Your eye doesn't know where to focus, so the whole thing feels lifeless. Imagine a shelf full of only red books lined up in the same size. Sure, it's neat, but is it exciting? Not really.

Once you've pared down your collection, it's time to put the tomes back on the shelf. Categorize all the books you took off however you want. You can make piles based on size, color, or genre ...

When I get home, I flip through the book, enjoy the photographs, and sometimes the food history. And moreover, it just looks good on my shelf,” she says, with a laugh. Nobody wants to give away ...