If anyone is curious about the book counts: 504 books, not including kids books, were on the shelves before I decluttered. 567 books if you count kids’ books. I got rid of 118 books, which means I am left with 386 books… or 429 if we count kids’ books 😂🎉
Librarian here: I would recommend NOT donating your collection to the library. 99% of library donations end up being discarded or given to Better World Books or nursing homes. Better to sell your items to Half Price Books so you can at least get some cash for them.
Thought you might be interested in how I deal with my books. I separate the books I've read from the ones I haven't read. I only put books I have read and I like on my bookcase. If I didn't like them they get donated. Books I haven't read get put into a box and it gets backed away but in easy reach. When I want a new book to read I sit and rummage through the box till I find something. Eventually things either get read or They say in the box so long that I realise I'm never going to read this so I donate it
I do something similar: I have a dedicated shelf where the unread books go. I put them in backwards and chose at random what I am gonna read next. If it's something I do not want to read I put it back and pick again. If I put a book back 5 times it gets donated because obviously it's not something I am going to read. (I have a list for this that)
I'm a book lover. At its peak, my book collection was over 1,000. And I didn't want to part with any of them. And most of them were unread. Until the real estate problem as you said, hit me. I faced the reality : I had the choice of decluttering or ending my life drowned in books. So I took the same courageous decision as you did, but I allowed myself a much longer period of time to complete it. The first round was books I had read. If I was sure I would not read them again, they were gone. The second category to go were unread books I was sure I would never read. That left me with the third round, which has been my actual phase for several years : 700+ books to go through, one at a time. I see my bookshelves like a library. Each time I finish a book, I make a decision : keep or donate. Most are donated. Then I choose a new one, according to my mood, and begin to read it. If I don't like it, I don't feel compelled to finish it and put it in the donate pile. It's a slow process : in 2023, I was able to get rid of only 47 books (out of the 68 I read). But I made some pretty good discoveries in the journey. And I think that, like in any decluttering project, what counts is not how many things you got rid of, but just to make sure that anything that you don't want or need doesn't stay in your house. I'm happy that you like your new bookish part of the living room, and can't wait until you show us your new project for the other wall.
Book lovers know that books make a home. They can get out of control, but that's okay, because they are like clothes and when they have served their purpose they can be let go. Books don't have to go if they simply give you a warm feeling. WOW. Well, done. Loved all the help, because you do make a home.
What helped me to declutter books was to divide them into two categories: Books I would read again and books I would not read again. I was able to donate 150 books to a used bookstore that raises money for adult literacy. Win/Win!
The Jane Eyre book has a companion book with the same cover, Wuthering Heights. I found them on my parent's bookcase and placed them on mine, around age 6. I'm 74 now and still have them. They are treasures to me.
Retired Preschool Teacher/Child Care owner here...I gave away 2,000 Children's Books a few years ago. I had them in a wall length bookcase my lovely daughter made for me...and now my books lovingly live there. I don't let anyone tell me how many books are too much my dear. That is up to you. I have books because I love them. Keep all the books you love...Even if you have more than one copy
For the vintage magazines, you might be able to use comic book boxes and sleeves! They come in all shapes and sizes so you might be able to find some stuff that will fit them!
The part of the internet shaming you for your book collection can take a long walk off a short pier! There is nothing wrong with having books or enjoying books. Books make life bearable 😂
Nothing wrong with purging things that you no longer want or need. It is refreshing. It is also OK to go through different phases of reading. I have been through many...self help, non-fiction, and numerous fiction genres. No matter what phase you are in...to all...just enjoy!!! It is perfectly fine. I (for some crazy reason) even enjoy watching videos like this of people straightening shelves. :) I also mostly buy Book of the Month...but also know they can promote some I am not interested in. So I do book stores too, of course :)
OMG, I can relate to this so hard. Books, books, books!! I have so many books that "I am going to read one day", and while I do read, I am not a speedy enough reader to get through my hoard of books, and yet when my library has a sale twice a year, I am there to fill my bag up. It's an addiction!
I suggest trying to listen to one of the classics on audible. Most of them are free anyway. I find it easier to listen to things I can't other wise read. Just a thought 😊
I love books…I purchase the ones I can be “friends” with. I DO love the classics lol. And I mourn because modern writing doesn’t compare IMO. My favorites are Wuthering Heights, The Age of Innocence, and Vanity Fair. My sister helped me move once and to this day can’t get over the fact that I keep books and re read them. But in a GOOD book then you keep finding new ideas or ways of seeing the story that you didn’t see before. Love the wallpaper!! ❤
I just went through my books and only forwarded mine to new homes, if I had read them or if I had doubles. I find a lot of joy in my books. Do NOT let others dictate your joy. They will get over it or they can move on. Have a beautiful blessed day ❤
Every few years, I'll cull my books and remove things I no longer want... but I still have several thousand physical books... I guess my point is, you've done a phenomenal job streamlining your library!
The wallpaper elevates the space so much. And the mirror is such an elegant and cozy finishing touch. Love the green books that complement the wallpaper. It’s so inspiring. I really should have my own re-de-book-cluttering and this video empowers me to do so.
Haven’t finished watching yet but I SO wanted the sponsor of this video to be Book of the Month for the sweet, sweet irony! Also, Internet, STOP TELLING PEOPLE WHAT TO DO! Geez, you are not the boss of us!!
I have such a deep affection for you and how real and vulnerable you are. Anyone who loves the written word knows how hard it is to let go of books in one’s collection. I’m so proud of you for making room in your life and home for things to come. Also, the wallpaper compliments the tones of your woodwork so well! You did a fantastic job!
I recently decluttered my home because I’m nesting, my books was the hardest thing for me to declutter!😢 but knowing others will get enjoyment out of them now makes me happy❤
Very nice! I adore the wallpaper! Many artists will purposefully leave a mistake in their work. So, I think your flower out of place will be your "signature" Lol
I put a wallpaper border in my old kitchen and some of it I put up with the flowers going up and some down. You had to look hard to see the mistakes! 😂
Im SO SO glad your not one of those people that turn your books around to show only the pages and not the spines! I love the colors of the rainbow! Looks great! Loved seeing your kitties and kids too. Good job.
Wow, I’m so jealous of your book collection! I love your style it’s so cozy❤ I especially liked that you left the wallpaper “mistakes” in because sometimes I feel like I can’t do something perfect so I don’t even try because it’s too overwhelming if that makes sense.
Thank you! And yes, I've entered the era of "it's ok if there's a mistake nobody's gonna notice anyway" lol. You literally have to get up on a chair to even be close to this wall so it's fiiiine ;)
So my best way for vintage magazine storage is a bread box. I collect vintage bread boxes and have found quite a few that are large enough to store my own collection of knitting pattern magazines. Hope you are having a bright day darling one.
My mother in law was an avid reader and had a whole room full of books my father in law put shelves from top to bottom for her. over 3k books (i think) from 1890s till 1990s and as i love books i inherited it all, 2 years ago. It took me 10 months to sort them all out. I kept probably around 300 to 400. Rest, were either recycled, sold, gave away,reused for packaging etc. I loved sorting them out it was like a Christmas for me,every time when i was sorting them out. Watching you remined me of the whole process.😅 love from chester (the orignal one 😉 ) the uk 🇬🇧
Please, please please choose carefully which books to keep and which books to discard. One never knows what effect a book will have on a person's life. I'm an old lady now. As a teenager, I wanted to go to college and become a librarian. At 18, I wasn't allowed to finish my first semester at a two--year local community college and was told by my father and stepmother that I had to get a job instead. However I did meet my now-husband there and got married after a few years , (We've been married for 50+ years!) A few years later, our son was born. I was a stay at home mom until he started kindergarten. He was always very interested in books. He loved to go to the library. Because he could write his name, he was able to get his library card when he wad three years old. He liked to go to museums. One day I dropped off our son at school and then went to a nearby thrift store. I noticed an old paperback book that had been printed in the '50s. It was about the languages of the world and how they developed.. I have been interested in languages for most of my life, so I bought it and read it. I thought it was interesting and informative. I would re- read it maybe every year or two. Our son did very well in school. He could read before he started kindergarten at a public school. By the end of first grade, he was reading at fifth grade level. He got good grades in all academic areas. His first grade teacher was very good. But his second grade teacher refused our request to have him tested so he could transfer into a gifted class or at least skip him into third grade. The second grade teacher also put him into a situation where he was being bullied, He became unhappy. He was bored at school. We took him out of public school and enrolled him in a very good Lutheran school from third grade through seventh, where he was happy and active in school, including music lessons andi participation in school orchestra. When we moved and my son transferred schools for eighth grade, he was required to take a foreign language class. He asked me for advice on which language to choose (between French or Spanish.) I talked to him a little about both languages and the Romance languages in general. I told him that it would his decision to make. I also suggested that he might like to read an old paperback book I had about languages. He read the book. He made his decision to take French. He was -- and still is -- extremely intelligent and received top grades in school.. Besides foreign languages, he also was interested in computers and took computer classes starting in middle school. He excelled in foreign languages in middle and high schools. When he attended university, he had double majors and earned Bachelors Degrees Summa Cum Laude in French and Linguistics, H received a full scholarship to a notable mid-western university where he got his Masters Degree in Linguistics. He has written books about computer lprogramming languages which were published by a well-known technical book publisher. For almost thirty years, he has combined his abilities with computers and linguistics to assist with language preservation projects both in the U.S.A. and in Canada. Recently I've been thinning out my book and cookbook collections. Some of them were donated to thrift stores, but my friends had first choice. I no lomger watch cooking shows on TV, and no longer buy expensive cookbooks byTV chefs. I have saved recipes that we rlove to eat, and i keep them sorted in three-ring notebooks. I am keeping my small collections of antique and vintage cookbooks/cooking ephemera, and antique/ vintage children's books. A few weeks ago i looked for the old paperback languages book, but couldn't find it. My son probably has it. But remember: It all started with reading a book.
Hi Janet. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. It is just lovely and makes such a welcome change to read a post on TH-cam that holds meaning. Thank you for writing it. Yours, Beth
Haven't even watched the video yet. But I read the title and thought Nooooo, not the books!!!!! LOL, as a maximalist and avid reader, it hurts my soul!!! LOL But as a homeschooling mom who has lived in small spaces and has had to move across the country many times, I have had to downsize many times. But it still hurts
I was 45 when I was 8. I was handed my dyslexia and ADHD diagnoses. When I was 30, I got autism added to the ever growing list. I really enjoy your channel because my home is never perfect 😅. I love all things vintage as well. So, thank you for a slice of real life for real people.
There’s no such thing as too many books, people who tell you that are not your friends-I have a library of 75,000 books and counting and not going to declutter any of them-these are curated books from childrens books-like the little golden books to antique books to first editions and Collectables, science, history, literature, etc. I enjoyed your video-it was fun to watch.❤
Jane Eyre was one of the few classics I enjoyed as well. I do also like most of the Austen novels and ALL of the Dumas books. Dostoevsky is hard. It is important to have books. Books of knowledge. Books of entertainment. The grid is fragile. Literacy is directly proportional to flourishing society. If you can learn about things other people learned the hard way, you can take the next step. Sharing ideas. Staving off boredom. Shared enjoyment with loved ones. Books save lives. I can appreciate passing along books that don't serve my family but book shaming shouldn't be a thing.
Good rule for decluttering, including books: anything you do with the books/stuff leaving your home is FINE. Even if it’s to the trash bin. It’s hard enough for b my any of us to clean/declutter without being paralyzed by some moral judgment about where the stuff is going. Just get it out and pat yourself on the back.
I absolutely love how your room turned out it looks incredible! Also I love how you mix yous styles/ interests to come out with something so uniquely YOU❤
The baby moment at the end was so cute oh my gosh 😆 It all looks beautiful! I saw another comment saying not to donate to libraries because they just get dumped but my library has a big book sale every year and you can donate to that and the funds go towards the library programming so check if any of the libraries near you have something similar!
I'm also not a classics lover, for the most part.... Tried being the chic lady with horn-rimmed glasses, reading The Count of Monte Cristo over a teeny espresso in a cafe , but that's not true to who I am. Give me my weird speculative fiction anyday
I am hoping to someday have a library by online standards (I keep seeing posts that I need 1000) books, but I still declutter regularly because I only want to keep what I love. Books are def the hardest for me to part with
Really appreciate seeing a decluttering video focused on books! I love books to bits, but I have a very low threshold for visual clutter and seeing an abundance of never-read books on mine and others' shelves always feels a little sad (I feel that books Want to be read; they exist to share stories and information and ideas, after all). Whenever I watch decluttering videos that would include a book category, it seems like books are either omitted entirely or simply given a carte blanche pass (because books aren't considered clutter maybe? never really understood the why for this), so it's really nice to finally find a whole video devoted to decluttering books! And you did such a great job!!! Everything looks so tidy and pleasant, and the books look fresh and happy in their homes! Not to mention that wallpaper; it's gorgeous!
Loved the video (as I adore all your videos)! Two things - I am delighted you had your winter greenery up past December. This year we made a choice to keep our tree and fairy lights up until DST this past weekend. It helped immensely with my SAD, so I'm on the train to keep up the winter decor until Spring starts to appear. I also want to "second" you on the desire to be a Classics reader, but find a lot of it to be a drudgery. From what you listed, it may be more you are a Gothic/Romantic (w/ a big R) reader (mid-19th century-current), like myself and less smitten with the Victorians or other time periods/genres. I'd be a bad librarian not to give a recommend based off your love of 'Jane Eyre' - - 'A Long Fatal Love Chase' if you haven't read it already. It is a book by Louisa May Alcott but its a Gothic Thriller Romance and was published after her death.
The BBC did a television series of Neverwhere back in 1996 which is stunning. Peter Capaldi played Islington. You should be able to get the DVD still. There is also a BBC Radio 4 audio adaptation if you have a VPN or a way to get onto BBC Sounds.
I am currently reading through my bookshelf so that I can declutter. My only problem is I don’t want to declutter hahaha. I read all different genres and collect beautiful books/antique books. I probably have around 3000 books in my basement hahaha.
Beowulf! Love it. It was hard for me to go through my books as well... I didn't get rid of too many the first time around, but decluttering is getting easier for me. The next time around I'm sure I'll be getting rid of a lot more. Good luck! Love and light to you and your family. Keep up the good work.
I have so much respect for you letting go of so many books! I just did the same and it was so hard. My goal was to get rid of the books that no longer serve me. That still left me with a lot of books (maybe a hundred or so), but I truly believe the written word is worth keeping. My dream is to have a office/library room someday hahaha. But I want those books to actually serve a purpose in my life and/or the lives of others. And that wallpaper is gorgeous! *extra edited note...we have the same red/green vase! hahahaha
I own eight or nine 6ft, one 5ft, and two three-section barrister bookcases (technically I own four, only two have books currently). Granted, I do have the space for them. But, I will happily growl at anyone who says I have too many books, and I feel the same regarding anyone who tries to bully someone else into getting rid of their books. Hopefully this is an effort that you wanted to undertake, and not something you felt pressured to do.
@bellablue5285 yes! What you said and me too! As for Kristina, hard for me to picture her bowing to internet pressure. ❤ More likely she needs space for her sweet family. 🎉
New to the channel so maybe you already know, but be careful of colorful old books. You said you loved them (and I do too, so pretty!), but I've learned that to make colorful books in the past they used toxic substances like arsenic for green books. So be wary of that! It would have to older old books though haha.
I loved your bookshelves, I have my own home library as well. I read Christian & Classics mainly, I love Jane Austen & Charles Dickens. I also put my books in genre & authors, I get so irritated when I see people put their books by color for some reason. I also love to collect antique books.i had gotten rid of books that I didn't read years ago then regretted it afterwards & now are trying to rebuy them again 😅. I also love your dresses as well.
Such a great time for you and all your books....the wall paper looks amazing....You look so pretty in not only red but also in the yellow, light orange and spring colored dress...All the best to you and your family...Melanie Fay...PS....I enjoy following you and am always inspired to "do better".
It looks SO good! I really love the look of books mixed on the shelf vertically and horisontaly. But it does make it more difficult to sort them in the way I want becourse then size batters too. I have a whole 4m x 2m wall with books on bookshelves... so trust me - you do not have to many books, it just have to fit the space you have for them... On selfpublicing do remember that even good books do not sell them selves. Selfpublicing is easy - the difficult part is promotion and actually selling the finnished books...
As a fellow maximalist, writer and book lover…The struggle is real. But I absolutely LOVE how the wallpaper turned out! It’s so beautiful!! What a statement ❤
Last time my brother helped me move 70% of it was books. At one point he turned around and said “you realize Amazon makes a F- Kindle, right” 😂 I have since moved into a house without a library and now try to use my kindle and when I finish a book take it to work. I only kept my signed first editions and antique books.
I do love a good book clear out.... to make space for more! 😂 I have a lot of books and I love your collection. Totally with you on trying to be a classics girlie, I just couldn't get into any, but I find it easier to listen to classics on audio. Love a historical fiction though!❤
Please tell me you read The Turn of The Key before you donated it! It was so good. I’m also a huge Neil Gaiman fan 😊 You did a beautiful job with your space. It looks amazing and so do you! I loved your outfit and makeup on this video.
Lol this is my first video I've ever watched of yours & the instant you said the internet wants you to declutter and "don't tell me what to do" I was like HELLO FELLOW AUTISTIC READER WITH Pathological Demand Avoidance!! ... and less than a minute later you mentioned being neurodivergent. Hehe. I see you.
If you like Jane Eyre, with a side-order of Wuthering Heights, try Pride and Prejudice. Do NOT watch any TV/film versions UNTIL you have read it! I re-read it every few years and my Darcy is aging with me; his hair is mostly silver now...
Amazing transformation!! I absolutely love it all!! 😃 Books are one of my favorite things and I’ve purged a ton over the years. I currently have quite a few books but we have room for them. I plan on adding more books to our library too. Thanks for sharing. 🌷
Thank you for posting this. It's giving me the strength to tackle my sewing stash and finally declutter a bit! I really appreciate your cleaning videos because each time, they remind me that it's not the end of the world when things get cluttered and messy in my apartment. There is always the chance to clean and organize, no matter how bad I think things get. Your mantle looks absolutely divine at the end of this!
I have two awesome books that were published in 1937/38. They are 'The Household Searchlight Recipe Book' and 'The Household Searchlight Homemaking Guide'. These would be hard to part with
Classics are written differently than our modern books. People talked different, they cared about different things, and a lot of the times authors of the time filled their books with excessive detail that modern readers (myself included if I'm being honest) find daunting. Like, Dickens got paid by the WORD! Of course his books are huge. I have a handful of classics I enjoy, but everyone has different tastes. I don't enjoy romance books, but I love horror. My girlfriend hates horror and loves romance. Is one of us wrong? No, we just have different tastes.
You did a GREAT JOB! I don't know how you did it with your big family and all you already do. The wallpaper looks good and I loved the cut out one. I liked your "look" at the beginning. Your hair looked real pretty down. ❤
Omg, Gorgeous! And the books too 😄 Ps: the rainbow thing is only for people who look at their books, but never read them... I love how you organized!!!
I love whenever you do book related videos🥰 Lol as a booktuber myself that will always be my favorite😂 I loved the way everything turned out! And lol I totally understand when people tell you to get rid of books, my TBR is currently at 418 and my family is always telling me I don't need that many books🤣🤣 (My man is supportive though, he's always like "wow babe, you got a lot of books! Wanna go to the bookstore?"🤣🤣)
I sort by genre and author too. I read mostly SF and Fantasy with some historical. I like a romantic subplot. I enjoy Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Anne Rinaldi, Ann Bishop
I really liked Wuthering Heights and Dracula. I actually loved Dracula and after I read it looked all the movies up and was so disappointed. No one did I enjoyed, so much so many o couldn’t watch more than ten minutes.
I love the wallpaper. Instead of cutting out more flowers and putting them randomly around, you could just cut out one more and put it over the right window molding to balance it out. Or not. It's hardly noticeable. And I would paint the fireplace bricks the same green color as in the wallpaper background. Stacking books on their side is actually much healthier for the book's spine. I would love a library like yours.
I too have a love of books. When the pandemic started i cleaned out my pantry, cupboards etc. then it was book time and i dragged my feet. It ended up being fantastic though. I love Jane Austin, cook books, historical and my Agatha Christy. I need up getting rid of over 100 books and i can now find my favorites to read more often. For your eldest daughter maybe the secret garden. That was always a favorite of mine. I love the wall paper it reminds me of William Morris. It so bright yet cozy.
Good rule for decluttering, including books: anything you do with the books/stuff leaving your home is FINE. Even if it’s to the trash bin. It’s hard enough for b my any of us to clean/declutter without being paralyzed by some moral judgment about where the stuff is going. Just get it out and pat yourself on the back.
I have hundreds of vintage (all pre 1980) cookbooks/booklets that I'm currently decluttering...it's so hard. I've also tried reading the classics and they are not it. Not because of problematic authors etc, they're just flat out boring and because I don't talk how they're written, my brain continuously trips and I have to reread sentences multiple times. It's just not fun.
Great job! I still have 20 boxes of books I have not been able to unpack because we moved into a smaller house. Books are my favorite thing in the world. It is extremely hard for me to let them go. You did an awesome job on the wallpaper and the placement of the books!
Wayfair has this pattern. More reasonable than Amazon. Free shipping. You could buy two sheets of that cling film or peel and stick stainglass type. We bought some for our glass squares in a door and love it. Just measure well and take time to get the bubbles out.
I will never get rid of my books! Ever! And I d c what people say, internet or other wise! I love your books, I love your personality and you rock! Keep being you ❤
If anyone is curious about the book counts:
504 books, not including kids books, were on the shelves before I decluttered. 567 books if you count kids’ books. I got rid of 118 books, which means I am left with 386 books… or 429 if we count kids’ books 😂🎉
Good job 👍🏽
You’re amazing 💕
🎉🎉🎉 amazing ❤
Well done! That must feel so nice!
If you haven't already watched the BBC version of Neverwhere - Highly reccomend!
Librarian here: I would recommend NOT donating your collection to the library. 99% of library donations end up being discarded or given to Better World Books or nursing homes. Better to sell your items to Half Price Books so you can at least get some cash for them.
Oh thank you for this tip!
@@WithLoveKristinaalso I see bundles on Etsy or eBay for sale
If the internet told me I needed to get rid of my books, I would tell the internet to go do what Aura and Duke were working towards. 🤭
Not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but check out Microcosm Publishing! They are great!
Oops, didn’t mean for that to be in reply to this comment. 🙃🤦🏻♀️
Thought you might be interested in how I deal with my books. I separate the books I've read from the ones I haven't read. I only put books I have read and I like on my bookcase. If I didn't like them they get donated. Books I haven't read get put into a box and it gets backed away but in easy reach. When I want a new book to read I sit and rummage through the box till I find something. Eventually things either get read or They say in the box so long that I realise I'm never going to read this so I donate it
This is a great method!
This is so genius! I need to try it out soon
Same. Books don't get shelved until they've been read and deemed worthy of keeping.
Love this idea!
I do something similar: I have a dedicated shelf where the unread books go. I put them in backwards and chose at random what I am gonna read next. If it's something I do not want to read I put it back and pick again. If I put a book back 5 times it gets donated because obviously it's not something I am going to read. (I have a list for this that)
I'm a book lover. At its peak, my book collection was over 1,000. And I didn't want to part with any of them. And most of them were unread.
Until the real estate problem as you said, hit me. I faced the reality : I had the choice of decluttering or ending my life drowned in books. So I took the same courageous decision as you did, but I allowed myself a much longer period of time to complete it.
The first round was books I had read. If I was sure I would not read them again, they were gone.
The second category to go were unread books I was sure I would never read.
That left me with the third round, which has been my actual phase for several years : 700+ books to go through, one at a time. I see my bookshelves like a library. Each time I finish a book, I make a decision : keep or donate. Most are donated. Then I choose a new one, according to my mood, and begin to read it. If I don't like it, I don't feel compelled to finish it and put it in the donate pile. It's a slow process : in 2023, I was able to get rid of only 47 books (out of the 68 I read). But I made some pretty good discoveries in the journey.
And I think that, like in any decluttering project, what counts is not how many things you got rid of, but just to make sure that anything that you don't want or need doesn't stay in your house.
I'm happy that you like your new bookish part of the living room, and can't wait until you show us your new project for the other wall.
You're doing wonderful at it. And a different way to help us make decisions as well. Thanks 😊
Book lovers know that books make a home. They can get out of control, but that's okay, because they are like clothes and when they have served their purpose they can be let go. Books don't have to go if they simply give you a warm feeling. WOW. Well, done. Loved all the help, because you do make a home.
"i don't wanna because - don't tell me what to do" - what a MOOD!!
Like listen 😂 I already have mild pathological demand avoidance going on it’s not helpinggggg
@@WithLoveKristinalove you❤❤❤
What helped me to declutter books was to divide them into two categories: Books I would read again and books I would not read again. I was able to donate 150 books to a used bookstore that raises money for adult literacy. Win/Win!
The Jane Eyre book has a companion book with the same cover, Wuthering Heights. I found them on my parent's bookcase and placed them on mine, around age 6. I'm 74 now and still have them. They are treasures to me.
Retired Preschool Teacher/Child Care owner here...I gave away 2,000 Children's Books a few years ago. I had them in a wall length bookcase my lovely daughter made for me...and now my books lovingly live there. I don't let anyone tell me how many books are too much my dear. That is up to you. I have books because I love them.
Keep all the books you love...Even if you have more than one copy
Yes yes what you said!!! ❤❤❤
For the vintage magazines, you might be able to use comic book boxes and sleeves! They come in all shapes and sizes so you might be able to find some stuff that will fit them!
This is a good idea!
"Going around the windows was a bit sketchy, but I don't care".
I feel this in my SOUL!
Nobody is going to be close enough to notice 😂😂😂 it’s fiiiiine
The part of the internet shaming you for your book collection can take a long walk off a short pier! There is nothing wrong with having books or enjoying books. Books make life bearable 😂
Amen! 👏 👏 👏
Nothing wrong with purging things that you no longer want or need. It is refreshing. It is also OK to go through different phases of reading. I have been through many...self help, non-fiction, and numerous fiction genres. No matter what phase you are in...to all...just enjoy!!! It is perfectly fine. I (for some crazy reason) even enjoy watching videos like this of people straightening shelves. :) I also mostly buy Book of the Month...but also know they can promote some I am not interested in. So I do book stores too, of course :)
True. Preferences are often an organic thing, they change with time
I love that you followed your last minute idea to wallpaper the wall. So beautiful! Such enchanted library in the forest vibes ✨
OMG, I can relate to this so hard. Books, books, books!! I have so many books that "I am going to read one day", and while I do read, I am not a speedy enough reader to get through my hoard of books, and yet when my library has a sale twice a year, I am there to fill my bag up. It's an addiction!
I suggest trying to listen to one of the classics on audible. Most of them are free anyway. I find it easier to listen to things I can't other wise read. Just a thought 😊
I love books…I purchase the ones I can be “friends” with. I DO love the classics lol. And I mourn because modern writing doesn’t compare IMO. My favorites are Wuthering Heights, The Age of Innocence, and Vanity Fair. My sister helped me move once and to this day can’t get over the fact that I keep books and re read them. But in a GOOD book then you keep finding new ideas or ways of seeing the story that you didn’t see before. Love the wallpaper!! ❤
I just went through my books and only forwarded mine to new homes, if I had read them or if I had doubles. I find a lot of joy in my books. Do NOT let others dictate your joy. They will get over it or they can move on.
Have a beautiful blessed day ❤
Every few years, I'll cull my books and remove things I no longer want... but I still have several thousand physical books... I guess my point is, you've done a phenomenal job streamlining your library!
The wallpaper elevates the space so much. And the mirror is such an elegant and cozy finishing touch. Love the green books that complement the wallpaper. It’s so inspiring. I really should have my own re-de-book-cluttering and this video empowers me to do so.
Haven’t finished watching yet but I SO wanted the sponsor of this video to be Book of the Month for the sweet, sweet irony!
Also, Internet, STOP TELLING PEOPLE WHAT TO DO! Geez, you are not the boss of us!!
I have such a deep affection for you and how real and vulnerable you are. Anyone who loves the written word knows how hard it is to let go of books in one’s collection. I’m so proud of you for making room in your life and home for things to come.
Also, the wallpaper compliments the tones of your woodwork so well! You did a fantastic job!
❤❤❤👍
Your kitty helping reminds me of Dewey the Library cat 😊William Morris prints are so beautiful.
I recently decluttered my home because I’m nesting, my books was the hardest thing for me to declutter!😢 but knowing others will get enjoyment out of them now makes me happy❤
I’m sending several friends book mail and it’s the best thing ever!
Very nice! I adore the wallpaper! Many artists will purposefully leave a mistake in their work. So, I think your flower out of place will be your "signature" Lol
I love this and as an artist I will 100% adopt that as my signature 😂
I put a wallpaper border in my old kitchen and some of it I put up with the flowers going up and some down. You had to look hard to see the mistakes! 😂
Im SO SO glad your not one of those people that turn your books around to show only the pages and not the spines! I love the colors of the rainbow! Looks great! Loved seeing your kitties and kids too. Good job.
Yes!! I love these kinds of videos❤️
It looks so nice and homey. The shelves look purposeful rather than cluttered. I had a hard time getting rid of books but so glad I did
Wow, I’m so jealous of your book collection! I love your style it’s so cozy❤ I especially liked that you left the wallpaper “mistakes” in because sometimes I feel like I can’t do something perfect so I don’t even try because it’s too overwhelming if that makes sense.
Thank you! And yes, I've entered the era of "it's ok if there's a mistake nobody's gonna notice anyway" lol. You literally have to get up on a chair to even be close to this wall so it's fiiiine ;)
I so relate to the overwhelm and to not trying..
So my best way for vintage magazine storage is a bread box. I collect vintage bread boxes and have found quite a few that are large enough to store my own collection of knitting pattern magazines. Hope you are having a bright day darling one.
My mother in law was an avid reader and had a whole room full of books my father in law put shelves from top to bottom for her. over 3k books (i think) from 1890s till 1990s and as i love books i inherited it all, 2 years ago. It took me 10 months to sort them all out. I kept probably around 300 to 400. Rest, were either recycled, sold, gave away,reused for packaging etc. I loved sorting them out it was like a Christmas for me,every time when i was sorting them out. Watching you remined me of the whole process.😅 love from chester (the orignal one 😉 ) the uk 🇬🇧
Please, please please choose carefully which books to keep and which books to discard. One never knows what effect a book will have on a person's life.
I'm an old lady now. As a teenager, I wanted to go to college and become a librarian. At 18, I wasn't allowed to finish my first semester at a two--year local community college and was told by my father and stepmother that I had to get a job instead. However I did meet my now-husband there and got married after a few years , (We've been married for 50+ years!)
A few years later, our son was born. I was a stay at home mom until he started kindergarten. He was always very interested in books. He loved to go to the library. Because he could write his name, he was able to get his library card when he wad three years old. He liked to go to museums.
One day I dropped off our son at school and then went to a nearby thrift store. I noticed an old paperback book that had been printed in the '50s. It was about the languages of the world and how they developed.. I have been interested in languages for most of my life, so I bought it and read it. I thought it was interesting and informative. I would re- read it maybe every year or two.
Our son did very well in school. He could read before he started kindergarten at a public school. By the end of first grade, he was reading at fifth grade level. He got good grades in all academic areas. His first grade teacher was very good. But his second grade teacher refused our request to have him tested so he could transfer into a gifted class or at least skip him into third grade. The second grade teacher also put him into a situation where he was being bullied, He became unhappy. He was bored at school. We took him out of public school and enrolled him in a very good Lutheran school from third grade through seventh, where he was happy and active in school, including music lessons andi participation in school orchestra.
When we moved and my son transferred schools for eighth grade, he was required to take a foreign language class. He asked me for advice on which language to choose (between French or Spanish.) I talked to him a little about both languages and the Romance languages in general. I told him that it would his decision to make. I also suggested that he might like to read an old paperback book I had about languages. He read the book. He made his decision to take French. He was -- and still is -- extremely intelligent and received top grades in school.. Besides foreign languages, he also was interested in computers and took computer classes starting in middle school.
He excelled in foreign languages in middle and high schools. When he attended university, he had double majors and earned Bachelors Degrees Summa Cum Laude in French and Linguistics, H received a full scholarship to a notable mid-western university where he got his Masters Degree in Linguistics.
He has written books about computer lprogramming languages which were published by a well-known technical book publisher.
For almost thirty years, he has combined his abilities with computers and linguistics to assist with language preservation projects both in the U.S.A. and in Canada.
Recently I've been thinning out my book and cookbook collections. Some of them were donated to thrift stores, but my friends had first choice. I no lomger watch cooking shows on TV, and no longer buy expensive cookbooks byTV chefs. I have saved recipes that we rlove to eat, and i keep them sorted in three-ring notebooks. I am keeping my small collections of antique and vintage cookbooks/cooking ephemera, and antique/ vintage children's books.
A few weeks ago i looked for the old paperback languages book, but couldn't find it. My son probably has it.
But remember: It all started with reading a book.
Hi Janet. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. It is just lovely and makes such a welcome change to read a post on TH-cam that holds meaning. Thank you for writing it. Yours, Beth
Haven't even watched the video yet. But I read the title and thought Nooooo, not the books!!!!! LOL, as a maximalist and avid reader, it hurts my soul!!! LOL But as a homeschooling mom who has lived in small spaces and has had to move across the country many times, I have had to downsize many times. But it still hurts
Don’t worry I only got rid of stuff I know I’ll never read, and most of the “display” books I purged weren’t very old 😂
I feel this though.
I was 45 when I was 8. I was handed my dyslexia and ADHD diagnoses. When I was 30, I got autism added to the ever growing list. I really enjoy your channel because my home is never perfect 😅. I love all things vintage as well. So, thank you for a slice of real life for real people.
There’s no such thing as too many books, people who tell you that are not your friends-I have a library of 75,000 books and counting and not going to declutter any of them-these are curated books from childrens books-like the little golden books to antique books to first editions and Collectables, science, history, literature, etc. I enjoyed your video-it was fun to watch.❤
75000 books. That is amazing! How does your house look? Bookshelves everywhere?
Jane Eyre was one of the few classics I enjoyed as well. I do also like most of the Austen novels and ALL of the Dumas books. Dostoevsky is hard.
It is important to have books. Books of knowledge. Books of entertainment. The grid is fragile. Literacy is directly proportional to flourishing society. If you can learn about things other people learned the hard way, you can take the next step. Sharing ideas. Staving off boredom. Shared enjoyment with loved ones. Books save lives. I can appreciate passing along books that don't serve my family but book shaming shouldn't be a thing.
Good rule for decluttering, including books: anything you do with the books/stuff leaving your home is FINE. Even if it’s to the trash bin. It’s hard enough for b my any of us to clean/declutter without being paralyzed by some moral judgment about where the stuff is going. Just get it out and pat yourself on the back.
Such a beautiful transformation! Definitely leveled up the whole space!
I absolutely love how your room turned out it looks incredible!
Also I love how you mix yous styles/ interests to come out with something so uniquely YOU❤
The baby moment at the end was so cute oh my gosh 😆 It all looks beautiful! I saw another comment saying not to donate to libraries because they just get dumped but my library has a big book sale every year and you can donate to that and the funds go towards the library programming so check if any of the libraries near you have something similar!
I'm also not a classics lover, for the most part.... Tried being the chic lady with horn-rimmed glasses, reading The Count of Monte Cristo over a teeny espresso in a cafe , but that's not true to who I am. Give me my weird speculative fiction anyday
I am hoping to someday have a library by online standards (I keep seeing posts that I need 1000) books, but I still declutter regularly because I only want to keep what I love. Books are def the hardest for me to part with
If you have one book, you have a library. 😊
Really appreciate seeing a decluttering video focused on books! I love books to bits, but I have a very low threshold for visual clutter and seeing an abundance of never-read books on mine and others' shelves always feels a little sad (I feel that books Want to be read; they exist to share stories and information and ideas, after all). Whenever I watch decluttering videos that would include a book category, it seems like books are either omitted entirely or simply given a carte blanche pass (because books aren't considered clutter maybe? never really understood the why for this), so it's really nice to finally find a whole video devoted to decluttering books! And you did such a great job!!! Everything looks so tidy and pleasant, and the books look fresh and happy in their homes! Not to mention that wallpaper; it's gorgeous!
Loved the video (as I adore all your videos)! Two things - I am delighted you had your winter greenery up past December. This year we made a choice to keep our tree and fairy lights up until DST this past weekend. It helped immensely with my SAD, so I'm on the train to keep up the winter decor until Spring starts to appear. I also want to "second" you on the desire to be a Classics reader, but find a lot of it to be a drudgery. From what you listed, it may be more you are a Gothic/Romantic (w/ a big R) reader (mid-19th century-current), like myself and less smitten with the Victorians or other time periods/genres. I'd be a bad librarian not to give a recommend based off your love of 'Jane Eyre' - - 'A Long Fatal Love Chase' if you haven't read it already. It is a book by Louisa May Alcott but its a Gothic Thriller Romance and was published after her death.
The BBC did a television series of Neverwhere back in 1996 which is stunning. Peter Capaldi played Islington. You should be able to get the DVD still. There is also a BBC Radio 4 audio adaptation if you have a VPN or a way to get onto BBC Sounds.
Yes, I liked it, too.
You did such a great job! I love the wallpaper and the books are arranged so beautifully! ❤❤❤
Great video! And oh my goodness, your cat is so stinking cute!!!
Haha he’s a sweet baby!
I really love the wallpaper, much more than the dark green. You did an amazing job. Thanks again for encouraging me to do more.
That looked so amazing at the end, don't worry about the wallpaper, it looks perfect! I love how it came out and it clearly makes you so happy!! Yay!
I am currently reading through my bookshelf so that I can declutter. My only problem is I don’t want to declutter hahaha. I read all different genres and collect beautiful books/antique books. I probably have around 3000 books in my basement hahaha.
Fabulous mantle glow up! The mantle and shelves are such a beautiful feature in your home, and it looks lovely!
Love your channel, you inspire me . I used to have the Siamese cat lamp, I don’t remember what became of it. Lovely
Beowulf! Love it. It was hard for me to go through my books as well... I didn't get rid of too many the first time around, but decluttering is getting easier for me. The next time around I'm sure I'll be getting rid of a lot more. Good luck! Love and light to you and your family. Keep up the good work.
I have so much respect for you letting go of so many books! I just did the same and it was so hard. My goal was to get rid of the books that no longer serve me. That still left me with a lot of books (maybe a hundred or so), but I truly believe the written word is worth keeping. My dream is to have a office/library room someday hahaha. But I want those books to actually serve a purpose in my life and/or the lives of others. And that wallpaper is gorgeous! *extra edited note...we have the same red/green vase! hahahaha
I feel so seen because I only took down my Christmas decorations today 🫣
Just loved this video. Your outfits were awesome. Pumpkin is adorable. The ending was great 👍. It made me laugh with you. Life happens.
I own eight or nine 6ft, one 5ft, and two three-section barrister bookcases (technically I own four, only two have books currently). Granted, I do have the space for them. But, I will happily growl at anyone who says I have too many books, and I feel the same regarding anyone who tries to bully someone else into getting rid of their books.
Hopefully this is an effort that you wanted to undertake, and not something you felt pressured to do.
@bellablue5285 yes! What you said and me too! As for Kristina, hard for me to picture her bowing to internet pressure. ❤ More likely she needs space for her sweet family. 🎉
13 minutes in and I have to ask, perhaps you haven't seen the BBC miniseries Neverwhere? Or you have, but just don't consider it good?
I have seen the BBC one and I liked it! But I want a newer one 😂 give me Neverwhere with Good Omens production!
New to the channel so maybe you already know, but be careful of colorful old books. You said you loved them (and I do too, so pretty!), but I've learned that to make colorful books in the past they used toxic substances like arsenic for green books. So be wary of that! It would have to older old books though haha.
Haha I am very aware of the arsenic books! They’re all rarely touched and stored out of reach of littles!
I loved your bookshelves, I have my own home library as well. I read Christian & Classics mainly, I love Jane Austen & Charles Dickens. I also put my books in genre & authors, I get so irritated when I see people put their books by color for some reason. I also love to collect antique books.i had gotten rid of books that I didn't read years ago then regretted it afterwards & now are trying to rebuy them again 😅. I also love your dresses as well.
Such a great time for you and all your books....the wall paper looks amazing....You look so pretty in not only red but also in the yellow, light orange and spring colored dress...All the best to you and your family...Melanie Fay...PS....I enjoy following you and am always inspired to "do better".
It looks SO good!
I really love the look of books mixed on the shelf vertically and horisontaly. But it does make it more difficult to sort them in the way I want becourse then size batters too.
I have a whole 4m x 2m wall with books on bookshelves... so trust me - you do not have to many books, it just have to fit the space you have for them...
On selfpublicing do remember that even good books do not sell them selves.
Selfpublicing is easy - the difficult part is promotion and actually selling the finnished books...
Your channel makes me feel like I'm hanging out with a dear friend. ❤ Discovering that we share a favourite book is like a cherry on top! 😘
Just want to say that I LOVE you and you’re videos. Beautiful, genuine in every way. Thank You for being you xx
As a fellow maximalist, writer and book lover…The struggle is real. But I absolutely LOVE how the wallpaper turned out! It’s so beautiful!! What a statement ❤
Beautiful! Love the wallpaper! Great job decluttering the books. Thank you for sharing with us.
It looks beautiful and I love how your children were helping, I love the mirror and the wallpaper you did an amazing job.
Last time my brother helped me move 70% of it was books. At one point he turned around and said “you realize Amazon makes a F- Kindle, right” 😂
I have since moved into a house without a library and now try to use my kindle and when I finish a book take it to work. I only kept my signed first editions and antique books.
"I want to like classic authors but I just...don't" Same. SAAAAAAAAME!
I do love a good book clear out.... to make space for more! 😂 I have a lot of books and I love your collection. Totally with you on trying to be a classics girlie, I just couldn't get into any, but I find it easier to listen to classics on audio. Love a historical fiction though!❤
You did a lovely job on the room!! The wallpaper looks great!
Girl, keep going with that story because I was like “keep diving dangerously” 😂😂 where are we going, ma’am, because I’ll follow like a lost puppy 🐾🐾
Lol I have NO idea where that story was going 😂
For magazines, put the whole magazine in a page protector (if they aren’t too thick) and then into binders. You can sort by genre.
Please tell me you read The Turn of The Key before you donated it! It was so good. I’m also a huge Neil Gaiman fan 😊 You did a beautiful job with your space. It looks amazing and so do you! I loved your outfit and makeup on this video.
Yes I did! I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending but overall it was good!
@@WithLoveKristina yes I agree! But I just love all of the creepiness leading up to the end😊
Lol this is my first video I've ever watched of yours & the instant you said the internet wants you to declutter and "don't tell me what to do" I was like HELLO FELLOW AUTISTIC READER WITH Pathological Demand Avoidance!! ... and less than a minute later you mentioned being neurodivergent. Hehe. I see you.
If you like Jane Eyre, with a side-order of Wuthering Heights, try Pride and Prejudice. Do NOT watch any TV/film versions UNTIL you have read it! I re-read it every few years and my Darcy is aging with me; his hair is mostly silver now...
Amazing transformation!! I absolutely love it all!! 😃 Books are one of my favorite things and I’ve purged a ton over the years. I currently have quite a few books but we have room for them. I plan on adding more books to our library too. Thanks for sharing. 🌷
Thank you for posting this. It's giving me the strength to tackle my sewing stash and finally declutter a bit! I really appreciate your cleaning videos because each time, they remind me that it's not the end of the world when things get cluttered and messy in my apartment. There is always the chance to clean and organize, no matter how bad I think things get. Your mantle looks absolutely divine at the end of this!
I have two awesome books that were published in 1937/38. They are 'The Household Searchlight Recipe Book' and 'The Household Searchlight Homemaking Guide'. These would be hard to part with
As an avid reader of all eras and genres, I cannot relate to someone who unilaterally dismisses all classics of all genres across all eras. What ???
Classics are written differently than our modern books. People talked different, they cared about different things, and a lot of the times authors of the time filled their books with excessive detail that modern readers (myself included if I'm being honest) find daunting. Like, Dickens got paid by the WORD! Of course his books are huge. I have a handful of classics I enjoy, but everyone has different tastes. I don't enjoy romance books, but I love horror. My girlfriend hates horror and loves romance. Is one of us wrong? No, we just have different tastes.
You did a GREAT JOB! I don't know how you did it with your big family and all you already do. The wallpaper looks good and I loved the cut out one.
I liked your "look" at the beginning. Your hair looked real pretty down. ❤
Omg, Gorgeous! And the books too 😄
Ps: the rainbow thing is only for people who look at their books, but never read them... I love how you organized!!!
I love whenever you do book related videos🥰 Lol as a booktuber myself that will always be my favorite😂 I loved the way everything turned out! And lol I totally understand when people tell you to get rid of books, my TBR is currently at 418 and my family is always telling me I don't need that many books🤣🤣 (My man is supportive though, he's always like "wow babe, you got a lot of books! Wanna go to the bookstore?"🤣🤣)
I sort by genre and author too.
I read mostly SF and Fantasy with some historical. I like a romantic subplot.
I enjoy Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Anne Rinaldi, Ann Bishop
I love love the wallpaper you did a awesome job now you just need to make some curtains
I really liked Wuthering Heights and Dracula. I actually loved Dracula and after I read it looked all the movies up and was so disappointed. No one did I enjoyed, so much so many o couldn’t watch more than ten minutes.
Wow. I know I need to do this but I have procrastinated going through my books, too. This was an unexpected video but worth the reminder! 🥰
🙋♀️❤ Obviously, kitty is traumatized and wants to keep the books! 😊 Yhe wallpaper is lovely! Very you!!
I love the wallpaper. Instead of cutting out more flowers and putting them randomly around, you could just cut out one more and put it over the right window molding to balance it out. Or not. It's hardly noticeable. And I would paint the fireplace bricks the same green color as in the wallpaper background. Stacking books on their side is actually much healthier for the book's spine. I would love a library like yours.
I live very close to the site of Wuthering Heights and Haworth where the Brontes lived. It’s a fabulous place. You should come and visit.
It's beautiful. You works around the boo-boos in a creative way and it absolutely wonderful! Keep on doing what you do.
I too have a love of books. When the pandemic started i cleaned out my pantry, cupboards etc. then it was book time and i dragged my feet. It ended up being fantastic though. I love Jane Austin, cook books, historical and my Agatha Christy. I need up getting rid of over 100 books and i can now find my favorites to read more often. For your eldest daughter maybe the secret garden. That was always a favorite of mine. I love the wall paper it reminds me of William Morris. It so bright yet cozy.
Oh I’m so relieved, I don’t like classic authors either! 🙈😂 I kept trying and I felt like something was wrong with me ahahah
Good rule for decluttering, including books: anything you do with the books/stuff leaving your home is FINE. Even if it’s to the trash bin. It’s hard enough for b my any of us to clean/declutter without being paralyzed by some moral judgment about where the stuff is going. Just get it out and pat yourself on the back.
I have hundreds of vintage (all pre 1980) cookbooks/booklets that I'm currently decluttering...it's so hard.
I've also tried reading the classics and they are not it. Not because of problematic authors etc, they're just flat out boring and because I don't talk how they're written, my brain continuously trips and I have to reread sentences multiple times. It's just not fun.
Great job! I still have 20 boxes of books I have not been able to unpack because we moved into a smaller house. Books are my favorite thing in the world. It is extremely hard for me to let them go. You did an awesome job on the wallpaper and the placement of the books!
Everything looks fantastic!! Great job!!❤
Wayfair has this pattern. More reasonable than Amazon. Free shipping. You could buy two sheets of that cling film or peel and stick stainglass type. We bought some for our glass squares in a door and love it. Just measure well and take time to get the bubbles out.
By the way, I think you should paint around the fireplace navy blue. I think that would really make it! It looks sooo nice 😊 good job!
I will never get rid of my books! Ever! And I d c what people say, internet or other wise!
I love your books,
I love your personality and you rock! Keep being you ❤