{"id":879,"date":"2026-09-06T12:08:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-06T17:08:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=879"},"modified":"2026-09-06T12:08:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-06T17:08:18","slug":"what-to-do-when-you-have-more-books-than-bookshelves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=879","title":{"rendered":"What To Do When You Have More Books Than Bookshelves"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" src=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Bookshelves-blog.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-903\" srcset=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Bookshelves-blog.png 940w, http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Bookshelves-blog-300x251.png 300w, http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Bookshelves-blog-768x644.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When my husband and I got married, we combined our book collections. I was absolutely in my element as I arranged them alphabetically by author on the shelves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shortly after we got married, we bought two Threshold tall bookcases from Target in a cherry finish. I might be in the minority, but cherry is my favorite finish! We added them to a different bookcase my husband had already owned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After seeing how quickly we filled those bookcases, we bought a third bookcase from Target to match and got rid of my husband\u2019s older bookcase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few moves later, we realized we needed another bookcase. But horror of horrors \u2013 Target had stopped selling our bookcase in cherry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I was determined, though. I started hunting on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/marketplace\/\">Facebook Marketplace<\/a>, and after a few months, I managed to find a matching cherry-finish bookcase within a manageable driving distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And of course, because we\u2019re always short on book space, we quickly filled that fourth bookcase, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Making Room for More Books<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One project I undertook to make more room was converting all our physical photo albums into photo books using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterfly.com\/photo-books\/\">Shutterfly<\/a>. This allowed me to keep all our family memories while also significantly downsizing the amount of space our photo albums took up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another thing I try to do regularly is to go through our books and see which ones we no longer love or want to keep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This never yields a ton of shelf space because we love <em>most<\/em> of our books!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that brings us to our current situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We have eight bookcases in our home:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Four hold my husband\u2019s and my books, along with our family photo books.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Two hold my older son\u2019s books, and he is currently as capacity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One holds my younger son&#8217;s books and is almost at capacity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>One holds the books the boys share, and it is at capacity, too.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, where do we go from here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What Do You Do When You Have Too Many Books?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" src=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/TBR-piles-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-884\" srcset=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/TBR-piles-1.png 940w, http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/TBR-piles-1-300x251.png 300w, http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/TBR-piles-1-768x644.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">(<em>My TBR piles and my husband&#8217;s&#8230; 42 books and counting.<\/em>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I could go through and try to declutter even more, but I know whatever I get rid of is no match for the approximately 40+ books sitting on our physical TBR piles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And there\u2019s another important detail: books don\u2019t get a spot on a bookcase until we\u2019ve read them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Until then, they sit in neat piles next to each of our nightstands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So even if I somehow managed to create more shelf space today, I\u2019d eventually fill it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The space we keep our four main bookcases already full. There is no room for another bookcase \u2013 even if I happened to find another matching cherry one on Marketplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That means I need a long-term storage solution rather than another quick fix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Book Storage Ideas I\u2019m Considering<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are a few ideas I\u2019ve been considering for making more room for our growing book collection:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>1) Move the Photo Books<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One possibility is finding a smaller bookcase that could go in another area of the house specifically for our family photo books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That would free up approximately one shelf on our existing bookcases \u2013 not a huge amount of space, but every shelf counts at this point!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>2) Try a Spinning Bookcase<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another possibility is purchasing a space-saving spinning bookcase, like <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4hc83HK\">this<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These can fit into smaller areas than a traditional bookcase, which makes them appealing when you&#8217;re running out of wall space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem is deciding which books would go on it and which books would stay on our regular shelves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I&#8217;m not sure I&#8217;m ready to create two different systems for organizing our books!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udca1<em>Some other space-saving bookcase options:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4A00cEz\"><em>Corner shelf<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4A00njd\"><em>Tier shelf<\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>3) Go Taller Instead of Wider<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For my boys, we could potentially replace their current bookcases with taller ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is one of the best book storage solutions for a small space because you&#8217;re using the same amount of floor space while gaining additional storage vertically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And honestly, I don&#8217;t want a lack of bookshelf space to keep my kids from reading and discovering new stories. But practically speaking, we also need enough room to organize the books we already have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>4)<\/strong> <strong>Use Other Spaces in the House<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not every book necessarily needs to live in a traditional bookcase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A small shelf in a hallway, a narrow bookshelf in a bedroom, <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4qZwQ5k\">floating shelves<\/a>, or even an unused corner could provide a little extra storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The trick is finding spaces that aren&#8217;t already serving another important purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>5)<\/strong> <strong>Declutter \u2013 but be Realistic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course, the obvious answer is to declutter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Go through your books and remove the ones you&#8217;ve fallen out of love with, know you&#8217;ll never reread, or simply don&#8217;t want to own anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And if you get the desire to read one of those books again ten years from now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check it out from the library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I&#8217;m still working on taking my own advice here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>6)<\/strong> <strong>Win the Lottery<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Obviously, there is one foolproof solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Win the lottery and build my dream house complete with a floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall library and, of course, a sliding ladder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Problem solved. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Dream: A Home Library<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"788\" src=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Untitled-design16.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-880\" srcset=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Untitled-design16.png 940w, http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Untitled-design16-300x251.png 300w, http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Untitled-design16-768x644.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m sure I\u2019m not the only booklover who has bumped into this particular problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There will always be new books being written. There will always be books we discover that we want to read. And there will always be another book that finds it way home with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I can think of worse things than having a house overflowing with books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of my dreams for future house is to have an entire room that is just books \u2013 floor to ceiling, wall to wall, and a sliding ladder is a <strong>must<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Until that happens, though, I need to figure out how to better store books in the house we\u2019re in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And maybe you\u2019re in a similar position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have more books than bookshelves, here are the things I\u2019d recommend starting with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Declutter:<\/strong> Remove books you no longer want, love or plan to re-read.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Go vertical:<\/strong> If you have short bookcases, consider replacing them with taller ones. You\u2019ll use the same floor space while gaining vertical storage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Look for unused space:<\/strong> A narrow shelf, hallway, bedroom corner, or floating shelves can give you additional storage<strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Try a spinning bookcase<\/strong>: These can be useful when floor and wall space are limited.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Win the lottery:<\/strong> Build your dream library, obviously. \ud83d\ude09<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Do you declutter, find creative storage solutions, or simply keep adding bookshelves until someone in your family objects?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tell me in the comments \u2013 I need ideas!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udce3 Come hang out with me for daily bookish chats on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61571135243421\">Facebook<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/readersgottaread.blog\/\">Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If you enjoyed this blog post, here are a few others you might be interested in:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=223\">10 Smart Things to Do With Books After You Read Them<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=92\">How I Choose My Next Book: 6 Ways I Pick Books to Add to My TBR Pile<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/?p=27\">I Love Physical Books: Why Paper Beats Screen<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When my husband and I got married, we combined our book collections. I was absolutely in my element as I arranged them alphabetically by author on the shelves. Shortly after we got married, we bought two Threshold tall bookcases from Target in a cherry finish. I might be in the minority, but cherry is my [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[507,506,61,451],"tags":[511,143,508,509,510],"class_list":["post-879","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-storage","category-bookshelves","category-library","category-tbr","tag-book-storage","tag-bookshelves","tag-dream-library","tag-tbr-piles","tag-toomanybooks"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=879"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/879\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":915,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/879\/revisions\/915"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=879"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/readersgottaread.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}