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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Has anyone ever decluttered and regretted it (books particularly)?

55 replies

MuffinMclay · 29/04/2008 19:47

I'm a great hoarder of books (have approx 5000), most of which are double-stacked on horrible Ikea bookshelves in our sitting/dining room. They looked nice in our old house, where the shelves fitted perfectly into various alcoves but here the overall effect is awful.

I'm in the process of redecorating and am sorely tempted to get rid of most of them and try being a bit more minimalist (apart from all ds1's coloured plastic tat, obviously).

Will I regret it? The alternative is to put them all into boxes in the attic for a year or so until we move to somewhere bigger.

I don't need most of them, but it feels wrong to let go.

OP posts:

nell12 · 29/04/2008 19:52

I agree; I could never get rid of books and I have thousands of the buggers too. The problem is, if they get boxed up and go into the attic, they will probably never surface again.

This still does not mean you should get rid of them

Lauriefairycake · 29/04/2008 19:52

I wouldn't and have just as many. When I have put a bag of paperbacks together for the charity shop I have regretted it and have at least once wanted to reread something I've given away.

I'm selling my house so have most of them in the loft and when I move I am planning a fully fitted room for them.

brimfull · 29/04/2008 19:52

I'm like you I find it very difficult to throw books away for some reason.

I have no problem throwing other stuff away.

I decluttered some yrs ago now and gave away loads of dd's books,some of mine and really regret that now.
If I were you I would store most and only throw the crap away if there is any.

JackieNo · 29/04/2008 19:55

Why not get rid of any that are classics, so you can easily get from library/buy again if you decide you want to read again and any that you know you won't read again. Maybe ask the library if they want them, so if you do want to read them again, you know they'll be there.

nell12 · 29/04/2008 19:55

I tried to have a big de-clutter of books a couple of weeks back. I resolutely strode into the spare room (full of bookcases) with a charity sack in my hand...

I got rid of 2 books

I can't even bear to part with dh's military crap!

charliecat · 29/04/2008 19:56

yes my old nancy drews dds would have loved

redadmiral · 29/04/2008 19:59

GET RID OF THEM. I am exactly the same. Books are precious objects, etc.

I've got rid of loads of mine and it's nothing but a relief. I don't miss ANY of them, and even the few I hung onto I haven't looked at since. You can get the from the library or buy one again if you really want to read it.

My tip is to do it in stages.. Comb through and take 20% out, see how much more room you've got, them do some more later, and so on. You'll be liberated!

tissy · 29/04/2008 20:01

I have thousands of books too, mostly crime novels . I recently had to box up all my books while the back of the house was flattened for an extension. Just got them all back (mostly Ikea Billy shelves, too ), and decided to declutter, as I acquired more books while the build was going on, and still don't have enough shelves . I could only bear to get rid of duplicates, so about six went to the charity shop. Funny thing is, I know there must be another box at least knocking around somewhere, but blowed if I can find it!

redadmiral · 29/04/2008 20:02

I bought a Nancy Drew book from Amazon the other day. It was £2 or £3 I think. And when my DD1 reads it the binding won't fall apart because it's so ancient. Think of the rent you are paying for each square foot of space the books are taking up and compare with the cost of replacing the one or two that you might need to replace.

redadmiral · 29/04/2008 20:03

HOW can you reread crime novels?

Shitemum · 29/04/2008 20:05

I got rid of all my novels last year except the Ian McEwan and A.S. Byatt ones and just kept reference books. I don't regret it tho I've always thought books should be kept and that even if you don't read them again they make good 'wallpaper'! I never re-read novels and I was just lending them to friends so why keep them?
You can aways get the classics again.
And just think - it'll free up space for new purchases!

expatinscotland · 29/04/2008 20:06

i got rid of all my books but cookbooks and ten other books of both fiction and non-fiction.

no choice. we have to move and books are heavy and expensive to move.

NineUnlikelyTales · 29/04/2008 20:06

I have just got rid of several hundred books and it is brilliant. I should have done it years ago. I love books and have always found it hard to get rid of them but honestly, what is the point in making your house unattractive and dusty with books you will not read again? Keep the ones you will read again and useful reference books, etc, plus a few for nostalgia's sake, but pass on the rest and you will be happier for it IMO.

Better still, give them to me for my charity book sale in two weeks

nell12 · 29/04/2008 20:09

How can books make a house look unattractive

charliegal · 29/04/2008 20:13

haven't read the responses but i say do it. I have a very minimalist approach to books despite being a big reader. Everything goes except for the ones I absolutely loved and will read again. I am ruthless and have 3 small book cases. Never ever regretted giving a book away.

brimfull · 29/04/2008 20:14

Books are not unattractive.
I love looking at other peoples bookcases.

brimfull · 29/04/2008 20:15

Houses without bookcases are not right.

charliegal · 29/04/2008 20:17

i find that reverence for books as objects really strange, although reading is my favourite past time.

TheFallenMadonna · 29/04/2008 20:17

Put them in the loft.

We did that when we moved six years ago. We have spent six years in tiny houses, boxes and boxes of books in the loft, and we are finally in a house where we can have enough bookshelves. Rediscovering old favourites is marvellous.

charliegal · 29/04/2008 20:18

but i do agree with you ggirl!

NotQuiteCockney · 29/04/2008 20:18

I do declutter books sometimes, we have far too many.

I did a giant declutter when I moved to the UK, couldn't really afford to ship all my books. I got rid of maybe half my books. I kept things I loved, and things that were hard to replace - I think I regretted getting rid of two or three books, total. That was 12 years ago, nearly.

margoandjerry · 29/04/2008 20:21

Get rid. I am a big reader but I live in a flat that's about 650 sq ft so no room. I got rid of 90%, keeping just the books I felt were important to me. I have about 70 books in the house now.

It's liberating. The first step for me was reading Ralph's Party by Lisa Jewell. I went to put it on the bookshelf after I'd read it and then I thought "that was such a load of crap - why the hell would I want to keep that?" and the scales fell from my eyes.

After that I found it quite easy. A lot of the reason for keeping books is signalling to others that you are well read so talk loudly about all the stuff you've read instead and people will get the point without you having to have an extra room in your house to put them all in.

expatinscotland · 29/04/2008 20:22

not everyone has room for bookcases.

our last flat didn't.

beaniesteve · 29/04/2008 20:23

I know people who think books are 'messy'

I cleared out a few when I moved but still have loads. Working as a bookseller for 7 years means I have loads.

Only get rid of the ones you know you will never want to read again - if you're anything like me that'll be about one box

blousy · 29/04/2008 20:25

I love my books but am very strict and only keep hardbacks, always pass on paperbacks. If a book comes out by an author I love, I'll buy it in hardback to keep.

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