How to declutter your book collection

“In general, across all categories, vertical storage is recommended for most things because it makes it more lively and less stagnant,” says Morrissey. This is why most of the organizers recommended some sort of wall solution, although Socci emphasizes: “We really try to make sure that it is attractive, beautiful, restful and peaceful to look at” besides being functional, by especially in the KonMari method. Lisa Zaslow, a professional New York-based organizer and founder of Gotham Organizers, loves modular wall shelving, but notes that it’s important to be careful. “They sort of float, which is awesome and very minimalistic, but your books can drop by the end if you don’t have bookends,” she warns. That’s one of the reasons she loves these floating shelves from Italian company Teebooks, which have built-in bookends.

If you need bookends for a floating wall shelf that doesn’t have one, Zaslow loves these metal singles.

“In KonMari, there is the idea that similar things should be together, but also that things should be where you use them,” Socci explains. “So if you’re reading at night you’re obviously going to have books rotating by your bed or at your nightstand. For arguing over books in this corner, Laura Cattano, a professional Brooklyn-based organizer, likes the Umbra Conceal Library. This is an easy-to-install storage solution for the few books you’re in the middle of, so you don’t have to stack them on your floor or nightstand.

There is also this clear, shallow acrylic bookcase that will make the books appear to be floating.

In keeping with Kondo’s organizational principle of keeping things where you use them, Dooley believes that keeping cookbooks in the kitchen can work “if everything else is organized to be displayed, and on top of that, it’s really easy to access ”. For that, Zaslow likes this pot rack from Crate and Barrel, which doubles as storage. “There is a shelf above which allows you to free up space in the cabinet [with] hanging up your pots, but there’s also enough room for a decent-sized collection of cookbooks, ”she says.

Another storage option for books being read – also taken straight from the children’s section – is a book rack. “Those little shopping carts could go to the foot of the bed in a corner,” Zaslow explains. “And what’s so cool, because it’s acrylic, it doesn’t seem to take up much space.” It’s also a great option for anyone looking to organize a home office, even if they don’t have a suitable office; it’s a compact place to keep all your books, gadgets, and work-related documents together.

However, if you have a desk, you can also get a table shelf. “It’s good if you’re someone who has a lot of books going,” Zaslow says.

And while it’s incredibly obvious, sometimes you just need a shelf to keep your books organized, and there are plenty of affordable options out there, even for the smallest spaces. Zaslow especially likes tall, thin shelves, like the one from Blu Dot, which she describes as “the skinniest I have ever seen.” It won’t hold most books, she admits, “but if you really don’t have much space, I’ve never seen anything smaller,” Zaslow says.

Cattano likes this slim metal bookcase from CB2, which is a bit more width than Blu Dot, for slightly larger collections. She also likes the white finish, especially for rentals: “It’s the kind of thing I like because it just blends in. Stick it in a small corner, it just blends into the wall, and it takes up minimal visual space and minimal physical space. “

Another stylish option for a tall, slim shelf is this model from Design Within Reach. “The amount of space it takes up on the floor is basically the size of a big book, and then it skyrockets, with super thin little shelves, and the shelves don’t even waste space,” explains Zaslow. And even though the books are technically stacked on each shelf, they’re still accessible. “If you have everything full, it looks like this perfect stack of books, but there are shelves supporting them, so you can take the books out and you don’t have to worry about them tipping over,” she says. .

Cattano loves this open shelving unit from CB2, which has a ton of storage space. And if you have room, she recommends lining several up next to each other. “I always tell people, don’t be afraid of multiples,” especially if you need more storage, she says. “The multiples of the same thing, you don’t even see them. This reduces visual clutter, as furniture can produce a lot of visual clutter.

There are, however, some books that you might not want everyone to see – self-help titles, books on potty training your kids, and more. “Marie recommends putting books in a cupboard or closet,” says Morrissey, who advocates making room in your clothes closet and using it for extra book storage. But if that’s not an option, Cattano likes a good storage basket. “Nothing has to be all or nothing, it’s one of my greatest philosophies,” she says. “You don’t have to get rid of everything, you don’t need to keep everything, you don’t need to display everything.