What To Do With All Your Books?

17 Stylish Ways to Display Bookshelves with a Lot of Books

Bookshelves were designed to hold books (as the name implies). Most interior photos show a couple of lone color-coordinated stacks of books among a collection of carefully curated tchotchkes.

Watch the video instead!

Having a lot of books is similar to having any other collection, and collections look best when they’re displayed together. Fortunately, people have been coming up with great solutions for almost as long as books have been around, so let’s take a look at some of them.

How to display a bookshelf with a lot of books

There is no such thing as having too many books, so if you want to keep them all, go ahead. If you can’t think of a single reason to keep a book, put it in a temporary “donate” pile.

1. Remove the dust jackets

If you have books with dingy dust jackets, try removing them! You might be surprised at how much better your book looks without them. There are some things to consider if you remove the dust jackets – and what will you do with all the extra space? I’m afraid to throw them out.

2. Play with horizontal book stacks

Stacking books and magazines is a great way to organize them; you can make different heights and then place decor items on top of them to add visual interest and make it easier to see how much space you have on each shelf.

3. Separate hardcover books from paperbacks

For a more cohesive look in your living room or office, group your paperbacks and hardcovers on different shelves.

4. Organize books by a certain category

I like to sort my books by author, genre, fiction vs. non-fiction, classics vs. modern literature, cookbooks vs. art books, and so on. Do whatever your inner librarian wants!

5. Use baskets and pretty storage boxes

Make sure you pick a color scheme for your storage; having a jumble of mismatched baskets and boxes won’t help you achieve your goal of beautiful shelves.

6. Add 2 rows of books per shelf

Adding two rows of books per shelf will maximize shelf space while also providing a variety of colors and textures.

7. Organize your books in alphabetical order

This video shows you how to sort books alphabetically by author or title in just 3.5 hours. If you remember titles and authors better than colors, this method will probably work better for you.

8. Introduce tchotchkes, plants and artwork

If there is an empty space, try adding decor items, but only if they are smaller than an orange.

9. Place larger books on the bottom

Larger books at the bottom can provide a nice contrast to the smaller, lighter books at the top.

What do you do with thousands of books?

If you’re in a similar situation, here are ten ideas for repurposing your old books.

1. Bring your gently used books to your local library.
2. Donate to a local charity.
3. Make some gift tags.
4. Recycle your unusable books.
5. Sell or give them away online.
6. Create a “Free Books” box.

How do you get rid of thousands of a book?

Here’s How To Get Rid Of Some Of Your Books (And Make Room For New Books)

1. Giphy.
2. Begin with your TBR pile. Giphy.
3. And set time limits. Giphy.
4. Host a book swap. Giphy.
5. Make gift packages. Giphy.
6. Give yourself permission to keep your favorites. Giphy.
7. Sell those fancy textbooks. Giphy.
8. And use the money for ebooks.

Is it OK to throw away books?

Books with moldy pages cannot be recycled and must be thrown away to prevent the mold from spreading to other books; however, if a book cannot be reused or given new life in another way, it is perfectly acceptable to recycle it.

Where can I put all my books?

7 Book Storage Ideas for Your Home

1. Under benches. If you have bench seats around your house, these can be great places to store books.
2. Thin shelves.
3. On a staircase.
4. On top of cupboards.
5. On mini shelves.

What can I do with books I no longer want?

Where Can You Donate Books You Don’t Use Anymore?

1. Local thrift stores. Goodwill accepts a lot more than clothes.
2. Prisons. Prisons desperately need used books.
3. Schools. Schools may want your used books.

What books should I get rid of?

Here are ten ways to figure out which books you should get rid of:

• Get rid of any books in a series that you don’t enjoy.
• Recycle magazines that you haven’t opened in the last month.
• Choose contemporary over classics.

How many books should you keep?

Additional Comments: The expert team behind this guide has determined that 25 to 30 books represents a safe average estimate for how many books can fit on a single 31-inch shelf, or, to put it another way, 1 to 30 books can easily fit on a single shelf.

What to do when you have too many books?

Set aside time each week to sort through one bookshelf, or a pile of books; if you bought it a while ago and haven’t read it, it’s time to let it go. Fill boxes with the books you no longer love, want, or need, and donate them to’More than Words ‘.

Why did they start getting rid of books Fahrenheit 451?

Books were forbidden in Fahrenheit 451, as a means for the government to control the public’s thoughts. Excuses such as offensive language and resentment over different levels of intelligence, which reportedly made people feel bad, were given as to why books were banned.

What can I do with old prayer books?

If it hasn’t been blessed, some Catholics dispose of it by burying or burning it; if it hasn’t been blessed, dispose of it as you would any other book; if it’s still in good condition, you could put it on a book donation table to benefit someone else.”

When should you throw away books?

Here are a few pointers to help you decide whether or not to keep a book:

• It’s filthy, stained, or musty.
• Old books. You know the ones….
• You know you’ll never read it again, but it’s so widely available that used bookstores won’t take copies.
• You’ve tried to sell or donate it but can’t.

Can I put magazines in the recycle bin?

Catalogs and magazines: If the catalog or magazine came in a plastic wrapper, remove the wrapper first and then recycle the entire item; these items are frequently removed during the recycling process at a paper mill or a recycling facility.

Should I cover my books with plastic?

Books need to breathe, and plastic can trap moisture, encouraging mold, warping, and pests, as well as reacting with the book. If you must store a book in a bag, try a paper bag or wrap the book in paper, tissue, or plain cloth.

Is it better to store books upright or flat?

Always pack stacks of books with fore edges facing the sides of the box so that if the load shifts, the “spines against spines” configuration protects the books from damage. Do not stack books flat on top of upright ones.