How to Declutter Your Favorite Bookshelf

Guest Blogger #942, Entry #2354, April 29, 2013

I’ve been eyeballing my bookshelf and figuring out how I can make room for…well, more books, of course. I’m a hoarder when it comes to books – I rarely giveaway or throwaway anything. This means I’ve had to double up my shelves with books and place an enormous basket beside my bookshelf to put the strays. Not to mention the bedside tables throughout the house that have at least a foot high of my newest reads.

But the wintertime is my favorite time of year for reading. I tend to overbuy books and spend my entire weekend hibernating inside with my newest selections.

The stacks have gotten higher, though, and I felt it was time to finally do it – clean out my bookshelf.

But where do I begin? Where can you begin? Hopefully, I can provide you with a few tips that I learned that can help you declutter your bookshelf.

Organize your bookshelves with these helpful tips

Image via: Abbott Moon

1) Pick out the books you’ve only read up to page 10.

You know the ones. They seemed like a good idea when you bought them, but the go nowhere plot, bad character development, overdone description, or just something about it didn’t click with you.  So, why do you still have it? Maybe the long lost hope you’ll give it another chance? I’ve long thought the same thing about finally finishing my copy of Moby Dick (but truly, it takes way too long to get to the dang whale), but after a while, I had to accept that I just wouldn’t read it.

And if you’ve had a book for more than a year or two, and you’ve only cracked the spine up to page 5, you probably won’t go back and read it.  It’s time for the bad book to go into the donation stack.

2) Textbooks (not related to a college major).

There are a few textbooks I have held onto (my modern art and Alfred Hitchcock textbook are on this list), but as for Spanish 101 and my nutrition class book? Well, let me just say this, if it’s been a few years since Spanish 101 and you can barely say, “Where’s the bathroom” in espanol anymore, then it might be time to let go.

But, before you donate it, make sure you can’t sell it online first. Textbooks have a short shelf life, though, so you probably will end up giving it away.

Choose which books you read and which ones could be tossed away

Image via: Krieger + Associates Architects Inc

3) Undesirable How-To and other nonfiction books.

For some bizarre reason I bought a book entitled, “Can you pass these tests?” It was about the various tests that certain careers require you to take. Fascinated at the time, I bought it to see if I could pass them. When I couldn’t pass a single one, I stuffed it into a shelf, never to look at it again. This is right alongside my how-to excel books as well as my blandest book on the planet guide to the Pacific Northwest (I think I could’ve bought better).

These are books that have been on my shelf for years and I have not even looked at them once (not even in passing as I dust my bookshelf). If this sounds like any of your how-to or nonfiction books, it is time to let them go.

4) Books that were once gifts.

I respect any friend or family member that step outside of their comfort zone and actually give me a book as a gift. Sadly, though, the taste in books that some people have doesn’t always match mine (science fiction military novel anyone?). These books end up in a back corner on the shelf, probably behind another book (we don’t want that family member actually asking me if I’ve read it, now do we?).

It’s time to put on your grownup pants and find that book and face the pages – this book deserves to find a better home. Don’t let guilt crowd your bookshelves any longer.

Ideas to organize your favorite bookshelves

Image via: Ninainvorm

5) Borrowed books.

I once borrowed “The Notebook” from a friend in high school. 8 years later I still have this book. I am not the type of person you should loan books to, because more than likely, you’ll never get them back. But this year – I will return the book (even mail it if I have to).

Find the books people have loaned to you, and return them. If you no longer know where this person is, send out the good karma vibes and donate this book.

It is possible to clear out your bookshelves and make room for your newest reads. It’s a difficult process for any reader, because every book represents a friend. I understand this, I do. But after a while, we all have to clean house. Hopefully, my advice makes it a little bit easier for you.

Happy reading!

Amanda Greene is author and Brand Manager for RHL, leading online dorm essentials supplier. She enjoys writing about college and dorm life. 

For more home organization ideas on Stagetecture, click here.