Extra Shelf Space? Don't Mind If I Do!

If you google "bookshelf porn" you'll find a ton of photos of perfectly organized bookshelves. Some by color, some by size, some with only perfect hardcovers that make you wonder if they've ever been read...

There are as many different types of bookshelves and book organizing as there are people. So inevitably, you'll see pictures of bookshelves with adorable bookends and other cutesy baubles adorning them. Now that I never really understood. If I have extra shelf space, I'm going to fill it with books!

In my opinion, the only thing bookends are good for is if you put them on the very top of the bookcase, effectively giving yourself an extra shelf. Or for turning your coffee table into a shelf. 

While there's certainly nothing wrong with it, I've never really seen the point in putting bookends and baubles onto an already enclosed shelf. If the bookends are keeping your books from falling to the floor and your baubles are in front of the books and not eating shelf space, sure. Then again, that's easy for me to say. I've never had extra shelf space before.

It was always a race against time to find another bookcase because the ones I had were overflowing. Then I'd organize the books, space them out, make them look all nice... then I'd realize I had more books than I thought I did. And my shelves would be crowded again in no time. 

But now, for the first time in my life, I have an abundance of shelf space. And it's thanks to my partner and I buying a house! Yep, it's true. And one of the best selling points for me was a built in bookshelf upstairs. It's like five feet wide and four feet tall and solid wood, so it's easily the biggest, sturdiest bookcase I've ever owned. 

There's only one room upstairs, so it'll come as no surprise that we decided that should be our bedroom. In addition to the built-in bookcase, there was room for 4 smaller ones, so we could fit most of our books in our bedroom. To sleep surrounded by books sounds like a dream to me! 

But it gets even better. We still have two larger bookcases from before we bought the house. So we have those downstairs. And another small shelf that's downstairs. I never thought I'd say this... but we have an abundance of shelves! I never thought I'd see the day. 

Not one to lie, my first thought was "but how will we fill them all! I can't have empty shelves!" However, I've since realized that empty shelf space is an opportunity. I can fill them with books I want without having to double stack them or have books squeezed in so tight it hurts their spines to take them off the shelf. I can rearrange them more easily since I won't feel as pressured to fill an entire shelf with one particular genre.

And, yes, I can add all the cutesy baubles I want. Instead of looking at other people's bookshelf porn, I can make my own. 

We're still unpacking and while all the books are currently on a shelf somewhere, they're nowhere near the level of organization I want them to be. I'll share some pictures with you soon. :)