Plenty of space...

CharlasBookcases: If You Build/Buy Them, They Will Fill

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Plenty of space...

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1sussabmax
Ene 10, 2008, 2:56 pm

For now at least. I bought a new set of double-wide bookshelves this weekend, and I am in the middle of spreading out all of my books right now. It is very strange to me to see a bunch of empty space on my shelves. Every time I buy bookshelves, I think, "This time I will be able to get some books out of storage, with all this shelf space" and I am always wrong. But this time, I think I am right. Weird.

Even weirder, I have my eye on a set of shelves at World Market that is on sale now, and I can't imagine what I would put on those shelves if I bought them! I am sure I will be buying more and they will fill, but I am trying to read more books than I buy this year, so it might actually take a while. But, I am afraid if I do buy the shelves, I will not be able to attain my challenge to read my TBR list down a bit before I buy more books. I know a lot of people here do not have the too much shelf space issue to deal with, but what do you think? Should I throw out the idea of reading down my list and buy more shelves (which will almost certainly lead to a LOT more books), or wait to buy shelves until I need them?

2droupou
Ene 11, 2008, 12:13 pm

If the bookshelf is on sale, I generally weigh how much of a savings I will get. (I'm a cheap bum). If the savings is large, and I likely won't be able to afford the bookshelf at a later time, then I say buy it. If however the savings is chump change, or finishing your TBR list is worth more than you will save to you, then forget the shelf and curl up on your reading chair. :)

3sussabmax
Ene 11, 2008, 4:16 pm

The savings are large--regularly $269, on sale for $149. I am starting to lean toward buying them....

4hailelib
Ene 11, 2008, 4:32 pm

You can always get those books out of storage...

5maggie1944
Ene 11, 2008, 4:47 pm

I say buy 'em and fill them up with things other than books while you read down your TBR pile. You are not required by law to fill your book cases as soon as you find room in your home for them. I think the bookcase police are pretty tolerant of people reading down their piles. *she walks off to see if there is any room on shelves for nonbook stuff*

6sussabmax
Ene 11, 2008, 6:52 pm

It's possible to have empty bookshelf space and not go buy books to fill it? I mean, I know it is in theory, but I have never been able to resist buying more books to fill the space.

Okay, all right, I have never been able to resist buying more books, full stop.

I think this is going to depend on whether or not I can convince a friend to help me carry them up to my third floor apartment. I just did this last weekend, and it was hard work. But, on the other hand, my new shelves sure are pretty.

7Osbaldistone
Feb 16, 2008, 1:48 pm

Though hard to resist, you don't have to fill all space on bookshelves with books. However, I would recommend using good, heavy, bookends to keep your book bindings square and tight. Covers tend to warp, and spines tend to lean, if books are not fairly snug on the shelf.

I put small objet d'art in the unused spaces until they fill with books. I generally push the books to the back of the shelves, and then the objet d'art sit in front of the books. Obviously, too much "is a dogs mess" as my grandmother used to say, but when the shelves fill with books, the visual break provided by small pots, antique objects, framed photos, etc., seems to improve the overall visual impact of shelves full of books.

Os.

8sussabmax
Feb 20, 2008, 11:30 am

I have done that on some shelves--pushed the books back and put something in front of them. I have been using bookends to prop up the books in the space that I have, but I don't have as much space as I thought I would. It's amazing to me, how every time I buy more shelves, I think this is it, I will have plenty of space now, and it is never true. It's going to be a problem soon, because I am running out of places to put shelves.

9abductee
Feb 22, 2008, 2:35 am

I second the notion that if you have the room/wallspace, it is always a good thing to pick up an attractive, well-priced bookcase.

In a perfect world, everyone would have bookcases stocked in an IKEA-like fashion (minimal books w/attractive knickknacks). Long story short, if you don't have the books right now you can utilize the shelves as display cases of sorts. And if you are an avid reader, you eventually will fill those shelves up.

10thorold
Feb 22, 2008, 3:48 am

Another advantage of having a reasonable number of gaps is that it encourages you to shelve books in the right place - if I have to move everything from Adams to Zweig one space to the right whenever I buy a new book by Achebe, I will end up with a lot of books provisionally laid on top of others, or bunged into whatever space comes to hand.

I bought five extra bays of shelving when I moved last September, and also discarded a lot of non-book stuff that was taking up shelf space (old magazines, etc.), but there don't seem to be all that many gaps left now. Strange.

"I don't have anywhere to put it" is a good mantra to repeat to yourself when visiting bookshops...

11Ilithyia
Feb 22, 2008, 10:35 am

>10 thorold:. "I don't have anywhere to put it" is a good mantra to repeat to yourself when visiting bookshops...

That doesn't really work for me...I can always stack books on tables, chairs, the floor, etc. And sadly I do.

Oh, and "I can't really afford to buy more books" doesn't really work for me either! Sometimes I think I'm a compulsive book buyer (like a compulsive gambler)....I just can't seem to stop myself. Maybe I need a 12-step program. "Hi, my name is Ilithyia and I buy books."

12sabreuse
Feb 22, 2008, 4:41 pm

>9 abductee:, In a perfect world, everyone would have bookcases stocked in an IKEA-like fashion (minimal books w/attractive knickknacks).

Oh, I quite disagree -- that would require having a bigger house or a whole lot fewer books, neither of which is a situation I want.

I do agree with leaving 10% or so of each shelf empty in order to avoid shifting a whole section in order to squeeze one more thing in under "A". Of course, those spaces have a nasty way of filling up...

13sussabmax
Feb 25, 2008, 5:57 pm

See, that's the problem, you can only leave empty space to make it easier to add more books for so long, lol.

I didn't get the bookshelves because I didn't want to carry them up all those stairs, and I am regretting it. I will keep my eye out for more sales, and I am also planning a long weekend at Ikea one of these days...

14thorold
Feb 26, 2008, 4:43 pm

I am also planning a long weekend at Ikea one of these days...

After a number of visits, I discovered that if you go in through the "exit" door and skip the display area, you can often get to what you are looking for and back out again in less than 24 hours (if the queue for the tills isn't too long)...

15sussabmax
Feb 26, 2008, 6:17 pm

But, I have never actually been to an Ikea store. I am afraid I will be lost inside for days. I'm planning to bring snacks, ;-).

16maggie1944
Feb 26, 2008, 6:30 pm

Oh, no, just like the big movie theatres IKEA does not want you to bring "outside" food and drinks because they want you to be hungry when you get to their cafeteria. It is a long walk.

17nperrin
Feb 26, 2008, 6:50 pm

But even if you aren't hungry, the Swedish meatballs are so delicious and irresistible!

18sussabmax
Feb 26, 2008, 11:36 pm

Oh my goodness, I think I am totally unprepared for this. They have a cafeteria? Wow. Maybe I should up my budget for this trip...no more spending money....

19unreconstructed
Ago 18, 2011, 9:31 am

>9 abductee:

"In a perfect world, everyone would have bookcases stocked in an IKEA-life fashion (minimal books w/attractive knickknacks)."

Recant, thou heretic!! ;-)

-Justin

20TrippB
Ago 18, 2011, 9:21 pm

I love that brief span of time after adding a new bookcase, when I can spread things out a bit and turn a few books so my favorite covers are visible......never lasts long, though.

21bookstothesky
Ago 29, 2011, 2:15 pm

I'm doing that right now, LOL! I did all the bookcases in my guest bedroom last night and went in about once an hour after I was done just to admire the ability to see all the books and to estimate how long it will take for the space I left on each shelf to fill-up; it will happen all too quickly, I'm sure.

22thorold
Ago 30, 2011, 3:56 am

>21 bookstothesky:
Guest-bedroom bookshelves are tricky - do you use them for:
- books you think your visitors would like to read
- books you want your visitors to think you read
- books you want your visitors to think you don't read (any more)
- unwanted presents
- books you don't have room for anywhere else
...?

Mine usually has about half a shelf of light novels, short stories, poetry and local guidebooks for visitors in search of a bit of bedtime reading, and the rest miscellaneous junk.

23justjim
Ago 30, 2011, 4:07 am

Or you could tell them, "I squeezed a bed into this library annex for you. Don't touch my books!"

24thorold
Ago 30, 2011, 5:21 am

>23 justjim: :-)
I have some dear friends with a guest-room like that. Although it's more like "Don't sneeze, or there will be an avalanche..."
Almost impossible to sleep in such a room - there's always another intriguing title to catch your eye when you're about to turn the light out.

25riani1
Ago 30, 2011, 12:33 pm

The guest room would be a wonderful place to stash books like the biography of Mme. Bathory, the history of serial killers, anatomy books, etc.

Of course, you'd have to choose your guests between the groups of "People who understand how your mind works" and "People you never want to have darkening your door again."

26bookstothesky
Sep 3, 2011, 2:22 am

>23 justjim:
I like the way you think!

>25 riani1:
Nice, that would be good fun.