Do you have an abundance of books and don’t know what to do with them or, better yet, how to display them efficiently? Here are 11 tips and tricks to organize all your books while still being stylish.
Over the years, I struggled to organize my bookshelves. But as I grew into a bookworm over the years, I learned many creative techniques for managing my bookshelves. If you are struggling with book organization, we have the ideas to help you – read on.
Before you begin your organization process, I recommend going through your books. If you have no interest in re-reading, I would consider donating to one of Discover Book’s collection bins, or our buyback app, PiggyBook.
Additionally, you can call your local library to confirm they are collecting unwanted books. If some of your books are damaged, you can contact your local government to identify recycling options.
Books by Color
By far, this method is my favorite. Why? Because I love the way it looks, and it makes organizing fun. Suppose you are the type of reader who associates your collection by their book cover, then this organization strategy is for you. Perhaps, you want your book shelves to be visually appealing. I love this system because it gives you a chance to be creative while being easy to create.
Hardcovers and Paperbacks
Separating your hardcovers from your paperbacks gives your bookshelf a neat and clean look, perfect for a visual person. Finding the type of book to read will be easier; would I prefer a paperback or hardcover today?
Books by Genre or Subject
I love organizing my books by genre because it makes my life so much easier. I like to put all my mysteries together, romance together, memoirs together, and so forth. I can grab a book off the shelf so much easier when I know where the genre or subject is located.
Stack your Books
Don’t be afraid to stack your books. If you want your bookshelf to stand out, you can stack it by theme or size of the book. I recommend stacking when you are trying to break up the rows. I also really like the way stacking books look next to the rows.
Alphabetically
I don’t usually do this; however, I find that this trick can be most helpful for people. I find organizing your books alphabetically is a little tedious when collecting them, but it works best to remember book titles and author’s names more than plot points. It is also highly ideal if you have a massive collection of books like a mini-library. Using this step will ensure you find your book easily and quickly if you have enough patience to do this.
Have Not Read
I recently just did this myself. All the books I haven’t read but want to read shortly I lumped together on the right side of my bookshelf. When you need a fresh new read, you know where to find them!
Favorite Books
I love to make sure that all my favorite reads are right in front of me and not in places that make it harder for me to find. Therefore, I place all my favorite books front and center of my bookshelf. I also make sure that the books face their titles, so I do not just see the book pages, and I can’t read which book I am pulling out.
Separate Fiction to Nonfiction
You have probably heard this step before because it is straightforward. Grouping nonfiction to fiction keeps things easy and makes organizing even more accessible. One week I am in the mood for nonfiction, while other weeks, I am in the mood for fiction; therefore, this organizing bookshelf technique makes my life so much easier after I have decided what type of book I am looking for.
Height and Size
This step is crucial because organizing books of similar size and height will make your book collection an immaculate and uncluttered feel. Try to create straight lines with the tops of your books so that they aren’t staggered.
Condition of Covers
Another way to eliminate visual clutter on your bookshelves is to keep your worn and older books in one place, and your beautiful-looking book covers in another area. This step makes your bookshelf more visually appealing.
Contemporary or Classic
I love this method if you have a diverse collection of old and new books—one side of Hemingways and one side of John Greens. You could also do books written before the 1980s and books written after the 2000s or books written in specific periods.
Here is another blog post on Discover Book’s website that illustrates creative storage space for your books other than a bookshelf.
If you want to shop used or new books at the lowest prices to add to your newly organized bookshelf, visit DiscoverBooks.com. We hope you find this blog helpful!
