Sign up for our Book Deals newsletter and get up to 80% off books you actually want to read. . Its unlikely youve ever read a book in a vacuum and its likely that the same tome can bring up memories of very different times in your life. How can you begin to organize your books in a functional rather than decorative manner? Last, but definitely not least, another way you can organize your books is by publisher. Use some of your heavier collectibles as book stops. . 'In the past Ive used Facebook Marketplace to find old editions of National Geographic for my husband,' says Nickerson. Wait, but this one is lighteror is it? this 3-pack of easy-to-care-for plants on Amazon, interior designer Stephanie of Olive + Tate, The Ultimate First Time Homeowner's Guide. Its free! Am I likely to reread this book? Another great way to organize a larger collection is by genre. A few ideas? Elena Nicolaou is the former culture editor at Oprah Daily. Your shelves will shift over time. We may earn commission from the links on this page. You can easily find a series of books on the same subject. We Go Way Back: 25 of the Best Historical Fiction Books of the Past 10 Years, The Bestselling Books of the Week, According to All the Lists, New Releases Tuesday: The Best Books Out This Week, March 2023 Horoscopes and Book Recommendations, And loads more (including tips for extreme book hoarders). The meeting points of these thirds are where items of interest should be placed. Keep each shelf two-thirds full, allowing for some empty space, or a place to put an object or two. Place items of interest at meeting points of the thirds. This is where organizing by genre, category, or mood can be super fun, as well as super specific. Remember them at their best by taking a picture when you're done. 6. Maybe youre even lucky enough to own a number of Folio Society editions of your favorite childrens books or literary works. ", Shop Picture Frames Shop Decorative Bowls, Rainbow bookshelves are a controversial topic in the book world. Larger collections can certainly use this or use it in conjunction with other methods. Again, you can weave fiction in these categories however makes the most sense to you. I realized this might be a situation to call in some pros. Lay them horizontally and stack them in an odd-numbered grouping, centering one on top of another,' says Murray. Pile all the stuff in an used corner of the shelves. Do I love this book? 5. Once youve decided on the books you plan to keep, here are five popular ways you can organize your books: Organizing your book collection does not need to be complicated or time-consuming itcan be really fun. Divide them into fiction, non-fiction and reference. Got a tip, kitchen tour, or other story our readers should see? 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. Definitely darker. 'It will look more sophisticated with items facing straight out from the shelf. All of them inspired me to think differently about the space, even if I didnt put every single tip to use. If the shelves are crowded, with books that are askew and havent been borrowed in years, readers dont find browsing pleasurable in the same way. Receive updates on Riveted, as well as new book releases, recommended reads and more from Organizing your bookshelves this way is unconventional but sounds like a lot of fun. Now is the time to color coordinate the books. Youll have to decide how to organize them within the genre. If you didnt arrange your books the way you do arrange them, what sort of arrangement would you choose? So when my fianc and I moved into our current row home in Philadelphia, I gave myself some time to figure things out. This is part of why public libraries weed their collections. I dont consider myself an interior decorating expert, but I do know what I like. 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. 'No adjustable shelves? This content contains affiliate links. Go horizontal. As with any organizational method, there are pros and cons to this choice. By clicking 'Submit' I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the privacy policy and terms of use. They feel like if they let the book go, they're letting the knowledge go," she says. At the end of the day, there's no right or wrong way to organize your books. Display chosen volumes, not your entire treasure trove. This is the obvious, most boring method, but it might be the friendliest, too. "People hoard books and the knowledge that's in them. What is the DDC and how is it be relevant to a home office? To read and save unlimited articles, sign up to become an Oprah Daily member. Living plants are an essential design element. We had plans to add a dresser to the space instead, but as it wasnt in the budget, we implemented another plan. Or, get three objects of the same color but different textures." Maybe youre more interested in organizing by category, then by genre or alphabetically. Now that I don't make the pots as often, I have a huge selection of books that I will be selling as beautiful as they all look together, I just don't have the room. Start with the category or genres you are least attached to or dont read as often. Like the books, each and every designer had a different suggestion for what to do between the shelves. I like a lot of these options but no single one worked for my needs. Put em all together. Use books usefully. Or, like the photo above, are you electing to use each shelf as a rainbow individually? To do this, take your largest books and measure the shelving space with them. Group mystery novels with other mystery novels, nonfiction with nonfiction, and so on. Make undulating waves of books arranged by height according to a pattern. There was a long period of time when being frustrated by a design element in my house meant I would start from scratchbuy all new furniture that I couldnt afford or spend time hunting for meaningless knickknacks and decor. Maybe all of your books that make you cry are together, while those that make you swoon settle in with one another. "Each piece doesnt have to 'match' but if they all encompass the same theme, something cohesive will naturally take shape," she says. Except when it came to my bedroom, it didnt. It is a good idea to have a visual break from the books by displaying ornaments here and there. My TBR (to be read) bookcase. Offer redeemable at Simon & Schusters ebook fulfillment partner. If youre hoping to organize a bookshelf in your own space, youll want to read on. Randomly. Maggie Griffin, Founder & Lead Designer Maggie Griffin Design Styling, proposed a similar solution for the bottom shelves, in particular, suggesting I put two large baskets there to collect any cords, etc. Gather them for their debut on your bookshelves. How could I switch things around so the space was more functional, prettier, and easier to manage? Some suggested keeping the mirror and adding a table or mirror underneath, others noted that a dresser would work. Like alphabetizing by author, this system allows different books to be shelved next to each other, and in most cases, even books by the same author will be separated. Though the Dewey Decimal System (DDS) is anglocentric and problematicas was Melvil Dewey himselfhaving a system of classification for your books can be helpful when youre looking for a specific topic. "You want to feel like it's well rounded," Klugh says of the bookshelf. ORGANIZING YOUR BOOKS. Many books cover more than one topic. Klugh recommends working with odd numbers when decorating shelves with objects. It would not only be impossible for others to find books on your shelves, but it will likely be hard for you. And surprise, surprise, furniture and mirrors have suddenly become a lot easier to think about now that the shelves themselves are more organized. You might have a vast array of Barnes & Noble classics or a pile of those $10 Harper Perennial Olive Editions (which would look amazing also organized by rainbow within itself!). First, start sorting them into categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, etc. For example, history books might be organized starting with Ancient Greece up through 18th Century British History, and then into current history books. Novels can easily slide into the 800s arenawhere you see exactly how limiting and white-centric the system iswhile comics can be in the 760s. ', Want to fill out your bookshelf so it looks more put together? Not being able to find a particular book can cause frustration. By doing so, this will trigger your memory and help you to locate the book you want quickly.The following sections set forth various tried-and-true methods for organizing a book collection; it's recommended that you pick the approach that appeals to you the most. How can you organize a child's shelves, where you find myriad irregular items? Books that are damaged or moldy should be thrown out or recycled. Theres something about a comfortably stuffed bookshelf that adds warmth and friendliness to a space whether its a home office or a cozy living room. Its easy, assuming you know the alphabet. I have five bookcases in my home, which are organized thusly: The above tips are for folks who have many, many books and arent sure how to organize them in a thoughtful, satisfying way. It can be a visual treat to see your same-sized books lined on a shelf. There are a lot of interesting options within the color-organizing category, such as arranging them into some type of pattern within the color coding, or actually covering your books with wrapping paper so that different sections are clear. "Whatever book you choose to feature on a stand will say something unique about you, what you love, where youve been, and where you want to go in the future," art instructor at TakeLessons Eileen Murphy says. Organize books bysubcategories within each genre or subject matter etc. An avid traveler, she's currently splitting her time between her apartment in a century-old chteauesque building in Montreal and her cozy chalet in the woods (that she built with her own two hands and many YouTube tutorials!). Where do colors like black or white or brown or gold or silver or grey belong? A solution can be organizing by size. Perhaps you want to mix and match how to organize your bookshelves. Styling a beautiful bookcase can turn a boring, messy shelf into a statement piece in your living room or bedroom. For those of you with a wall of bookshelves, DeMorrow says to guide your organizing with a wave pattern: Each shelf should go from high to low. If your shelves have to store office supplies what can you do to keep things under control? Just remember not to stack them too high or youll have a heck of a time getting to the books on the bottom. The method that came up most was organizing by genre or topic. #organizedspaces #organizedbookshelves #whitespaceplanning #colorful #colorgrouping #organizedreading #organizinghacks #organizedlife #organizedpictures #organizeyourspace #beautiful #organizingpro #organizingproject #toptobottomorganization #simplifyyourlife, A post shared by Kathe Roberts (@toptobottomorganization) on May 28, 2020 at 3:17pm PDT. It might make sense, depending upon how many bookshelves you have, to leave each shelf one-third or one-quarter empty to incorporate new books. Put your collections where you will utilize them most: cookbooks in the kitchen, books about grammar and style at your desk where you may reference them, humor books in the bathroom, and so forth. 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. 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