“The Simple Things” is a regular feature here, on no set schedule, (obviously, since I haven’t done one in months!) of links around the internet I have found to be inspiring and/or fun to read. Each time I put one of these posts up I will include a picture from my own life showing the things that are important to me and my Simple. Organized. Life., and here is this week’s photo:
After much purging and even selling my bookcase before moving to my new 756 sq foot apartment, this is all that is left of my book collection. I am thinking of just stacking them as high as I can reach and forgoing any sort of shelving unit. What do you think?
My friend Emily from Remodeling This Life builds a reading nook for her kids.
Rowdy Kittens talks about standing while you work. Not sure I could actually do this, as I am at this computer all day long!
You Simplified goes on a 100 Things Rant – and I agree 100%. It’s not about how you choose to participate in the minimalism movement, it’s just about doing it and standing by your choices.
Simple Savvy discusses mindful eating, which is something I have been striving to pay more attention to lately.
Art of Great Things wants you to eliminate distractions and make some space in your life. So important.
Thanks for the link love! 🙂
I think if you care about your books, and want to actually be able to access them as well, you will get some sort of shelving. Maybe one of the vertical stacking cases (West Elm); maybe a yard sale find. The way they are now, it would hard to get to books at the bottom of the stack, and the stacks look a bit precarious.
I love that you’ve purged so many of your books – I recently did the same thing and it was very liberating. However, stacking books the way you’ve done in the picture can be very detrimental to them due to the weight on the spine of the books closer to the bottom. As Kathryn points out, they also look difficult to get to and could pose a safety hazard if they topple over. It’s probably a good idea for you to invest in a small shelf on which to store your books and then just make sure that you regularly purge to make sure you don’t outgrow the shelf.
Not sure that a 1.5 foot high pile of books is too much of a danger, but might get something to hold them properly. Or, I could just get rid of most of these too! Decisions, decisions… 🙂
I must agree with the others; that stack won’t function very well. I would also think that in a week or two, it would start to look like dust, dirt and crap piling in the corner (from experience, but then again I also have cats). I wish it were as simple as just having a small pile though!
How did you decide which books made the cut to keep? I’m mostly down to books I haven’t yet read, but plan to read and books that I love. This “system” is working for me now as I have two large built-in bookshelves, which would look too boring without anything in them. I don’t have enough decorative pieces to display to look good.
I guess you’re not an adherent of the “nothing should be stored on the floor” school of minimalism. 🙂
I must agree with others, though, the books will be more accessible and stay in better shape if they’re not stacked like that. If you don’t want a shelving unit sitting on the floor, how about a simple shelf mounted to the wall?
i also am trying to eliminate books. I was and maybe still will be a professor. I have so many books, professional and also self help, 5 bookcases. Eliminating is very difficult. Any suggestions.
Stack ’em up!
As long as you don’t have cats or little kids to worry about, why not?
Stack ’em high. Screw the shelf! Congratulations. This must feel extremely liberating. Getting rid of the shelf is the victory, so I vote to keep it clean and easy!
I’m doing something very similar at the moment. Just got about 10-15 books stacked up. It looks great and they are within easy reach. I plan to digitize them all as soon as possible though.
Kudos on the book decluttering (never an easy task)!
I’d think long and hard before getting a bookshelf; your collection may very well grow again to fill it!
We have our collection (about 10-15 books) lined up on a windowsill.
If you don’t need regular, quick access to them then you can divide them by same/similar size, wrap some cool belts around them and use them as small tables.
check this out:
http://high-heelfootinthedoor.blogspot.com/2010/07/look-for-less-vertical-stacked.html