Should I hide my self-help books? The anti-Marie Kondo method
Books should be everywhere in the house; in the kitchen, the bedroom and the lounge room. Cook books strategically located in the kitchen and dining room are a personal favourite.
Mad about mauve? Arrange your books chromatically; a row of orange Penguin Books will add a welcome splash of block colour. You don’t have to restrict your shelves to books alone. You might want to wedge a sentimental item from your childhood at the end of your collection of books on organic gardening; or perhaps a photo of your mother at Cloudland in the 1950s in a gold frame.
Another favourite tactic is to hide mementos in books; concert tickets, love letters or postcards. When you open them up you are serendipitously reminded of a past event or acquaintance. Books can help you relive the best of times.
If you happen to have self-help books — you know the kind — don’t be embarrassed to leave them where your guests can see them. They are fantastic conversation starters. If you are looking to cull your collection, an alternative to throwing books out is to lend them to people. Just don’t expect them to come back in the same condition. A friend of mine once dropped one of my books in the bath.
As someone who has been organising books (with respect) for 40 years, I was not very impressed when the book returned with wrinkled pages!
Vicki McDonald is State Librarian and CEO at State Library of Queensland
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To organise a bookshelf at home, cast aside all thoughts of Marie Kondo minimalism and rules. Letyour personality guide your choices.