Is it Clutter or a Collection?

Many homes have too many books for the space provided, but Ann’s home was different. There were lots of books and plenty of space for them. Yet, Ann felt overwhelmed by the books for good reason. Towers of hard cover books lined the staircase, down the hall, across the guest room’s bureau and floor. They wrapped around two bureaus in the master bedroom, and traveled up the stairs again, and across the third floor hallway.  

Are the books clutter?

Ann, whose books are these? My husband’s; they are all first edition, signed copies. Does he actually read all these books? Yup - almost every one. Would you say that he loved them? Yes, unfortunately.

What do you think about all these books?

I’m sick of them. I’m glad he’s home reading instead of out running around, but he knows I don’t like them, but doesn’t do anything. He’s too busy working 50-60 hour weeks, and then he comes home and reads much of the time. He doesn’t hang out with me and the kids as much as I would like. I can’t touch them so I just put up with it now.

Mmmm… Obviously there were some issues here, but I brought the attention back to the books.

What would you like him to do? I don’t’ know. Get rid of them.

One person’s clutter can be another person’s collection.

The books are Ann’s clutter, but her husband’s collection. We can’t get rid of the books. You do not remove other people’s things without their permission unless they are too young to participate (under 7-10, depending on child), mentally disabled or dead.

Since he loves them, uses them, and there is room for them, he has the right to keep his books.

The problem was that the books didn’t have a home, and Ann felt trapped, in part, because they were everywhere. Ann needed a library, and fortunately I knew there was space on the top floor.

With new-found energy, Ann followed me up the stairs, running two at a time.

On the third floor was a well-lit room with a bureau and a single bed (for guests who don’t come that often). There was plenty of room for the books and a comfortable reading chair. We rearranged the room and took measurements for new bookshelves. Voila, a library in the making!

The solution seemed obvious, but feeling alone and overwhelmed, Ann couldn’t take action. Her husband was willing to move the books, recognizing the benefits to him, and gradually the books were put in their proper place. It took awhile, but without getting rid of one book, Ann got rid of her clutter.

ClutterClarity Tips

If you pay attention to your feelings, you may love books, but you don’t love each book the same. To prevent feeling overwhelmed, pick one shelf, and pull out one book at a time. You will be able to let go of some easily – more easily than you thought. Pay attention to the criteria of your decisions – never read, never will, love and keep, I’m not interested in this subject any more…

With budget cuts, local libraries really need your books.

Save money and have some fun by creating “in-home lending libraries” with the books you keep. If you want a new book, borrow one from friends instead of automatically buying one. Knowing the book is leaving your home, you may actually decide to give the book away instead of just lend it.

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