I’ve been downsizing on and off this entire summer. I’ve gone through almost everything that was once stored in my jammed packed mini storage closet. During this process I’ve had new ideas on how to revamp areas in my home. The area that I’m sharing today is our most recently renewed library.
I had been keeping this wall empty for my portable ballet barre, yet realized that it would be more esthetically pleasing to use the space for our book shelf and store the barre in my closet. We once had two bookshelves, a large one for my husband’s books and a small one for mine which I stored in a 9 Cube Organizer that I purchased from Target. I decided to get another organizer to match the one I already had after my husband downsized his books. Going 100% digital with books no matter how minimalist it may be has never been my intention, yet I will keep a limit on how many books that I own at one time.
The two 9 Cube Organizers were once stacked on top of each other for over a year until I decided to place them side by side for more balance in the apartment. Using a full length mirror horizontally and two glass jars for vases filled with flowers, the look is complete costing me no more than the cost for flowers. One last detail for extra visual interest was stacking the books vertically in every other cubical. Slowly but surely our new decor is coming together.
Although I once believed that stacking the organizers and having them next to the desk created more space because of the empty wall that I gained, I’ve learned that it is better to use space more evenly and get rid of more items overall.
Do you value books or does going 100% digital fit your lifestyle better?
(Image by Dawn Michelle)
Naika says
Smart idea! Looks great!
Dawn Michelle says
Thank you Naika!
Dee says
I so hate it when some minimalists say to get rid of books ! No way I would ever do it and it’s an ongoing discussion with my future husband. He doesn’t like reading, doesn’t value books at all and thinks I have too many of them. Personally I would rather have a room dedicated to books than a walk in closet (not minimalist but a dream of mine !) I think it’s better to swap, go to the library and only own some you truly value.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Dee,
I too value books and can understand the frustration. After all the decluttering that I have done, I realize now that it is not the clothing or books that have been the challenge for me. It has been figuring out how to downsize all of the other miscellaneous possessions that I had. The items that don’t fit in any main category can get out of control! I think that using the library is divine. Keep what is valuable to you and make space with the things that you could care less about. I wish the two of you the very best and congrats on your engagement!
~Dawn Michelle
Tara242 says
Great post! I am torn between the two. For the moment I am in love with my Kindle Fire as it is allows me to take a lot of books with me as I travel. The digital books are also easier on my pocket as they are usually cheaper than printed books. On the other when I am studying or researching, I do feel the need to have a physical book in the from of me as I make notes in them.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Tara242, I don’t have a Kindle or Nook, yet I can see bonus of having one when traveling!
Carolyn says
I think having books gives a feeling of warmth to a living room. I also love “browsing” the bookshelves of people’s houses when I visit to see what they are into.
The problem is when the bookshelf starts to overflow. I only keep favorites – books we love, would re-read or would want to lend to someone to read. Otherwise all “read once but not again” books get donated.
One of the worst culprits in my (former) home was cookery books. I realised that I only really used one or two recipes so I copied the favorite recipe and sent the book on to a new home. I now resist the cookery book aisle at all costs, knowing that I can get any recipe from the internet and that I am only being seduced by the pictures anyway.
Nice library.
Maja says
That’s a beautiful idea!
I am also continuously downsizing and assessing the meaning and purpose of my posessions.
I go digital as much as possible, but I do appreciate the touch and scent of a physical book.
I do, however, downsize. Sometimes it is hard to discern between things that still hold meaning and things that only hold the memory of a meaning from long ago. I’ve decided to keep meories in my heart, not in my storage space, so it gives me opportunity to really cherish experiences instead of having them on an “external harddrive” in the form of objects.
Still – some books hold entire worlds I want to revisit again. So I’m keeping those.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Maja,
I completely agree with you about sentimental items. Creating digital memories is one of the best ways to keep items without actually holding on to them, yet that process can still be challenging for some things. Downsizing can be a slow process if you don’t have to do it in a rush for any specific reason. It is still so rewarding to be free of clutter and the process does get easier and easier with time. I released a bunch of books moving this January so there is more space in my book shelf now. I still kept a good amount though that I know I will read and refer back to often. I love having space yet books are truly a beautiful thing.
Thanks for your comment!
Robyn says
Oh, books…along with CDs, many of which are signed, this is my last frontier with decluttering.
I agree that a balance between digital and paper books must be found.
Sometimes the publishers make that decision for me.
Sometimes I make the call.
I’m starting to have digital disarray, as well, on my kindle app.
I keep books for my profession, such as reference I’d share with clients/use as explanations, I keep many spiritual books in paper, the out of print but loved (Mother Earth News Almanac), the few signed ones.
My cookery books are 1/5 what they were.
What’s left are ones that are not available electronically, are heavy rotation (making library jaunts insufficient), or have copious notes from my years of use. These are promised to my son at “some point.”
I get great physical pleasure out of simply reading these books.
What I truly need to be better at is using the library!
Mine even allows digital rentals through a couple systems, including kindle.