The settling happens in less than 1 month in a new place, but it takes me a few months to actually fully unpack and have everything in the pace I want it to be. In Tulsa, this panned out to be an acceptable process because I was in each place I lived a minimum of 2 years (well, one place was under that mark but not for a lack of trying).
My first year in Denver, I hoped not to move. Instead, I moved three times. This made settling, and fully unpacking - anywhere - very challenging. Not to mention, I downsized dramatically from Tulsa in terms of square footage, and a solid 5 months was more nomadic than living.
I moved into my current place in October and truly hope to be here for longer than one lease. I also hope that when I move it will be to a purchased house. In the meantime, I have taken some time to settle and am at the last phase of being 100% unpacked. My last few boxes were odds & ends and...more books. Although I relinquished a good portion of my collection in leaving Tulsa, I have managed to acquire more books and well, they are everywhere.
Bookshelves are therefore a key to feeling settled and an indicator of how well I'm really moved into a place. As I've organized this apartment, too, I am try trying to be less cluttered and ensure that everything - including books - have a purposeful place, and one that makes it easier to stay organized and de-cluttered. The size of this apartment is perfect for lil' ol me, and also has allowed me (thankfully) to have not one, but two more bookshelves than my last place.
So, here is a tour of my bookshelves...AKA my inspiration for organizing the last bits of my apartment into my home.
The Living Room
This is where two of my primary bookshelves live. Since this is a primary living and entertaining space, I wanted books that *look good* on a shelf - hardcovers, books that I love, and some of my TBR pile (hardcovers only).
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| I bought this bookshelf for my last apartment. There, it lived horizontally under the living room window. I like it vertical in this space, in a corner of the room between windows. It houses my Harry Potter books, presidential biographies and autobiographies, as well as important travel or history books. |
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| This wall is pretty bare otherwise (still figuring that out) but I am excited about my first ladder bookshelf! |
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| This is filled with BOTM books and other hardcover lovelies with accents of family photos, some Oklahoma & travel inspiration, and of course, The Big Blue Bear as a bookend. |
The Bedroom
I haven't had proper bookshelves in my bedroom in a long time, and I realized they would be great additions since I generally find books to be a calming part of my atmosphere. Books that live here are truly miscellaneous, including a mix of TBR & already read in a variety of formats.
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| This was originally envisioned to be a part of the main living space, but I discovered I had more room for it in my bedroom, and also felt like in its position (directly across from where I lay my head at night), I would find joy / calmness in this nearby bookshelf. |
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| This bookshelf has been with me since my first year in Tulsa. It has most definitely seen sturdier days, but it is still holding strong. I have a mix of books, but also find this shelf useful for keepsakes and some extra storage of cords and notebooks. I also have that orange towel on it because it also currently houses my humidifier at night. |
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| This is one of my end tables. It is not my primary end table, but serves a great purpose to hold some books and (in the drawer) clothing. This pair of end tables matches my dresser (currently residing in the closet) and the set has been in my life for 20+ years. We got it used, so I really don't know the length of life it had before me. While they have seen better days (there are scratches and some broken backsides), they are still doing the most as functional furniture for me. |
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| This is my primary end table, where you will always find: whatever I am currently reading and my itty bitty book lamp (far right corner). The book lamp was really useful for my nomadic life in 2017, but lives on my end table now as an easy grab if I wake up and need to read without harsh light. It also is a reminder for when I travel. And the lower shelf stores books and (in the drawer) clothing. |
I feel like by the end of this long weekend, everything(books and beyond) will be in their rightful place and wow...110 days into my lease, maybe this place will be a settled home.
~MJ
