A well-organized bookshelf can be soothing for the mind. Not only does it tidy up your living space, but it can also be a captivating focal point of your room, showing friends and family a deep look into your major life interests. If you’re tired of looking at clutter, however, you’re probably wondering how to organize a bookshelf to be more efficient and stylish.
Look no further. In this article, we’ll unveil 13 creative ways to organize a bookshelf so that your book collection and décor items not only stay organized but also showcase your unique style.
13 Bookshelf Organization Ideas
Below are 13 bookshelf organization ideas that will help jog your creativity when it comes to making the most of your home library shelves.
1. Group by Colors
If you’re not particular about grouping your books by author or series, you can separate them by creating a visually stunning rainbow effect. This not only looks appealing, but it can make an adventure out of finding the book you want!
2. Arrange Alphabetically
This is a tried and true method for any Type A organizer. This can make a shelf for books easy to navigate, particularly if you organize alphabetically by author. This way, all the books by the same person will be grouped together, much like they are in a bookstore. It’s also great for large bookshelves, where you might otherwise get overwhelmed trying to find all the books by an author you like!
3. Organize by Similar Book Size
When your bookshelf starts to look disorganized, grouping your books by size can be a great option. Thankfully, publishers have a standard range of sizes for certain types of books (fiction, for example), so if you have multiple types of books (including photography books, which can be large), grouping them by size can bring you a bit more visual serenity.
4. Book Stacking
If you’re wondering how to stack books—or if you even can stack books as a way to store them—we’re happy to say that you have a few options. The most common option is to lay and stack the book horizontally, with their spines facing your room. For a dynamic visual effect, you can have some books standing vertically and some books stacked horizontally!
5. Hardback vs. Paperback Books
Given that hardback and paperback books typically have very different sizes, you might consider grouping each type in its own area so that you won’t have a jagged, staggered look when finding them a bookshelf home.
6. Group by Genre
If your book collection is extensive, you might have multiple genres that you’d like to keep separate. Not only will this help your home mimic a bookstore, but it may also help give your bookshelf a cohesive feel by having similar-looking books grouped together.
7. Gather Books That You Haven’t Read
Those of us who love to read always have a list of books we haven’t read. If you’re one of these people, consider dedicating a particular area of shelf space for these books. This will keep them top of mind for you as you consider what to read next!
8. Install Floating Shelves
When you’re trying to figure out how to fit books on a bookshelf, consider installing floating shelves. These can be particularly great if you’re looking for bedroom or office bookshelf ideas in a small space.
9. Use Baskets
Baskets can be a fun, distinct option when you’re trying to figure out how to organize large bookshelves. By stacking some books in baskets—particularly ones you may not want to look at all the time—you can break up the aesthetic of your bookshelf and even make space for other items.
10. Declutter Books
Given that we now live in an age of digital books, it’s possible to declutter your bookshelf by regularly assessing your collection and making decisions about which books to keep and which to donate or sell to a used bookstore. You can always rebuy books as e-books, which allows you to carry them around with you at all times.
11. Group Your Favorite Books
When you have a favorite book series, there’s sometimes nothing better than seeing the entire collection on the shelf, one after the other. You can also add other favorite books to this part of a shelf to make a shrine of sorts, which can be fun and inspiring, especially when you want to remember how exciting it was to read those books for the first time.
12. Leave Empty Spaces
Home bookshelves can always benefit from some breathing room! By leaving some empty spaces on the shelf, you can form fun display patterns by grouping certain blocks of books together in purposeful ways and places. It also makes the shelves easier to clean.
13. Mix Objects between Books
As an alternative to leaving empty spaces, you might also consider leaving spaces between groups of books but filling them with other decorative items like picture frames, jars of unique rocks, or anything else that will give your room an extra burst of personalized flare.
How to Fit More Books on a Bookshelf
Sometimes, you just need more space on your bookshelves. If you’re facing this issue, you can consider adding more shelves to your unit if 1) they’re adjustable and 2) they have space for new shelving hooks every inch or two.
If you’ve already culled your collection, you can again consider stacking your books so that they take up the entire height of each individual section of shelf. You can also stack books horizontally on top of vertical ones.
Hire an Organizer for an Organized Bookshelf
With these creative ideas, you can turn your bookshelf into a work of art while keeping it well-organized. Whether you prefer a color-coded rainbow approach, a sleek alphabetical arrangement, or a mix of genres and objects, your bookshelf can be a great reflection of your personality and style.
If the idea of organizing a bookshelf is too daunting for you, consider hiring a Organization Tasker to do it for you!
