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. 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. Highlight the books you love by using a bookstand. 9. I like a lot of these options but no single one worked for my needs. If you go into a library looking for books on baking, you'd probably appreciate finding all the baking books together. If your shelves have to store office supplies what can you do to keep things under control? The traditional way of shelving books is standing them on their spines. 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. This method is especially helpful for small spaces or collections where you dont keep a ton of books. Collectibles and books on the same shelf don't look good. The picture area is divided into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. A big benefit of this system is also one of its drawbacks: you have room to grow as you're organizing, since you'll start with A authors and end with Z. Place baskets under lower shelves for the miscellaneous living room stuff. Display fragile things on higher shelves. Maybe you collect certain types of books or have a whole bunch of fancy special editions of books. 5. Before you can start putting the books back, though, you need to figure out the configuration they should be in. 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. This solution was 100 percent free and ended up being one of my favorite changes to the space. When you post pictures of it on the internet, many people will be legitimately angry in your general direction. Heres what six experts suggested. Whats not great is trying to figure out how to organize them in such a way that youre not just randomly shoving tomes into whatever bookshelf crevice is available. Many noted that the possibilities for this space were endless, which overwhelmed me a bit. No matter what you put on your shelves, Klugh says the process of redecorating should always begin with the same step: A clean slate. 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. BA1 1UA. 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. At the end of the day, there's no right or wrong way to organize your books. . However, she encourages you to consider how often you really use the book, and decide whether or not to keep it. A few ideas? Lay them horizontally and stack them in an odd-numbered grouping, centering one on top of another,' says Murray. Once the frequently used books are accessible you may want to arrange them according to subject matter. Organizing your bookshelves like this can be great in small spaces or when you have a small collection of books, though it can be easily adapted for larger collections and spaces, too. First, start sorting them into categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, etc. My Pulitzer-winning novels. One friend said her . She places travel books about a specific place next to items from that place. A big benefit of this system is also one of its drawbacks: you have room to grow as youre organizing, since youll start with A authors and end with Z. 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. Whether it's a formal living room library or a playroom, a bookshelf is a focal point. 6. They get their own bookcase and are organized chronologically by the date they won. Revel in the perfect even-ness of your shelf, the way each book lines up comfortably with the books next to it. This is the obvious, most boring method, but it might be the friendliest, too. Also, separate those books that have sentimental value or are collectiblesthese books will not be on the chopping block. As with any organizational method, there are pros and cons to this choice. Change color of books at every third meeting point. "Each piece doesnt have to 'match' but if they all encompass the same theme, something cohesive will naturally take shape," she says. '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. Non-fiction. Weve rounded up a handful of expert-approved tips and tricks that will ensure your bookshelf looks great and functions properly to add a decorative element to a home library or any other space for that matter. Amy Kartheiser, principal at Amy Kartheiser Design, recommends mixing objects between books. There are countless approaches to organizing bookshelves. 'Consider the empty space a breath before you start the next thingwe need to breathe and so do our bookcases.'. While this can be harder for fiction titles, its not uncommon for folks who have mostly non-fiction titles to organize them chronologically. It might also inspire you to read some of those books collecting dust for years. An overstuffed bookcase can seem more airy with a bit of negative space.'. The main guiding principle behind these systems is making it easier for patrons to browse. 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. Heres a handy chart of all the major classifications, but you can find even more granular ones if youd like to get super specific. Remember them at their best by taking a picture when you're done. 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. "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. "People hoard books and the knowledge that's in them. How do you keep all your favorites organized and easily accessible? Another tip that really helped me was from Katie Stix, IIDA (Partner, Design Director, LEED Green Associate) at Anderson Design Studio, who suggested moving items around the shelves by creating little vignettes. I always have arguments with the guy who helps me organize my books, because I have a biography section. Should bookshelves be used only for books? Receive updates on Riveted, as well as new book releases, recommended reads and more from Only Oprah Daily+ members can save this article. You can also filter your fiction right into the bigger classifications by topic or theme. Stagger the objects and group them so that they feel like one, so that they're overlapping in front of each other," Klugh says. Often used by academic libraries, the LOCS has very broad categories, layering more specificity beneath them. (Image credit: Rosie Hilder) While some, such as Hester, believe books should be stood up rather than stacked in piles, "because you can easily take the book of your choice without having to move other books", others believe that stacks of books do have a place in a stylish home. Rule of thumb, according to Klugh: Put heavier objects, like art books or storage bins, on the bottom of the shelves. According to Klugh, grouping books by color can create a sense of order. The 12 Most Anticipated YA Books to Read in March; Quizzes . Lighter objects, like paperbacks, should go toward the top. Drape heavy narrow curtains at the ends of the shelves for a dramatic effect. The advice from the experts about all my books varied, though. Arrange by Genre. Another great way to organize a larger collection is by genre. "Move all the books to meet the front edge of the bookshelf, giving a uniform look and eliminating telltale dust.". Here is a tip on how to get your home office/workspace organized & functional! If youve run out of space on the bookshelves themselves, stack books next to them, using the bookcases as support. So, weve got a lot of books. Bookshelves should be organized in a way that's functional so you can easily find a particular book, of course and also in a manner that's aesthetically pleasing. 'Fight the impulse to angle decorative items toward the center of the room,' says Kelly. What is it that gives joy to bibliophiles? I used to hold myself back from showing off a space or taking photos of it simply because it wasnt complete. Now I know that, much like life itself, any given room is never going to be 100 percent perfect. I'll post about prices and availability later in the week, let me know if you have any wishlist titles though! Larger collections can certainly use this or use it in conjunction with other methods. 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. So now that we have gone through how to purge your book collection and bookshelves, let's talk about organizing. Sure -- as long as you make sure everything on your shelves goes well with blue. I currently have a giant silver punch bowl on display in my living room built-ins, interior designer Stephanie of Olive + Tate suggested. You can also group them by genre or author. And when you own multiple books by the same author, it more often than not looks aesthetically pleasing to stack them next to each other. 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. You can go the library-esque route and alphabetize the last name of the author, or you can be a rebel (bad boy/girl, you!) If you have one similar to this one pictured by neatnikdc, you can give yourself a bookshelf makeover by arranging titles based on category. Colored glassware is equally great for dinner parties and for adding pops of vibrant elegance to bookshelves. While Klugh recommends grouping books by color for aesthetic purposes, those with a lot of tomes may want to stack them by genre or alphabetically so you can access them more efficiently. There are so many possibilities, so there isnt one right way! When you post pictures of it on the internet, many people on the internet will think youre cool. Please refresh the page and try again. If you dont love it, why keep it? Am I likely to reread this book? Resist the impulse to push books toward the back wall. I guess Id choose to arrange them by title and series instead Im not great at remembering the names of books, and even worse at remembering author names I am good at remembering colours of books, which is why I arrange by rainbow as my first choice . 9. Most people remember an authors name or a books title as opposed to what color the cover and spine are. The only thing I love more than a good book is a g, Ready for a fun read? Youll have to decide how to organize them within the genre. Moore wasnt the only expert to suggest this starting point, so I followed the expert advice. Will your books be shelved by hue of color, such that deep reads are together, lighter reds are together, darker pinks are together, and so forth? This way, the clutter always landed in those bins instead of all over the shelves themselves. I took her advice. If you want, you can add a few drops . A home workstation desk is essential to any home office arrangement. Theyre personal objects that we love to surround ourselves with. "Art can also be layered nicely by framing a larger abstract or simple black and white family photo with a smaller framed piece of art layered in front of it," she says. If you tend to pick up the same books over and over, youll want to consider putting them all in one specific spot. Maybe thats how your brain works, or maybe you love the possibilities of browsing and discovery to fuel finding your next read. But in the alternating method, some books are on their spines while others are shelved the wide way, with the back cover against the shelf or books below it. Luckily, the experts gave me some good advice for exactly how I could work different types of items into the space. We had plans to add a dresser to the space instead, but as it wasnt in the budget, we implemented another plan. With the cold weather rolling in, it's time to find yourself a warm spot and dive into some great new reads. You can organize books by the same author alphabetically by title or leave 'em any way that feels right. For the most attractive arrangement of your books, what should you do? When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. If you have engagement/wedding gifts, family pieces, or favorite travel souvenirs that deserve to be out and about, then consider storing them on the shelves.. 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. When I used to make and sell more Paperback Pots, I ordered hundreds of Penguin Books to accompany each pot. The experience reminded me that sometimes reworking an element in your home is as simple as starting from a blank canvas and placing things differently. This allows you to find what youre looking for easily and makes the books themselves fit more easily on your shelves. Eliminate the excess and start fresh with only the books you wish to own. To avoid overcrowding, Klugh recommends using the "two-thirds rule." Larger books at the bottom can create a nice visual balance (top heavy things sometimes tend to look a bit weird). Visit our corporate site. If looking at your tattered copy of Pride and Prejudice brings back memories of your freshman dorm room, or if you laugh to remember your mansplaining uncle buying The Fountainhead for you, then you may want to consider organizing your books autobiographically. You wish to own your how should i organize my bookshelf quiz works, or maybe you collect certain types of books genre... Glassware is equally great for dinner parties and for adding pops of vibrant elegance to bookshelves paperbacks, should toward! Sorting them into categories: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, etc my needs larger can! Decorative items toward the top start fresh with only the books you wish to.. 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