How to Organize your Books

If you’re one of those people who spend entire afternoons reading, you should definitely have a specific area of your home dedicated to books. This can sometimes create problems since you might not know how to organize your study well, which could create a mess in your home. 

There are a thousand and one places where you can put your books. However, shelves may not be the most aesthetically pleasing option. This is because we tend to fill them with books and decorative objects that don’t follow any specific visual pattern.

So, in today’s post, we’re going to give you some very useful and easy tips that you can put into practice.  Your shelves will look so great you’ll want to show them off. And, you’ll feel more relaxed when you’re reading in this part of the house!

First step: clear out your study

The first thing you have to do is empty all the books from your shelves or anywhere else you’ve been keeping them. Then, you can start ordering them. A helpful idea is to organize them into specific groups that work best for you: size, author, theme, etc. 

You should also try to throw some things away that you don’t like and give some books away that you don’t need anymore. This will make it easier to sort everything out.

Types of bookshelves

Low shelves

These types of shelves help you make the most of the space you have. You can mix up the placement of the books by putting them vertically and horizontally, giving it an interesting look.

They have a lot of storage space so you’ll be able to organize a lot of books in your study.

Also, it won’t distract from the rest of the space. Since the books are located closer to the ground, and it’s a smaller shelf, you’ll barely see it. So, you should take advantage of the top shelf and use it for decorative objects, lamps or pictures that won’t overload the furniture. This will create a harmonious visual effect. 

Tailored shelves

This shelf is great. It’s made to order according to where you’re going to put it and the size that you want. Talk to a professional who can make it and agree on the measurements so there aren’t any problems when it comes to putting it in its designated spot.

Since you’re designing the height of the shelves, you can decide where the bigger and smaller books will go. So, it’ll be easy to organize them. 

Apart from solving any issues with placement, these shelves will also aesthetically pleasing in any space you decide to put them. They can be adapted to any kind of style; from the most modern, to more classic, and you can make it out of the material you like most.

Different ways to organize your books

By size

The most classic way to organize your books is to order them from largest to smallest. The issue is that, when you go to look for a certain book, you’ll have to know what size it is.

This is a very attractive and simple way to organize your books. However, for it to really look great, you have to be very precise when measuring the dimensions of the books. Then, you have to alternate them on different shelves and compartments.

It’s important to remember to not overload the space, to also use decorative pieces like a plant or picture. 

By color

Another way to organize your books that’s becoming very popular is by color. To do this, separate your books into groups depending on the color of their spines. Once you’ve separated them, you can classify them more specifically according to their tones. 

Then, you can decide on the order of the colors. We recommend following a color scale that shows you the strongest colors and their different tones. You can also play with the positions of each book to give your bookshelf another special touch.

By genre

For the most detailed and professional studies, you can choose to order your books according to their genres. This will give your books a more precise location and your study will look like a prestigious bookstore.

This type of organization is great because it makes your books easier to find. Since they’re not ordered by how they look, you’ll know exactly where to look for a certain book.

A negative aspect of this type of organization is that it doesn’t look great aesthetically. Since each book will have its own shape and size, but won’t be ordered in accordance with them, your shelf may run the risk of looking unorganized. 

In alphabetical order

Another very common way to organize your books is in alphabetical order. This involves sorting your books by their names and titles.

Like the previous option, this is a great way to organize your books so you can find them easily. You can even buy separators to keep them in order and to make your search even faster. 

Don’t overload the bookshelf

Like we’ve said before, you have to make sure you don’t overload your bookshelf with books and other objects. You want to avoid any feelings of chaos and “visual overwhelming.”

So, make sure you’re placing your books in a way that maximizes your space, but that you’re leaving enough empty space to avoid any overloading. Leave at least 10% of the bookcase with nothing on it so it won’t look too crowded. 

To create the ideal bookshelf, follow the rule of ‘less is more.’

Add accessories

Baskets or wicker boxes

As you know, wicker is a very trendy material. It can give your bookcase a delicate and rustic feel.

Not only will this accessory give you more storage space, but it will also give your shelf a break from all of the books. 

Flowers and candles

Candles and glass details look great in any space. They are especially great for bookshelves since they will match the aesthetic well. Also, they’ll add a touch of elegance and finesse.

Flowers will also make an overcrowded study appear more open and fresh. They’re often used to help spaces ‘breathe’ and to add a touch of color.

Are you ready to give your study a new look?