3 Ways to Organize Bedroom Clutter

If you're like us, your ambitions as a reader exceed the time in your day allotted for reading – those 30 seconds between picking up the book and your head hitting the pillow for the night. As a result, the pile of books and magazines piles up... and up ... and up, until you contemplate replacing your nightstand with a bookshelf. Here are a few ways to tamp down on that clutter:

Go to the Library
The Internet hasn't killed print — not yet. If you're a bibliophile whose library overfloweth, or a magazine or newspaper subscriber who watches unread issues pile up on the nightstand, it may be time to reintroduce yourself to the local library. Borrowing one book at a time not only saves you money but will cut down on clutter and keep your conscience clear of that nagging feeling about not reading enough. Let someone else worry about restacking your books neatly when you're done with them. And if you can't finish the book in three weeks, maybe it's time to give up on it. (Or just renew it.)

There's an App for That
With newspapers and, increasingly, magazines available as downloadable apps, you can now fall asleep before reading your favorite publication on your handheld device – which fits neatly on your bedside table in a fraction of the space of all that paper.

Join an Online Book Shelf
But wait just a minute, the clutter-loving bibliophile screams. How will I show off all the books I've been meaning to read when guests show up, if I don't have an overloaded bookshelf with all of my books stacked in a haphazard and unsightly pattern? Do it online. Sites like LibraryThing, Goodreads, Shelfari, aNobii and BookJetty let you keep track of your books, share your lists with friends and even take notes, rate your favorites and write reviews. If you have someone to impress, you can send the link to your virtual bookshelf.