We often hoard books because we care about the knowledge they contain; we worry that if we throw something away, we will lose some part of that knowledge. However, think about whether you really use your books. If not, donate or sell the ones you don't need without sentiment. This will make space for new releases on your shelves. When your collection is revised, there are a few ways you can go about arranging it.
Bookshelf organizing ideas
1. Based on colors
Arranging books by cover color doesn't appeal to everyone, but according to interior designers, it makes perfect sense. You get a rainbow of colorful spots that gently transition one into the other. You certainly gain a sense of order, while the colorful shelves tame the visual chaos.
If you don't use your collection on a daily basis and don't care much about finding specific titles quickly, go for the aesthetic look of this arrangement. It's not always the most functional way to organize your home library, but it's probably the most interesting.
How to determine the order of colors? Start with the dark colors on the bottom shelf to set the lightest ones, namely white and cream, on the top shelf. Arrange the colors between them according to your preference or according to the colors of the rainbow.
2. Based on height
The attractive appearance of a home bookcase can also be achieved by arranging the books by height, that is, from smallest to highest. A rule of thumb is to follow a Z-shaped pattern. What does this mean? The top shelf should have tall books on the left and low books on the right. On the shelf underneath, on the other hand, arrange them in reverse: high on the right, low on the left. Fill the rest of the shelves similarly, that is, alternately.
3. Based on covers
Visual balance on the shelves can also be improved by separating hard and soft covers. Place hardcover books on the bottom shelves and soft, paperback books on top. Not only will this look better, but will also allow you to distribute the weight evenly.
4. Alphabetical
This is the best way for those who have an extremely large collection of books. If, in addition, you use it frequently, having any kind of organizational system that facilitates quick retrieval becomes very important. In such cases, decide to organize your collection alphabetically by author, and then by the titles that came out of their pen. You can focus on the subject matter of the books and create a bookshelf with encyclopedias and dictionaries, novels, poetry, science fiction, or Scandinavian detective stories, and arrange them alphabetically within these subjects.
5. However you like
Place your favorite books at eye level and in the center of your home library for the best access. Display the books you love on a separate rack, bookcase or shelf in a unique location. Similarly, store the books you use most often - within easy reach, so they’re at hand whenever you need them.