Week 44 Challenge: Living Room – Organize & Clean Bookshelves

There’s something so satisfying about a freshly dusted, organized bookshelf. This week, we’re turning our attention to those shelves in the living room—where books, magazines, keepsakes, and maybe even a little clutter tend to gather.

For me, whenever the living room comes up in these weekly challenges, I can’t help but fix at least one thing beyond the “official” task. Last time I worked on my bookshelves, I ended up completely swapping my books around by season (mysteries and cozies for fall, light reads for summer), and I even made space for my small but growing collection of ceramic owls. Now, I know arranging your shelves by owl population isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but just the act of cleaning and organizing was so calming. And the bonus? Every time I walk past that bookshelf now, I get a little spark of joy.

Your To-Do List for Week 44

• Sort through books and magazines (donate or recycle what you don’t need).
• Organize the shelves in a way that makes sense for you—by author, topic, color, or even season.
• Dust the books, shelves, and any display items.

When you’re done, step back and admire your handiwork. Sometimes we don’t realize how much visual clutter weighs us down until it’s gone.

Why This Matters

Researchers say that creating habits is one of the most effective ways to build a home you love. The key is consistency, not perfection. As James Clear puts it in Atomic Habits:

“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

So, by tackling a little project like this week after week, you’re building systems that make your home calmer and your life easier. Small changes, repeated often, really do add up.

Another favorite reminder:

“Your home should be the antidote to stress, not the cause of it.”

Let’s make that bookshelf a stress-free zone.

Helpful Finds for Organizing Your Bookshelves

Here are a few things that can make the job easier (and prettier!):

Bookends to keep those stacks from tipping over. Peeping Cat Metal Bookends Set of 2. Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/3GslOml

Decorative storage baskets for corralling magazines and loose papers. This magazine holder has a five-star rating! Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/3W22C2N

Microfiber duster with extension pole to reach high or deep shelves. A thousand of this dusting kit were sold last month and it has a 4.5-star rating. Amazon affiliate link https://amzn.to/425m42f

Sneak Peek at Next Week

Get ready to head into the bedroom for Week 45: Clean & Declutter Nightstands. If you’re like me, your nightstand tends to collect… well, let’s just say more than the basics. A book or two, maybe a candle, and suddenly it’s also the home for receipts, chargers, and random odds and ends. We’ll tackle that together next week!

✨ Encouragement for the week: Don’t feel like you need to do everything perfectly. Even if you only dust one shelf or donate a handful of books, that’s progress. And progress, not perfection, is what keeps us moving forward.

So, let’s get to it—books, dust bunnies, owls and all! xoxo, Dana

P.S. Did you notice the flower artwork on the wall in the blog post image? It’s available in my Etsy Shop! Read more about it here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4370476852/12-months-of-flowers-printable-art