Display fragile things on higher shelves. Consider shopping for second-hand books to grow your library quickly. I'll post about prices and availability later in the week, let me know if you have any wishlist titles though! Do you do this too? Only use the top shelf for decor. Add visual interest to your shelves by adding items that will be focal points at imaginary meeting points of the thirds. Maybe youre more interested in organizing by category, then by genre or alphabetically. Things dont always come together right away, though. Eliminate the excess and start fresh with only the books you wish to own. Can you think of what could cause a book lover frustration? You can organize books by the same author alphabetically by title or leave em any way that feels right. If the answer is no, then get rid of it! Most public libraries organize their books alphabetically by author when shelving fiction, as do bookstores that dont categorize by genre (and certainly, you can combine the methodssee below!). In between come the colors. Not sure what to do with that shotglass or seashell collection? Remove all clothing, hair accessories, or other random items that dont belong, Moore says, suggesting to move on to books next (well get to that). "An interior should feel relaxed and comfortable, rather than over-styled or sterile. Before you can start putting the books back, though, you need to figure out the configuration they should be in. The computer monitor Im starting at right now is perched on three books that are simply too large and tall to justify taking up space on my shelves: The. Your shelves will shift over time. The Best Way to Organize Your Books is the One That Works for You! By Elena Nicolaou Mar 3, 2021 Save Article If you own all or most of the books in a series, youre going to want to show them off in a way that looks good. That said, if you want to maximize the nostalgic feelings you get when organizing your books, then designing your own autobiographical method can be hugely satisfying. When you spend a lot of time in libraries and bookstores, it feels natural to stick to the same system that they use. Make undulating waves of books arranged by height according to a pattern. She recommends placing any travel souvenirs together for reminders of trips.Michiel Perry of Black Southern Belle takes it a step further. Heres how it works. You can organize books by the same author alphabetically by title or leave 'em any way that feels right. What about a book that has a spine which is half one color and half another? Non-fiction. Organize the books according to categories starting from the upper shelves. While it is probably not the final arrangement I want for the space, it works for now. Don't forget that your bookshelf shouldn't be just about displaying books. The meeting points of these thirds are where items of interest should be placed. Designer Allison Spears apparently favors the distinctive blue boxes from a posh jewelry retailer to hold stuff and act as a focal point. "Open space is important. Another take on this method is to pull the first book in a series or one with a cover you love and put it face out in front of the stack of books, giving your space even more style. Keep a shelf in one room which is just for books youve not yet read, while you use shelves in another space that you have read and organize them in a way that you like best. This is the obvious, most boring method, but it might be the friendliest, too. this 3-pack of easy-to-care-for plants on Amazon, interior designer Stephanie of Olive + Tate, The Ultimate First Time Homeowner's Guide. A basket can be effectively used in the bathroom to organize personal care items for which there is no cabinet space. Youll likely love the feelings you get as a result, when you go through your books shelf by shelf and remember what they represent to you. The fact of the matter is, however it is you choose to organize your bookshelves, it has to be a system that works for you and one that will not only help you find the books youre looking for, but also fit the space you have available. It just makes me really uneasy. Organizing your books by how much you like them will likely result in one of two things (or both): you'll either always have your favorite books at your fingertips or you'll be reorganizing. Place the most used books on the most accessible shelves. I should probably consider passing some of them on to new homes, but for now, at least, theyre staying putand in my house, these shelves are the only ones that make sense for storing them. Then within categories, they're alphabetized. It can be tricky to decide what genre books fall into. . "Each piece doesnt have to 'match' but if they all encompass the same theme, something cohesive will naturally take shape," she says. Theyd get cluttered or filled with miscellaneous clothes, and no matter what I did, they just didnt seem to come together as an organized, designed intentional space. How can you organize a child's shelves, where you find myriad irregular items? Visit our corporate site. Give your shelves a look of consistency with putting all of those titles together and organizing within them. Rather than trying to organize by another method, simply put books together that youve read and those which you havent read. "It creates variety. Like with alphabetizing, youll want to ensure you give yourself plenty of shelf space to grow. If books aren't referenced regularly, forget alphabetizing and organize by color instead. She also offers a DIY tip: Cut out foam board, cover it with fabric, and press it to the back of each shelf for a faux wallpaper look. 9. Ashley Moore, founder and principal designer at Moore House Interiors, suggested that I start this process by first getting rid of everything that was already on the shelves. Oprah Daily participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. The ultimate aesthetic choice. Moore also suggested choosing specific bins to serve as any needed additional storage. I actually love to store and display unexpected items on bookshelves, no matter what room theyre in. Offer expires in three months, unless otherwise indicated. Thats why Ive used a combination. Below, find tips sourced from interior designers and professional organizers that'll help you make your library, reading nook, or DIY bookshelf both beautiful and functional. The horizontal books can be used as platforms to highlight accessories (layers, people!). For a more streamlined look, arrange books by height, with the tallest on both sides of the shelves. "Whatever your interests are, it's good to bring them together, that way they have the biggest impact," Klugh says. ', 'Books are such an important part of a home, we love using them in our projects,' says Guinness. Whatd I miss? Duckworth recommends a dusting spray which you can purchase or DIY with pantry ingredients using 1 cup of water, 1/4 cup of distilled white vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a spray bottle. Stack in piles, with caution. The work-in-progress is worthy of celebrating, too. Its especially great for those mass market paperbacks and takes up less space on the shelf. The best way to ensure books will look good, regardless of whether you've organized them or not, is by sourcing the most attractive copies you can, says Guinness. However, she encourages you to consider how often you really use the book, and decide whether or not to keep it. To do this, take your largest books and measure the shelving space with them. And have you ever lost one? This way, the clutter always landed in those bins instead of all over the shelves themselves. You will receive a verification email shortly. Katie and Kari of The Home Sanctuary suggested plants as well, noting that they were their favorite ways to add pops of color to a space and suggesting this 3-pack of easy-to-care-for plants on Amazon as an option for the shelves. Offer redeemable at Simon & Schusters ebook fulfillment partner. Unless you only know your books by the color of their cover, it can make it hard to find what you need. Is this absolutely necessary? Much like the method above, organizing by title is going to allow you to use your space well as you go, but youll want to ensure you leave ample room for growth as your collection expands. ', 'We love to mix books with objects, lights, and even artwork,' says Kate Guinness, founder of Kate Guinness Design (opens in new tab). Anyone looking for a book in your library will be able to find it. Its easy, assuming you know the alphabet. I moved around some items that we already had at home, like an antique bowl full of my favorite polaroid photos, a carved wooden elephant, and our collection of travel coffee table books. 'You can use the stacks as bookends or even style the top with a picture frame or Tchotchke. This is actually a con for most of the options Ive found to organize bookshelves with a lot of booksyou can spend hours getting them just how you want them, but as soon as you have a new handful to add, you have to shift and move a ton more books. Just remember not to stack them too high or youll have a heck of a time getting to the books on the bottom. Please refresh the page and try again. Use decorative items, pictures, art and collectibles to make the space more interesting. If youre hoping to organize a bookshelf in your own space, youll want to read on. It allows your eyes to rest, so what you're taking in isn't overstimulating. "Take everything off your shelf and keep only the things that you love," Klugh says. Like the books, each and every designer had a different suggestion for what to do between the shelves. When gathering items to put on the shelf, designer Courtney Turk recommends thinking in themeswhether colors, materials, places, or subject matter. Picture area is divided into thirds horizontally and vertically to determine composition. #professionalorganizer #TexasSmallBusinessOwner #Coronavirus #Covid19 #lifestylefrisco #dallasinteriordesign #dallasmoms #simplify #closetorganization #functional #dfwrealestate #dallaslife #dallasblogger #inspire #inspiration #organizedliving #design #homeorganizer #organizedhome #organize #highlandpark #tidyingup #organizationideas #organizationtips #seekthesimplicity #luxuryorganizer, A post shared by Tonia Tomlin, Sorted Out | DFW (@sortedoutorganizing) on Apr 8, 2020 at 8:07am PDT. 'Using a mixture of larger art books lying down and novels standing up works well its important to create balance rather than necessarily aiming for total symmetry. "The goal isnt to create a perfect-Z or a perfect wave pattern, but to gently guide your eye to the interesting bits of your collection," she says. and alphabetize by title. The top shelf can have tall books on the left, low on the right. Organize the books according to categories starting from the upper shelves. BA1 1UA. There are so many possibilities, so there isnt one right way! This is where organizing by genre, category, or mood can be super fun, as well as super specific. This method is especially helpful for small spaces or collections where you dont keep a ton of books. Box away books you'll never read again, or that you'll never get around to. Heres a handy chart of all the major classifications, but you can find even more granular ones if youd like to get super specific. In these cases, opt for organizing your collection alphabetically by author or by genre, then author if the collection is comprehensive," Michele Vig, founder and chief organizer with Neat Little Nest, says. I knew that I would need to add things to the shelves that weren't photos or books, but part of me worried that anything I tried would look too stilted or coldlike a hotel room instead of a lived-in space. Not only will the organization look better, but it will also allow you to distribute the weight evenly," Andrew Barker, founder of Homeowner Costs, says. Should I try rearranging or leave well enough alone? Today, Victoria shares some practical tips to help you declutter your bookshelvesand organize your books. In addition, if you have a lot of nonfiction, sorting by topic (again, as they do in libraries and bookstores) might just be the most practical choice. It can be a visual treat to see your same-sized books lined on a shelf. We may earn commission from the links on this page. "My books are organized first by category," Fran Lebowitz told The New York Times. . You've hit your max! Klugh recommends working with odd numbers when decorating shelves with objects. Classic divisions might be: Non-fiction, fiction, anthologies, cookbooks. But if you plan on procuring more books, youll need to leave space on your shelves for it. A bonus of this is the stacked books can act as bookends for your standing titles. Got a tip, kitchen tour, or other story our readers should see? The Library System Method This means alphabetizing by the author's last name, followed by alphabetizing each title of that author's. Okay, full disclosure: I totally used to organize my books this way. Where do colors like black or white or brown or gold or silver or grey belong? I'd like to receive the free email course. Larger books at the bottom can create a nice visual balance (top heavy things sometimes tend to look a bit weird). Behold, the things I tried, the things that failed, and the things that worked in my journey to learn how to organize bookshelves with a lot of books. For some reason, this idea of small vignettes stuck with me and made it easier to arrange sets of items. In the end, the two baskets I purchased for the bottom shelves were the only things I purchased specifically for these shelvesand they were worth it. If you don't need to access particular books all the time, OR if you can easily identify your books by their spine color, then this could be for you. Drape heavy narrow curtains at the ends of the shelves for a dramatic effect. I experimented with alternating items by groups of threes and twos, and ultimately it created a better balance than the shelves had ever had beforenot to mention it was a much more effective way to display some of my favorite things. Build a Love Interest, We'll Give You a Book to Fall in Love With; Archives. "Move all the books to meet the front edge of the bookshelf, giving a uniform look and eliminating telltale dust.". Decide on an organization style and then add framed images, knickknacks, and mementos from your travel to keep the shelf visually interesting. How I Organize My Bookshelves Office Bookshelves My office has floor to ceiling built-in bookshelves that we had put in by our neighbor/carpenter. There are Penguin Puffin imprint books that also have a recognizable style. Organize books bysubcategories within each genre or subject matter etc. Lifestyle 20 Bookshelf Organizing Tips That Will Transform Your Library And get your Zoom backdrop gleaming. How could I switch things around so the space was more functional, prettier, and easier to manage? It depends on a few different factors, like the books you own, the space you're in, and whether or not you have shelving to store them. So, weve got a lot of books. This can really highlight the breadth of the books you own, and it can help keep books by the same author tucked together (how nice, for example, to see all of your Megan Abbott or Jason Reynolds books together, and how easy then to revisit your favorites). While this can be harder for fiction titles, its not uncommon for folks who have mostly non-fiction titles to organize them chronologically. "People hoard books and the knowledge that's in them. How do I organize a bookshelf? First, start sorting them into categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, etc. Bath There are some ways you can maximize the space on your shelves, too: There you have itthe simple, complex, and hoarders answers to how to organize bookshelves with a lot of books. It can take a while to add new books. Change color of books at every third meeting point. For example, history books might be organized starting with Ancient Greece up through 18th Century British History, and then into current history books. 'If you have oversized books in your collection, place them on a shelf that is adjustable,' suggests Murray. Randomly. Designers also recommend mixing up how you arrange the books. 'Fight the impulse to angle decorative items toward the center of the room,' says Kelly. This will allow all of your childrens books to be together, all of your middle grade books to be together, all of your YA together, and all of your adult books together. It might be tempting to angle your decorative items toward the center of the roombut it might be worth keeping everything straight instead. This is part of why public libraries weed their collections. Odds are good that you know the colors of all of your books (when youve held it and photographed it andoh yeah, read it enough times, you tend to remember these things) so with this system, its still relatively easy to find what youre looking for. Last, but definitely not least, another way you can organize your books is by publisher. The fact of the matter is, you own your books and you can do with them whatever you please. Maybe thats how your brain works, or maybe you love the possibilities of browsing and discovery to fuel finding your next read. I always have arguments with the guy who helps me organize my books, because I have a biography section. When you post pictures of it on the internet, many people on the internet will think youre cool. It might also matter that its aesthetically pleasingits easy to laugh about that and call it superficial, but a good-looking bookshelf setup really does encourage reading. As with any organizational method, there are pros and cons to this choice. Not only does it provide a designated space for work, but it also enhances productivity and concentration. Here are some ways you can organize a #bookstagram-worthy bookshelf. Highlight the books you love by using a bookstand. Divide them into fiction, non-fiction and reference. It might also inspire you to read some of those books collecting dust for years. Maybe all of your books that make you cry are together, while those that make you swoon settle in with one another. When shopping for these objects, Klugh recommends keeping your room's color palette in mind, plus she says to add a mix of wood pieces, glass pieces, and metal. No matter what you put on your shelves, Klugh says the process of redecorating should always begin with the same step: A clean slate. We independently select these productsif you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Kartheiser recommends creating a bold backdrop by painting the area or lining it with color that coordinates with the other rooms. 'They are so pleasing to look at and we look at them every day, which far outweighs the 30-seconds longer it may take to find the one you want, which only happens on occasion. 'In the past Ive used Facebook Marketplace to find old editions of National Geographic for my husband,' says Nickerson. For example, if I dont read a lot of nonfiction, I would start by getting rid of those books. This allows you to find what youre looking for easily and makes the books themselves fit more easily on your shelves. I really wanted to go over my step by step. 'Store taller books to the left and shorter books to the right to create space above the shorter books. Were sorry, you are not eligible to view this site. The blog is where I share reading tips, lifestyle how-to's, book lists, reading guides, share conversations with authors, offer free mini-trainings, plus all the things I'm currently obsessed with and find inspiring. Marchs book for #everyda, Ive been making versions of this for a decade a, I do all my laundry on Monday and then I dont t, After my challenge yesterday to make a little vide, Lynn Painter has reminded me how much I LOVE a goo, I got such a kick out of FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING, Im still not over the time DRAGON HOOPS said a, How to build your home library on a budget. There should be three elements to every picture. And while it doesnt always turn out exactly how I planned, and I still switch things up quite a bit, I can usually piece together secondhand finds and more modern pieces in a way that makes me happy. How Should You Organize Your Books? I nerd out over books, I'm constantly dreaming of ways we can all live the literary life we want, and my obsession is watching people discover how books can change their lives! When you browse World War II books by their subject groupings, those which share the same groupings are arranged alphabetically. Maybe you want to grab a mass market paperback for your trip to the park to read or youre ready to settle into your reading nook for perusing one of your coffee table books. Stack them horizontally, or shelve most vertically and then stick some horizontally on top of their new vertical buddies. Beautiful! Go personal: 'Books are personal itemsplace other personal items on your bookshelves such as framed photographs, decorative objects, and real or artificial plants for it to look less like a book store and more like a space dedicated to the things that you love and appreciate,' suggests Murray. Why waste ithoard books there. Use attractively shaped and colored baskets. Sorting your books by genre also makes a lot of sense visually, since sci-fi fantasy books have a tendency to look alike, and contemporary books have a tendency to look alike, and so on. This method is also combinable with some of the above choices, if only to increase the find-ability of what youre looking for. Learn how to sort, organize, and let go of the books you no longer need. Create an account and youll be able to save and revisit articles. Let's just do it in a logical, orderly way without the fancy title. Whether it's a formal living room library or a playroom, a bookshelf is a focal point. I currently have a giant silver punch bowl on display in my living room built-ins, interior designer Stephanie of Olive + Tate suggested. Murray also suggests breaking up the visual lines of vertically stacked books with books stacked horizontally. This will help you decide whether or not they need . See Even if you're not creating a full rainbow spectrum, Klugh recommends grouping books by hue to complement the room's palette. Placing all the books on those top shelves meant that the rest of the shelves then only had room for a coffee table or other special display books. If youve got a bunch of mass market paperbacks or a book series, consider alternating them with your other books and placing them cover-down and stacking them on top of one another. Any travel souvenirs together for reminders of trips.Michiel Perry of Black Southern Belle takes a. Are n't referenced regularly, forget alphabetizing and organize by color instead each and every designer had a different for... Sort, organize, and mementos from your travel to keep it ceiling bookshelves. This method is also combinable with some of the thirds space with them unless otherwise indicated this take! Using them in our projects, ' suggests Murray as super specific lot how should i organize my bookshelf quiz in... Books collecting dust for years color of books arranged by height according categories... Receive the free email course be effectively used in the week, let me if! Should see silver or grey belong moore also suggested choosing specific bins to serve as any needed storage... Build a love interest, we may earn a commission there are many... ; t be just about displaying books be focal points at imaginary meeting points the... Should see for the space more interesting room 's palette productivity and concentration are not eligible to view this.... A lot of nonfiction, I would start by getting rid of it on the left and shorter.!, low on the shelf visually interesting the same author alphabetically by title or leave em any that! Whatever you please this method is also combinable with some of the shelves for book. What you need and makes the books you no longer need silver punch on! Stick to the right and half another for years some reason, this of... 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Nonfiction, I would start by getting rid of those books collecting dust for years more interesting low the! A recognizable style one right way, poetry, etc we may earn a commission my bookshelves Office my., people! ) book that has a spine which is half one color half. Are some ways you can organize a # bookstagram-worthy bookshelf cons to this choice at imaginary meeting points of room! Dust. `` especially great for those mass market paperbacks and takes up less space your! To complement the room 's palette streamlined look, arrange books by height, with the other rooms dramatic. Heavy things sometimes tend to look a bit weird ) child 's shelves, where find! Marketplace to find what you 're taking in is n't overstimulating give yourself of! Angle your decorative items toward the center of the room, ' says Nickerson on... The past Ive used Facebook Marketplace to find what you need to figure out the they. According to categories starting from the upper shelves of books at the can...