#DECLUTTER BOOK HOW TO#
#DECLUTTER BOOK PROFESSIONAL#

It’s not always easy, but it is always worth it in the end’, says organizing expert Michelle Hansen, owner of Practical Perfection. It can be subjective, so in order for this to work, you need to be really honest with yourself. It goes without saying really, but any I didn’t enjoy, didn’t finish, or that I have no intention of ever reading, I also pass on – and quickly too. ‘My rule with books is that if I’ve read them at least once or twice, and I don’t plan on reading them again, I donate them to my local library. If you’re struggling to make decisions, establishing some set rules around what to keep and what not to can help the decluttering process – just be sure to stick to them, no exceptions. Create a set of rules – and stick to them Try and limit yourself to just one or two types of each book a couple of Thai-style cookbooks, or one South American travel guide, for example. They may not be exactly the same, but you’ll likely have cross over, particularly in certain genres travel guides, cookbooks, reference books and encyclopedias are all common culprits. One of the quickest ways to cut down your collection is by getting rid of duplicates. How you categorize is up to you, but we’d advise sticking to those categories when it comes to storing books and styling your bookcase, so make sure you’ve given some thought to that in advance. ‘Do you want to organize books alphabetically, by author? Do you have distinct categories, such as travel, gardening, memoirs and cookbooks that you want to group together? Maybe you want to dedicate an area to books that you have not yet read so it’s easy to choose your next read… there really is no right or wrong here’, says Lauren Saltman. Take the opportunity to give them a good clean, too. While it may feel like an easier option, don’t be tempted to declutter books in-situ – it’s a lot easier to leave a book you’re not sure about on the shelf than it is to physically put it back, so clear the shelves completely. It’s much easier to work out what you want to keep when everything is in one place. One of the best decluttering tips we can offer is to gather every book you own from around the house, whether they’re housed in your home library, reading nook, living room or bedroom bookshelf. Don’t forget your nightstand, either.

#DECLUTTER BOOK HOW TO#

With the help of organizational experts, we’ve put together a simple guide on how to declutter books, to help you achieve a happy ending. So, now you’ve committed to the decision, it’s our job to make the process as easy as possible.

#DECLUTTER BOOK PROFESSIONAL#

You want the books that you keep to be meaningful to you and your family, to showcase your interests, to know that you can locate a favorite book to reread, or put your hands on a new one to enjoy’, says professional organizer Lauren Saltman, owner of Living.

‘Remember, your home isn’t a storage unit. But trust us when we say you’ll be thankful of it later – research shows that a smaller collection and organizing your bookshelf properly actually leads to not only reading more, but enjoying it more, too. When decluttering sentimental items of any kind, making peace with letting go is usually the hardest part. However, if you’d prefer more organized bookshelf ideas, or if you’re decluttering to downsize, it’s probably time to get comfortable with cutting back. And that’s fine – if you’re at your happiest when surrounded by piles of books and story-stacked shelves, there’s really no problem. Decluttering books can be an emotional process, one that many of us put off.

Declutter book