I love books... and I have an obsession with magazines. I can get lost for hours reading and being inspired!
But books and magazines can be a huge source of disorganization and can look so untidy... and get so out of control!
I'm all about organization and finding smart and easy ways to keep my home neat and clutter free!
Here's a couple of easy ways I'm solving the book clutter problem at StoneGable...
My favorite way to contain book clutter is to corral it in baskets... and I especially like books in baskets arranged in bookshelves.
They just look so neat!!!!!
I recently purchased 10 baskets from Pottery Barn Outlet and made number tags for them.
To see these easy to make LARGE NUMBER TAGS click HERE.
I filled each basket with books... the largest books in the back and the smaller ones in the front.
The tops of the books stick out of the baskets and that's okay. The baskets are meant to organize the books but not hide them!
I put books that I want to keep but don't reference often in the higher shelves of my bookcase...
And books I use often... like decorating books... on lower shelves...
When it comes to magazines... I have a big, BIG problem! I love love love them. I collect them. People give magazines to me! I pour over them! I keep them forever and ever!
So, I sorted through my magazines (those that are not torn apart and filed) and put them in fun and sassy magazine holders in the bookshelf!
This is a work in progress! I have a huge stack of mags to go through....
My mantra is "BE RUTHLESS".
Oh, this is so hard when it comes to my beloved 1999 Southern Living mags!
YIKES!
Can you feel my pain?
I also like to organize books in neat stacks and decorate with them.
Here's what's on my family room coffee table right now...
I use a big rectangle basket to keep a stack of decorating books at hand and make a pretty and easy vignette!
This by no means is all of my books or magazines!!!! But, I am tackling my book clutter... one best seller at a time!!!
Remember to
Thank you so much for this Yvonne. Mine are beyond control in both houses and I have to do something soon. Your baskets are so pretty and a lovely decorating addition. I will definitely be trying this.
ReplyDeleteSam
I'm doing the same thing! I'm donating many books to our local library. I'm only keeping those books I think I'll read again!!!
ReplyDeleteI really need to adopt your mantra: Be ruthless!!!
I like the baskets. GREAT idea! I have one basket specifically for books I bought years ago, and I regret not buying more.
xo,
RJ
I am also a 'magazine' junkie. Especially decorating ones. I wish I had the ($$) spent on these...I'd be a rich woman, but, they make me happy. Thanks for your tips.
ReplyDeleteDLB
These baskets are a wonderful solution Yvonne, and I love the look. And what a genius idea for the magazines. I never knew what to do with all my reading material. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain.I love all the decorating magazines,many are now out of publication.I have a ton! My husband totally doesn't get it.He thinks once you read it that it needs to be tossed.Hmmmmm.Why are there so many Pro Bass and Cabela's catalogs hanging around?
ReplyDeleteDebbie
I hear you with the old magazines! There are great ideas to be found in them! I recently started going through mine and tore out pages that I wanted to keep and "my plan" is to put them in sleeves in a binder. For now, they are in a small box and it did cut down on a huge stack! Love those baskets!
ReplyDeleteIf you have the patience you can scan the magazine articles you want to keep and send them to the cloud! Or there are companies that will do this for you for a fee.
ReplyDeleteI am a magazine hoarder...love those decorating ones...can't bring myself to toss them. Love your magazine holders! My daughter would go nuts over the animal print one. Can I ask where you got them and about how many they hold?
ReplyDeleteamandatonar@yahoo.com
What a great idea...I love the baskets and tags. I am in the process of purging some books yet I have to keep a few...ha! I am going to use your ideas. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteXO,
Jane
I am just going in to organize my magazines now...thank you for your wonderful suggestions! Linda
ReplyDeleteWonderful ideas. I end up with way too many magazines! I am on the hunt for some new old antique books tho... I need them for decorating!
ReplyDeleteI have cut back on magazine subscriptions but save ones that I still get. What is a magazine holder and wher did you find them???? I want to get some too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeletePinky, I have found the magazine holders at stationary supply stores as well as IKEA, usually, they hold about 1 yrs worth.....I too have cut back on magazine subscriptions, its gotten too expensive ans so much for free online..I still get 3-4, when they run out,,I'll keep my 2 fav DIY ones and a gardening one
ReplyDeletePinky, my magazine holders came from Ikea. I love all the sassy styles they have!
DeleteLove this decorative and clever way to organize books and magazines! Yvonne your home is gorgeous!
ReplyDeletexx
Anne
You are a girl after my own heart. I love books and mags. I have just culled some of mine and it broke my heart. Al that lovely information, and inspiration. That I wanted to keep forever.
ReplyDeleteI am your long lost twin sister,,, I have to be! Magazines/books/ideas/ inspiration wow that is my weakness...I like the basket idea and love the number tags! I think I will do that one. I am about ready for bookcases in my living room and that set up would be sweet!! Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteIt's even worse when both your husband and you love, I mean "LOVE" books and mags! We sort of solve the problem by buying three beautiful oak bookcases "with doors". We got them at a local unfinished furniture store and they will stain them for you too! They were 3 units and we had the molding to finish them on top so they look like one unit. I love them, it was the best solution . . . but we still find places to collect books and mags, like in the bedroom! We are both trying very hard to minimize the volume, but it's hard. We both love, I mean "LOVE" books, oh, did I already say that? Well, you know what I mean . . . :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea, Mary Jean!
DeleteAhhh, almost forgot . . . I love your ideas too!
ReplyDeleteYvonne,
ReplyDeleteHow could I ever toss my complete set of original Victoria issues? I pull a random one from the bookcase periodically and re-read it. One from April 1996 is lying on the bed with me now. My set of British Country Living reside in a large (trunk size) rattan basket in the living room. I also have random issues from random magazines stored in magazine holders...some from Office Depot, some from Michaels, some from HomeGoods. I keep an eye out for pretty ones whenever I am shopping.
Love how you organized yours!
Judith
Wonderful tips, Yvonne. I'm not a collector of books but do have years of Victoria Magazine and Cat Fancy magazine to somehow keep organized. This is a great idea. Love your blog. It is so, so beautiful. Hugs, Deb
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see you are a magazine and book fanatic like me, too. I would love it if you would do a post on some of your favorite ones. Especially the magazines.
ReplyDelete*Smiles*
What a great idea!!! Thanks!
DeleteThanks for the great idea. I have a night stand that has one drawer on top and a large open space underneath that is full of books. I was in the grocery store yesterday and they had baskets half off and then a coupon for 20% more off, so I got one and it looks just great in that space. Can't get as many books in in, but that will force me to purge a few of them. Again - thanks.
ReplyDeleteHave a Happy and blessed Easter with your family and our Risen Lord!
Cindy
Love the PB baskets. I'm trying to get around to making those tags. Walmart has little gray tubs that I store old decorating magazines in and store them in the closet. I have one labeled Christmas, one for Fall, one for Spring/Summer, and ones for Country French magazine and one labeled "Cottage". I use bright pink duck tape for a label and write on it with markers. They are in the back of the closet, so no one sees them. This is better than getting rid of them.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite post, hands down!! I have all of the Mary Englebreit magazines that were ever printed and all of the Real Simple magazines as well...plus many many others! I have decided this is the year I have to reduce and toss...but the baskets are a great way to keep my beloved ME's and a few others...thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips, Yvonne. We are working on better organization around here. Slowly making progress.
ReplyDeleteWhere did you find such cute magazine holders, please? Love your organization and your blog !!!
ReplyDeleteAren't they so so fun? I got them at Ikea. I'll be doing a post in a couple of weeks about making magazine holders ourselves!
DeleteI found some really nice magazine holders at my favorite Joanne's fabrics and craft store in Columbia, Md. but I only bought 3 of the same and wished I had bought a lot more. My dear friend and I usually meet there several times a year, browse through Joanne's for an hour or more, chatting like magpies as we walk along, then head across the large parking lot to La Madeleine's for lunch and more " catching up." I bet when I go back, they won't have the same one..but another place to find some really nice ones is The Container Store if you have one of those near you. The ones I purchased are not the flimsy ones like you might buy at an office supplies store. These come already assembled and do not fold apart like the ones from office supply place. I'm a magazine junkie too. It's my self therapy!
ReplyDeleteYvonne, are those heavy cardboard or fabric covered?
ReplyDeleteFirst, I want to say that I think you are immensely talented and create beautiful rooms. I am glad you're being featured in Joss and Main. You deserve it. However, I think they printed one of your statements without editing it. It says 'pour over magazines . . . .' On this page I noticed you wrote 'I pour over them!'
ReplyDeleteNow, I should be working on my rooms that are stacked high with books and magazines! Thank you for sharing your solutions.