The Overlooked Storage You Should Declutter ASAP (You'll Feel Better)

There are plenty of seasons for cleaning and decluttering your living space. Spring cleaning is the most famous of these, but any time you feel overwhelmed by clutter is the right time to start. There are some common items you can declutter now for a cleaner, tidier home, but you're most likely overlooking one key area: your bookshelf. Whether you're a book aficionado or someone who only reads on occasion, bookshelves can easily become overcrowded and untidy. Not only do bookshelves hold our favorite stories, but they also serve as storage space for knick-knacks, stray papers, and other miscellaneous items.

Beyond making your area look tidier overall, decluttering your bookshelves can potentially benefit your mental health. These can quickly become overrun with dust and a chaotic jumble of books, papers, and other small items, contributing to feelings of stress and visual clutter. Even if everything's aligned in neat rows, sometimes the sheer volume of books you have on display can feel overwhelming. Trimming down your displayed collection may make you feel lighter and more in control.

Reworking your bookshelf may seem overwhelming, but you can break it down into a few steps. First, you'll need to remove all the books, paper, and anything else that might be resting on it. As you're removing things, carefully organize them into piles of what you want to keep, put somewhere else, or get rid of altogether. As you do, reflect on each item you're moving: Would you buy it again today? How does it make you feel? How does it look on the shelf?

After your bookshelf is cleared, take care to dust and clean it thoroughly — this means cleaning behind the bookshelf, too. Next, you'll want to decide how you want your bookshelf to function: Is it specifically for presentation? Or is it more practical to only store your favorite books? Intentionally mapping out your desired layout will help avoid cluttering it again. Don't skip over the organization tips that will make your bookshelf so much better looking: Consider factors like each book's genre or author, as well as visual qualities like the color and size. And while you might instinctually stack everything vertically, you can mix things up by placing some books horizontally as well.

Finally, remember to leave breathing room between your books. They should not be so crammed that they look stuffed and chaotic — instead, they should rest in neat, airy rows. A little extra space also leaves room for art, vases, or other simple decor.