eye.
Celebrate
Enjoy your completed project! While the finished product is a reward in and of itself, there’s always a good reason to celebrate the fruits of your labor. Here are my suggestions:
If you don’t already have one, get a library card and enjoy this free resource. I love my local library!
Make an account online to keep track of your books and read reviews. My favorite is Goodreads. I especially enjoy consulting my “Want to Read” list when it’s time to start a new book.
And my favorite: Pull a book off the shelf and curl up in a comfy spot to read!
How’s your bookcase look? (By the way, the above image isn’t my bookcase. Mine’s not that large or pretty!) How are you celebrating?
I’d love to know how it went and what you’re reading!