If you’re a book lover, chances are your home is filled to the brim with books. While there’s nothing wrong with this, there comes a time when you know you have to declutter your collection. You may not even be able to find the books you’re looking for because you have so many. Let’s take a closer look at how to declutter your books.
Have Three Sorting Bins
You want three bins for sorting your books. One will be keep, the other sell, and the other give away. This will make it much easier to go through your collection. As your bins fill up, take a break to put away the books you want to keep and put the ones you want to give away in your car. The next time you go out, give those books to friends or donate them. The ones you want to sell can be sold online or in a yard sale. Put those in the appropriate location.
Do a Quick Run Through of Your Collection
You want to make it through your collection as quickly as possible. Don’t stop to think too much about a book. Use snap decisions to determine if it stays or goes. It’s better to let a book go and it go to someone who will enjoy it than for it to set in your collection gathering dust.
Discard of Any Books That No Longer Interest You
Tastes change. While you may have loved fantasy novels a few years ago, you may have moved on to mystery or romance. Let go of those books that no longer interest you. This will allow you to have room for the books you actually want to read.
Get Rid of Books That No Longer Serve a Purpose
Old textbooks, cookbooks, etc. We all have books in our collection that no longer serve a purpose. It may be a low-carb cookbook that has never been used because you decided you love bread too much to give it up or a textbook that you paid $200 for but no longer need. Let them go.
Donate Books You Now Have in Ebook Format
Thanks to Amazon and other ebook retailers, it’s so easy to get our hands on almost any book your heart desires in a matter of seconds. Chances are you may have books that you love so much that you have them in multiple formats. Let go of the hardback and paperback editions to clear space in your home.
Let Go of Books You’re Keeping Out of Guilt
Last, but not least, let go of the books you’re holding on to out of guilt. It may be a book that was given to you as a gift that you never read or a collection of books you inherited. Keep the books that interest you and let go of the ones that don’t.
If your collection of books is overflowing, it’s time to declutter. As a book lover it may be hard to get rid of some of your books, but it will make it much easier to enjoy the ones you love.
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