Organization Tips: How to Organize Your Home Library

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Evaluate Your Collection

Take a look through your books and see if there are any that you are willing to part away with. If you are a real book lover it can be hard but it’s essential, especially if you are trying to free up some space. Go through each title and think whether you see yourself giving it a read. If not, consider donating them, gifting them, or selling them. Make separate piles for each and act accordingly. You can sell some to a used bookstore whereas others can go to your friends or a charitable organization.

Image via: Closet Design

Catalog Your Books

While many book readers like to keep it simple by listing their inventory on a spreadsheet, some prefer an advanced cataloguing system such as Goodreads or LibraryThing. These are a simple online cataloguing service that helps you to keep a track of what you own, what you want to keep, or what to wish to give away.

Decide on an Organization System

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After evaluating your books you now have a fair idea about what all your collection includes. This is the time to decide how to shelve them. You can do this in many ways such as sort by genre, alphabetize by author, or sort by size. Or if you own a colorful collection of books you could even organize by color. Choose whatever you think will help you find the book you are looking for without creating a mess.

Reorganize When Necessary

Just as public libraries re-arrange and shift books around when the new ones arrive, make sure to that with your home library too. In order to avoid clutter, occasionally shift your books to make room for the new reads instead of conveniently stacking them here and there without any organization.

Use these organization tips to get your home library in order. When you are done, you will know what books you own, and will be able to lay your hands on the new ones. Who knows, you might even rediscover a hidden gem that you have been wanting to read for years!

This fun and simple little craft is perfect for a rainy day and for using up the ever-growing button stash. It’s a great little present for any book-fan and so ridiculously easy that anybody can prepare a few bookmarks in just a couple of minutes. You can personalize this DIY craft in any way, since you can use your favorite color or even wrap the buttons in some lovely fabric before making the bookmarks. Just follow these really simple steps and you will have a great selection of beautiful button bookmarks in no-time.

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DIY Craft: How to Make Button Bookmarks

Materials

Buttons

Paperclips

E6000 glue

Wire cutters (optional)

Scraps of felt (optional)

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Directions

If you have colorful paperclips, assign each button to a paperclip so you’ll have a combination that suits your taste. Check each button’s back. If there are hooks or shanks, remove them with the wire cutter or plier. Apply a drop of glue to the back of the button and attach the paperclip. Let the glue dry completely. Take a small scrap of felt with the size and shape of the button and glue it on the back of the button where the paperclip is attached, so you’ll have a smooth finish. Let it dry. That’s it; they are ready to be used.

Image via: Sweet Paul Magazine

This DIY craft is so great, since you can use large paperclips to make bigger bookmarks, or choose some beautiful vintage-looking buttons to craft some sweet bookmarks for gifts. Also you can find on the market cute, colorful paperclips to have a more stunning effect. Another, more crafty option is to wrap buttons in some fabric of your choosing to make themed bookmarks, like some with spring flowers or animals, so that they become a personalized gift for a loved one. The options are really unlimited, and since it is such an easy and fun diy craft, it is great for any free afternoon to make.

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.

Typically, bookshelves are designed like that of a cabinet. Having this common design at home makes it feel like you are inside a library. But you can do something with books other than reading and placing them in your shelves. Just imagine your books as shelves, literally.

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This DIY project will provide a twist on how you define a book shelf. Whether you are needing a whimsical touch to your white bedroom furniture or you are adding to a corner in your living room, these book shelves will be a conversation starter. It gives additional attraction and beauty to your room. Why? Simply because your book as a shelf can accommodate decorative stuffs like a picture frame, vase or wall clock.

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Materials needed

• Books
• Wall brackets
• Electric Drill
• Level tool
• Screw
• Ruler
• Pencil or Marker
• Screwdriver

Directions

1. Choose several books that can fit your wall brackets. It is recommended that you use hard covered books and lovely spines. These books should at least complement your intended design.
2. Install the brackets on the wall. Use a level tool to ensure that the brackets are in line with each other. Draw lines to mark the points intended to the wall bracket.
3. Drill holes where you intend to have your book shelves.
4. Screw the brackets on your walls.
5. Slide a book on top and bottom brackets before placing your decors.
6. After placing a book on the brackets, you may now place your decors. Do it carefully.

There are quite a number of designs that you can have for this project. You can have it done vertically, horizontally, diagonally or randomly on your wall. Also, feel free to have a variation in the types of books that you choose. You can have it in contrast with your wall color or anything that complements your theme. This DIY Literal Book Shelf project is easy to make and will not clutter your room in the process.

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.

Whether you are a connoisseur of fine reading or you just enjoy having beautiful books lining your bookshelves, there’s no doubt books have a special place in our homes. While many people place books wherever they can fit, creating a focal point for your books can be doubly fun and make an eye-catching destination for the eye to fall when you walk in the room. Here are tips to create literary eye candy while still saving space for your favorite books.

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Let the interior architecture influence the bookshelf:

When thinking of an eye-popping bookshelf many of the forms that are unforgettable are the ones that embrace the architecture of the space. Whether it is sympathetic – the book shelf plays off of the existing shapes, and detailing of the adjacent walls and architectural features, or is unsympathetic – doesn’t correlate with the adjacent interior features, bookshelves can create a feature in itself. Stand back and take note of your room’s natural curves, lines, and styling. Play off of these when building your new bookshelf. Designing your home now? Why not ask your designer to play off of a curving staircase, a two story fireplace, or a breath-taking atrium? Bookshelves can add dimension to any space.

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Bookshelf furniture is no longer boring:

While you can still buy a rectilinear bookshelf with 3 shelves there are so many more choices out there, so why not try them out? From ultra modern and minimalistic to organic and curvilinear, there aren’t any shape configurations that haven’t been thought of. Artisans, designers, and furniture designers have found a new niche of design expression through bookshelf varieties. From ones that spell out words, to bookshelves that encompass seating, beds, and even fireplaces, there is no limit when it comes to bookshelf design. Choose your fav and let your bookshelf speak for itself.

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Let your books become the focal point:

Shelving for books has become a hot topic for designers and homeowners and in more recent years interior trends showoff color coordinated book spines placed together, and matching books together strictly for their appearance as opposed to their content. Let your books become the instant conversation starter in your entertaining spaces. Take cues from colors in your interior furniture, textiles, pillows, and window treatments and match your books to create a unified and designer look. Don’t know where to shop for colorful books? Try vintage and thrift shops where you can buy affordable books, regardless of their content but for their colorful covers!

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Whether you are trying to make your library more eye-catching, or your dining room wall just doesn’t have enough pizazz, think of adding literary eye candy to make your room sing. Saving space, displaying your favorite books and creating an interior design style with your best hardbacks have never looked so good.

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Your home has storage needs beyond the closets and obvious areas. Small items such as books, utensils, tools and other smaller home essentials can use a proper place by having easy storage solutions you can create in your home. Whether you make them, or you reuse other items to create easy storage solutions, take a look at a few ways to get organized and store your items beautifully and functionally.

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Books

Books are one of the things that we typically have in common at home. If you are using plastic bins for book storage, you have to replace them. Plastic storage tends to trap moisture that can glue or wrinkle your book to weaken. While books are designed not to be stored, there may be times when you cannot help but keep them stored. The best storage solutions for books are cardboard boxes, leather wraps and Mylar sheets.

Avoid stacking books on top of each other. This may cause warping or damage your book cover. To fix this problem, place a Mylar sheet of leather in between each book. Ensure that the storage temperature is stable and not fluctuating. Store books in bookshelves that allow for air circulation and allow your books to show off themselves.

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Dishes

Plates that are not for everyday use can be kept in a low-traffic space in your cupboard. Wrap each plate and stack them in eight pieces. This is a safe and favorable way of piling your dishes. It will ensure protection from budging and accumulation of dust and dirt.

As for your frequently used dishes, consider having a dishwasher rack as storage. This makes it easier to dry and acquire. If you want it to protect it from foreign objects, cover it with transparent plastic with lace surrounding its edges. For champagne or wine glasses, wrap it in a plastic and load it in a separate dishwasher rack.

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Electronic cords/wires

Cords and wires create can be cluttered and entangled through the years especially when you regularly purchase electronic gadgets over time. These cords and wires need to be bundled to keep them organized. You can tie the unnecessary length using Velcro tape, wire snake cable or use a colorful cable organizer kit. You can buy these from your nearest hardware store or try a craft box with a power strip located inside.

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You may also use a small hook and have your wires inserted inside the hook. It looks neat and clean when wires are hung and not kept on the floor. Of course, it is better safe than sorry.

Use these helpful tips to create storage that will look nice and make your interiors become just a little more functional!

For more home organization ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Need more ways to get organized? Here are 111 tips to get there! 111 Simple Tips for your Everyday Home Ebook will help.

Unless you want toys littering the living room and homework piling up on the dining room table, it behooves you to set up a kids area they can use to play and do homework away from the common areas of your house.  While you might not want to give up your own home office or den for this purpose, you may be able to find an alternate space like the attic, the basement, or the garage for this purpose.  And as long as you furnish and decorate it with the wants and needs of your children in mind, you won’t hear any complaints.  So here are a few things you’ll certainly want to consider when it comes to outfitting a playroom for your kids.

Image via: Pottery Barn Kids

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Age appropriate design

The first thing you need to think about is the age (or ages) of your kids.  The reason for this is purely practical because smaller kids are not only going to have different needs than older siblings; they’re also going to operate on an entirely different level (and a smaller scope).  So whether your kids range in age from toddler to high-school or you simply want to create a space that will serve your young children as they grow, you need to think about how you can make your space versatile for ongoing needs of all your kids.

Image via: The Cool Hunter

Walls and flooring

To start at the beginning, you need to address the walls and flooring of the space.  While you might be keen to keep the neutral walls that came with your house, consider that a white or off-white wall is a little institutional and not terribly inspiring (especially when paired with fluorescent overhead lights common to garage and basement spaces).  Injecting some color and pattern into the space through kid-appropriate paint and artwork will set the stage for creativity and fun.

And when it comes to flooring, practical and comfortable is the name of the game.  Hardwoods aren’t great to play on since they’re, well, hard.  And carpeting that is subjected to spills, markers, glitter, and who-knows what else will soon be a useless mess.  So if you have to install some flooring anyway, think about laying down interlocking rubber tiles (like the ones at the gym).  The kids won’t get hurt if they fall, they can spill all they like, and tiles are easy to clean and cheap to replace, making them perfect for you kids’ playroom.

Furnishings and storage

The next step is to install kid-friendly furnishings and storage.  You’ll probably want workspaces that are suited to the size and activity level of your kids.  So a low craft table is a good idea for small kids while school-age children will likely need individual desks to sit and do homework in peace.  You should also install cubbies and containers for storing different items; the bottom shelf could house toys for toddlers while higher cubbies could be used for craft supplies and school items for older kids.

Image via: Pinterest.Dream Home

Kid accessories

Finally, you should add some flair to the space with accessories that the kids will love.  So find some cute and colorful lamps, a few photo frames to hold their favorite family pics (or hang their own artwork), and even an iPod docking station so they can have some tunes on while they play or do homework.  It takes a little forethought to prepare a recreational space that is suitable for your kids, but once you look at it from their point of view you should have no trouble designing a room that they’ll love to use.

Evan Fischer is a contributing writer for Home Tuition Singapore where you can find quality one on one home tutoring for all subjects and levels.

For more kids organization & decor on Stagetecture, click here.

Stagetecture has always been a place for finding organization tips to help your home, office, lifestyle and more. From the physical to the emotional, organization encompasses getting your family, your environment, and yourself into a functional space that works.

Image courtesy of Apartment Therapy

I’m excited about the ‘Organize Yourself Online!’ program. It offers a good way to get guidance, and proven steps to assist you and your family get organized.

Organize your Home, Office, Children, Time, and Finances! To get started click here: Organize Yourself!

Receive the Free Bonus Gift Report, 28 Ways to Stop Procrastinating:

Also, read these rave reviews of Organize Yourself Online from former procrastinators who speak from
personal experience …

“I think it’s a great idea and very useful….”-Nicoletta of Hastings on Hudson, New York

Image courtesy of Ikea

Here is what is included:

Get yourself started with a program that looks at your life as a whole, as organization affects each facet of your life. If you’re ready to get started to less procrastinating and more time efficiency and organization, this program is for you.

For more home organization ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Are you a book fanatic and have them displayed all over the house?  For some, displaying large amount of books can be daunting, especially if you don’t have an ample way to display and organize them. Here are some creative ways to organize your books using bookshelves and a little imagination.

For tall spaces that have a lot of storage room, consider using a beautiful color curtain to close off the shelf when wanted.

Have a large and colorful collection of books?  Look at this idea of color coded display for you shelves!

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I love when bookshelves are put in unconventional areas, and work!! Beneath stairwells is always a chance for some magical storage – why not a bookshelf?

Use the full height of an everyday wall, and make it pop with visual interest by adding bookshelves.

Wherever you can safely put books and display them beautifully.. the better!

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

inspiration to help you feel confident about picking a project, and going for it!

Each Saturday, I will bring you “Do it yourself or D.I.Y. Saturday” A post dedicated to a resource to wake up to Saturday morning, and start the planning for your next home project.

Before and After Room Inspiration:

Remember my own Gibson Kitchen Renovation? For inspiration and ideas I combed through books, magazines, websites, and home improvement centers to find pieces to fit into a whole kitchen.  What helped me was looking through Before and After resources.  These resources help you visualize what your space could be.

You can see from my kitchen ‘Before’ photo, we had to decide if we wanted to replace just the appliances, or go all out. We decided to go half-way out, and reface the cabinets, counters, lighting, and painting.

Follow these tips below when looking through your Before and After resources.

1.) Budget:

Decide on how much you plan on spending on your project. Make sure the Before and After resources you model your project after, are in line with your budget. Don’t look at a million dollar gourmet kitchen renovation, and you only have 300.00 dollars to spend. This tip is

not to discourage you. This tip is to make sure you stay realistic in planning, shopping and executing!

2.) Scope of your project:

Before and After resources are wonderful for figuring out, how much will you tackle at once.  Do you want this to be a weekend job, and therefore pick smaller tasks? Do you plan on taking a few weeks, months to finish the project instead?  The two biggest reasons why home projects don’t get finished is due to money and time.  Both are resources that should be thought through, and kept in mind when looking through magazines, and websites.

3.) Make Lists!

As you flip through your magazines, and books, take notes and make lists.  Write down finishes that you like, and which are realistic for your budget.  Once you’ve chosen your finishes, move on to a To-Do list. Leave time for incidentals, running back and forth to the store, and life in general! Lastly, make a store list that has materials and tools needed.  If you have time, shop around for competitor coupons and sales, save where you can!

4.) Take Before and After pictures:

Remember my post on taking pictures of your home for sale? These same rules apply here. Let in natural light, clear the clutter, so your pictures will look good before, and even better after.  Even though you don’t think you’ll want pictures, after you finish, you’ll wish you would have taken them.

5.) Use great resources!

What inspires you? Going to a great furniture store, or surfing the web? Me, personally, I like having a physical book or magazine in my hand.  This way I can take the book into the space, hold it up, and visualize the future space. I’ve chosen some books that are perfect for inspiration, as well as decor.

HGTV Before and After Decorating

This book is a great resource for picking your project, and makes a beautiful decor book as well!

Before and After resources can give you a vision, and a goal to your project. Follow these tips, and let me know what projects you take on!

Make sure and get your friends, spouse and family in on the decision too, you would hate to spend all this time and money, on a project that no one else likes!

Resources to help you get your project done!

• D.I.Y. Saturday’s

  
  Each Saturday throughout the summer, Stagetecture will feature a new DIY project. Resources, information, and How-to articles on how to get you working on that weekend project.. not just thinking about it!

DIY Saturday #1 – Getting inspiration from Before and After Rooms

DIY Saturday #2 – Home Improvement Stores, use them to help you!

DIY Saturday #3 – Laminate Wood Flooring, is it for you?

DIY Saturday #4 – Maintaining and Enjoying your hardwood floors

DIY Saturday #5 – ‘Man Cave Inspiration

DIY Saturday #6 – Outdoor Water Features

DIY Saturday #7 – Ralph Lauren Painting Techniques

DIY Saturday#8 – Installing Closet Organizers

DIY Saturday #9 – Installing Crown Molding

DIY Saturday #10 – Installing Stone Veneer Panels

DIY Saturday #11 – Installing a Glass Tile Back splash

DIY Saturday #12 – Installing a Fire Pit

DIY Saturday #13 – Installing Outdoor Landscape Lighting

DIY Saturday #14 – How to Make your Bathroom into a Spa

DIY Saturday #15 – How to Expertly Paint Exterior Wood & Trim

• Book Reviews –

  
  Stagetecture’s review on helpful home books, beautiful coffee table books, and D.I.Y. books to help you get your project done right, the first time!

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  Step by Step Guides

  – Guides that will help you:

1. Choosing colors for interior and exterior paints, and finishes
2. Resource guide for home sellers – For Sale by Owner (FSBO) – listing your home, pricing your home, etc..
3. Creating great curb appeal for your home, how and why you do it.
4. How-to guides for organization, helpful and time-saving tips
5. Do you have past blog posts that you love, but don’t want to hunt for them online? Topics ranging from organizing for your relatives to visit, to staging your laundry room!
6. Have a certain topic you want covered? We’ll make custom mini Ebooks too!
7. Have you seen products or resources that you want Stagetecture to make a mini Ebook about? I.e., You love how the bedrooms look in your favorite decor magazine, and you’d like inspiration to mimic the look.

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  Mini Ebooks

  – Compilations of past blog posts, compiled in an easy to read, take-to-the-store guide!

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  Ebook

  – Stagetecture resources, manufacturers, helpful hints, Tips from the professionals and much more!

Stagetecture will compile all the resources you need to have a beautiful home.  After all, that is why we love our home, right?