Now that our house is getting close to how we want it, we’re giving more careful consideration to the things we put back in the space. Books are an especially tricky subject for us. In general, I love the look of books in people’s homes – not just as decor, but because they typically are a window into the personalities of the people who live there. Kyle likes the more minimal look, not wanting to intimidate people by our awesome literary collection (yes, that’s Harry Potter in the middle top row).
A few weeks ago, I moved most of our books (we still have a good deal of reference books and text books that will stay in the basement) back upstairs and very loosely arranged them on the new stair cabinet shelves. Even though we’ll be putting doors over these cabinets, it’s still feeling a little cluttered for me. Do we really need all these books? We’re definitely the type to have books more for their importance rather than because we’ll re-read them over and over (in fact, I’m sure there are many that haven’t been read at all). Architecture books definitely fall in this category and comprise about half of what we own (fortunately, we have greatly reduced this spendy habit). But y’know…someday I will probably want to brush up on 14th century Italian architecture, right?
Plus, all these books are impinging on our plan to the turn the far right cabinet into a mini bar. The books to booze ratio is definitely off.
So what are your thoughts on displaying books in a small space? I wish we had more options but after demolishing most of our interior walls, the pickings are slim. Oh, and what do people do with photo albums nowadays? Ours stop circa 2003 but we still have a small stack of albums that chronicle our lives pre-digital age.
You’re doing well if that’s all the books you have. You know the biggest Expedit? Chock full. But then I was a middle school librarian . . .
Re: what to do with pre digital age photos. If you are willing to spend the time you could do what my mother in law has painstakingly done (much to the happiness of anyone who visits her home)- she has individually scanned every photo she has (millions I’m guessing) into her computer then she uploads them to one of those digital picture frames. Goodbye photo albums (which take up lots of space and rarely even leave the shelf) and hello slightly cheesy but ever so clever digital frame!
I totally agree about the books! I have kept most of my textbooks from college (I was only going to get about 10% back of what I originally spent on them!) and have been wondering what to do with them and my collection of fiction. I thought about getting another bookcase but then I found this inspirational picture of the prettiest book collection I have ever seen.
http://jordanferney.blogspot.com/2010/06/design-moms-bookcase.html
It seems somewhat silly to arrange them like that, but hey, if you don’t plan on reading any of them soon, why not make them look good!
I wrote a post almost identical to this one back in July:
http://www.mrspottsthoughts.com/2010/07/books.html
Since writing that post, I’ve sold some of our books on amazon.com. I love books but they’re meant to be read. I sold the ones that were dust collectors /space wasters. But our entire house is being taken over by my husband’s textbooks. He’s in grad school right now and says he needs to keep them all for when he has his own firm someday. GAH.
The “invisible bookshelf” is insanely popular on apartmenttherapy (as I’m sure you’re aware). I have a similar idea I’ve yet to implement: a booktree ..but y’all don’t have any load-bearing posts to hide.
I dealt with the same issue recently, and I had a big come to Jesus with myself about the books…I was surprised at how many I could purge. Some reference books (you never know) I did cling to for awhile longer, and I’m testing myself. Some of the books that I was on the fence about, I have put in easy access in the attic. If I don’t go and drag them down after a year or so, then its destiny is donation. I do that with a lot of things I’m hesitant to let go of. Sorry for the essay…
I have to agree with both Mrs Potts and ModFruGal. Books are meant to be read and enjoyed, sometimes over and over again, sometimes not. And while doing a kitchen remodel I learned there are only so many spaces to place books. Kitchen remodel and books? Yeah, that’s how many books I had acquired. I used to be a kindergarten teacher (as if that is an acceptable explanation).
I have two adult kids age 27/25. I kept ALL the books that meant something to them growing up and kept books that truly mean something to me. I built cupboard style shelves in our den tv room upstairs and they are there — Behind doors. They impress no one in particular and they collect NO dust. BUT they are ready for grandkids should they arrive and the ones I kept for myself spend time on my night stand or living room tables, etc when I decide to get them out and re read or look through them for ideas, etc. Most of these books are kept for their practical purposes like Electrical wiring, Victorian house design, etc. Everything else is gone to a home that will read them and pass them along.
I agree that books showcase a personality. I have a lot of yet unrealized plans for my house, one being a library with built-ins in a nook off my living room. Otherwise, I sort of subscribe to a functional approach– cookbooks in the kitchen, new & noteworthy on the coffee table, fiction at the bedside.
I agree, sell the old books so someone else can read, except of course for those few special books that you’ll want to read again later in life, or ones that could be passed on to a particular someone
I bought another book today at the airport, I can’t help but to buy books at the airport, it’s become a routine
I have a lot of books (that I refuse to get rid of) and we live in a very small space. I found that when I grouped them by color, they appeared to be much less chaotic and actually receded visually. It’s a shame to get rid of books – especially important reference books – because they don’t jibe with our aesthetic. Books are like the soul of a home, and what’s the point of having a lovely home that feels lifeless?
Well, you know what my opnion is. Keep the books. And, on your shelf composition, I’d like to quote one of my favorite authors, Sherman Alexie, who is from Seattle. “Books and beer are the best and worst defense.” What I did recently was use my ikea nightstand as a side table between two chairs. The nightstand has two shelves and is open in the front and the back. I put books on both shelves and on both sides and made it so that you could access books from either chair you were sitting in. I like it because you can see the books and they are out, but in a compact, small space.
i arranged my books like that and couldn’t find any one that i wanted. it drove me crazy. if you are a serious user of the books you have, arrange them in alphabetical order. if you’re a playa, do this.
or get rid of them.
selling them is way more of a pain in the neck than it’s worth. there are people who can really use them and some of them pick up.
http://www.bookstoprisoners.net/
Oh wow, thanks for the all the feedback everyone. Lots of good suggestions. I did purge a bunch of books pre-demo. I took them to a consignment place, which was probably not worth the 4 trips back and forth to the car I had to make, but oh well.
Our photo albums are on our bookcases. I have been slowly scanning them into my computer but we won’t be parting with the albums. Our moms spent too much time on them to throw away.