Decluttering your bookshelves can seem like a daunting task, but it’s an excellent way to spend an afternoon. Taking the time to organize and pare down your book collection can make your space feel fresh and open while also freeing up room for new reads. Approaching the project step-by-step is key to making the process manageable and successful.
Why Declutter Your Bookshelves?
There are many benefits to decluttering your bookshelves beyond just creating more space:
- Discover forgotten books – In the process, you’re likely to uncover books you forgot you had. Finding an old favorite you can re-read or a novel you’ve been meaning to get to can feel like finding treasure.
- Assess your library – Decluttering gives you a chance to evaluate your book collection. You can consider which titles still spark joy and which ones you can let go of.
- Create a space that inspires you – An organized bookshelf with your favorites prominently displayed can provide visual inspiration to grab a book and read.
- Make room for new books – By removing the titles you’re ready to part with, you open up space for books acquired in the future.
- Free up room in your home – Donating, reselling, or recycling books you’re no longer attached to can physically lighten your space.
- Feel a sense of accomplishment – Completing a declutter provides an instant feeling of satisfaction and productivity.
Decide How to Sort Your Books
Before getting started, think about how you want to organize your book collection. Some popular options include:
- By genre – Mysteries, sci-fi, memoirs, etc.
- By author – All books by the same writer together.
- By size – Group books by their height to create a visually pleasing pattern.
- By color – Arrange by book cover color for a rainbow effect.
- By sentiment – Keep special books separate like signed copies or childhood favorites.
You may want to sort fiction and non-fiction separately. Or you might sort by a hybrid combination, like genre and then author. Decide what makes the most sense for your existing collection and style.
Gather Supplies
Decluttering will go smoother if you gather needed supplies before getting started:
- Boxes or bags – Have empties on hand to fill with books to donate or recycle.
- Trash bags – Use to dispose of any old dust jackets or covers in poor condition.
- Donation list – Note nearby places that accept used books, like libraries, schools, or thrift stores.
- Book sale list – Jot down options for selling books like local shops or online platforms.
- Cleaning wipes – Clean dusty shelves and book spines as you go.
- Organizers – Bookends, dividers, or bins to arrange books attractively.
- Notepad – Write down titles of books you can’t find or want to look for later.
Tackle Shelf by Shelf
Don’t try to overhaul your entire book collection in one shot. Take it shelf by shelf:
1. Remove every book
Clear everything off the shelf fully so you have a blank slate. Pile the removed books somewhere nearby like the floor, a table, or another shelf.
2. Wipe down the empty shelf
Use cleaning wipes to remove any dust and grime from the newly cleared shelf.
3. Determine which books to keep
Go through the stack of removed books. As you evaluate each title, make quick decisions: keep on the shelf, sell/donate, or recycle/trash.
4. Organize the keepers
Using your pre-determined sorting method, organize the books you’re keeping into piles or sections.
5. Arrange books attractively
Place your organized books artfully back onto the clean shelf. Feel free to turn book covers outward for visibility.
6. Deal with discards
Put aside books to donate, resell, recycle, or trash into the designated bags and boxes. Deal with these promptly after finishing the shelf.
Repeat Until Complete
Follow this process for each bookshelf section until your entire collection is looking fresh. Decluttering systematically one shelf at a time prevents the task from feeling chaotic and overwhelming.
Tips for Paring Down Your Collection
When deciding which books to keep and let go, use these tips to thoughtfully curate your library:
- Keep beloved books that brought you joy or you’d read again.
- Release books you didn’t enjoy, wouldn’t recommend, or will never re-read.
- Let go of books you’ve had for years without reading. Accept you probably won’t.
- Donate titles in good condition that you’re finished with.
- Recycle outdated non-fiction books and manuals.
- Assess incomplete series – keep favorites and release mediocre ones.
- Limit authors and titles you lost interest in.
- Part with mass market paperbacks and average quality books.
- Be choosy about which special editions and signed copies to keep.
- Release books you only bought for appearances or due to hype.
Donation and Resale Options
Here are smart ways to rehome books you’re ready to pass on:
- Local libraries – Most libraries accept donations of gently used books to resell or use for programs.
- Little Free Libraries – Find these neighborhood book exchanges to donate volumes into circulation.
- Schools – K-12 schools often want book donations for classroom libraries and reading incentive programs.
- Women’s shelters – Shelters are grateful for book donations for the women and children they serve.
- Hospitals – Donate to hospital gift shops or patient libraries to provide entertainment during recovery.
- Thrift stores – Any gently used items shop like Goodwill or Salvation Army will accept book donations.
- eBay – List valuable collectible editions or rare titles worth money on eBay.
- Amazon – Sell used books in good shape on Amazon Marketplace.
- Facebook Marketplace – List books for local pickup sale through Marketplace.
- Used bookstores – Sell directly to independent shops for store credit or cash.
- Buy-back programs – College town stores and online programs may buy back certain books.
Recycle Appropriately
Books that are damaged, outdated, or mildewed should be recycled rather than donated. Follow local municipal guidelines like:
- Remove hard covers and recycle separately if possible.
- Place paperbacks loosely in a paper or cardboard recycling bin, not in plastic bags.
- Use paper grocery bags to transport books for recycling.
- Discard anything stained or moldy in the regular trash.
Appreciate Your Curated Collection
When you’ve completed the process shelf-by-shelf, take a step back to admire your decluttered book collection. Celebrate and appreciate how your newly organized library inspires you to settle in and savor a good book. The afternoon spent refining your book shelves will continue paying dividends through the enjoyment of your personally curated book selection for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about decluttering your bookshelves:
How many books should I keep?
This number depends on the amount of shelving space you have and your reading habits. As a general guideline, keep about as many books as you can reasonably read in 2-3 years.
Should I declutter all at once or shelf by shelf?
It’s best to tackle one shelf at a time. Removing all books creates chaos and is mentally overwhelming. Shelf-by-shelf decluttering lets you make decisions and see progress.
What’s the fastest way to sort through books?
Skim each book quickly and make an instant “keep or don’t keep” decision. Over-analyzing leads to procrastination. Trust your gut reaction.
How do I decide which books to let go of?
Release books you didn’t enjoy, won’t re-read, haven’t read in years, or were just ok. Be choosy about your favorites to keep.
What do I do with books I’m getting rid of?
Sell or donate quality books in good condition. Recycle mildewed, damaged, or outdated books. Trash books that are falling apart.
Where can I donate used books?
Libraries, schools, shelters, hospitals, thrift stores, and Little Free Libraries happily accept book donations in good condition.
How do I arrange books without looking cluttered?
Use bookends, dividers, and organizers. Arrange neatly by size, color, or genre. Turn some cover-out for visual appeal. Leave a little space between books.
In Conclusion
Decluttering your bookshelves is an extremely rewarding project that promotes organization and intentionality with your personal book collection. By periodically re-evaluating your shelves and culling books that are no longer sparking joy, you create space for new titles, rediscover old favorites, and surround yourself with a thoughtfully curated library. The decluttering process itself also provides satisfaction, a sense of productivity, and renewed inspiration to crack open a fresh read. Simply approaching the project one shelf at a time, armed with some key tips, donation options, and the proper supplies, ensures a successful afternoon of effort.
