Organizing your library may be something you have been putting off for some time. But between the books falling off the shelf, the riot of colors, and the impossibility of finding anything to read, you have decided to finally slam your scepter (or feather duster) down and instill order.
There are many ways to organize your library, but opting for what’s trending will not make for happy shelves. An in-depth understanding of aesthetics, book groupings, genres, or authors can help you become the reading ruler in your home kingdom.
Choosing how to organize your library will be personal. It needs to be functional and ensure your books are well cared for and stored in a way that is pleasing to the eye and the mind.
Depending on your creativity and preferences, you may decide to flaunt the norm and go for something extreme like organizing based on publishing houses or dates when you first read them. The choice is yours.
Firstly, we’ll consider the mental space of books, comparing traditional and non-traditional ways to organize your library. Then, we’ll consider the physical or aesthetic space of your book collection and how to make the most out of these. Lastly, as a bonus, we’ll help out the book hoarders among us with some great ideas on how to organize and store a mammoth book collection.
Mental Space: Traditional Versus Non-Traditional Organization Systems
There is much to be said for using a simple and elegant system like alphabetizing your book collection, but you may find this method no longer meets your needs.
Author names can help you find something easily, but what about grouping according to genre? Perhaps you prefer a certain subgenre you can group your books according to?
Let’s start by taking a look at traditional systems of ordering a bookshelf and some non-traditional ones that offer an alternative view of organization.
At a Glance—Traditional and Non-Traditional Organization Systems
| Traditionally Organized Shelves | Non-Traditionally Organized Shelves |
| Alphabetizing (the Dewey Decimal Classification & Library of Congress Classification) | Combinations |
| Genre | By color |
| Fiction or non-fiction | Hierarchy |
| By topic | Personal categories |
| Old and new |
While traditional organizational methods have gone somewhat out of style, there is something about a clear Dewey Decimal System or Library of Congress System being used in a large home library that simply makes my fingers itch to go and read.
At the end of the day, the books’ contents are more important than their appearance on the shelf. Hence, some non-traditional organizing systems have made in-roads in the home-library world.
You can use different organizational systems within a larger theme or grouping. This means you could group the books within a topic according to color, size, height, or design. Here’s one such example of organizing according to other considerations.
Whichever system you choose to bring order to your home library, you want to be able to find what you are looking for, ensure your books are somewhat visually pleasing, and leave space to add to your ever-growing collection of glorious writing.
The Pros and Cons of Different Organizational Systems
Let’s turn the page on each of these systems, weighing up the pros and cons to find the most effective way to store, organize, and appreciate your home library.
- Alphabetizing
While placing your book collection in alphabetical order can be a great way for an ordered mind to find peace, it certainly isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
Pros
- You can easily find anything as long as you know the author’s name and surname.
Cons
- This can become tricky if you know what theme you want to read but have no idea who you want to read from.
- You may recall a particular cover design or a character or a basic plot, in which case, you are truly lost.
- Genre
Filing your books by genre is a much nicer way to keep track of everything if you tend to pick your reads based on a certain genre or niche. If you collect all sorts of horror, you may have subsections for monsters, psychological thrillers, and pure chaos based on the books already in your collection.
It’s also a great way to keep sensitive reads out of little hands if you have kids in the house as you can organize your collection with the Kama Sutra on the top shelf and out of reach of your 6-year-old.
Pros
- Themes can be grouped together, making for easy comparison and selection based on what you feel like reading.
Cons
- Some authors write in multiple genres, so you wouldn’t necessarily have all of Poe’s writings together.
- Fiction/Non-Fiction
Grouping your library in terms of the two main areas of writing, namely fiction and non-fiction, is a clever way to immediately bring some order to the shelves. It also helps you in finding what you are looking for more speedily.
Pros
- There is often a difference in the size and binding methods of fiction and non-fiction books, making it easier to organize these books when they are not placed together on the shelf.
- Fiction books tend to follow a typical sizing format with the largest trade book being 6 x 9 inches. Non-fiction books have a much larger variety of sizes in print, and they can range from small pocket-size books to larger coffee-table formats.
Cons
- Some authors write in multiple genres and both fiction and non-fiction.
- Using a fiction/non-fiction separation can bring confusion as you do get books that also blur the lines such as fantasy dictionaries, historical fiction, and autobiographies (which are neither non-fiction nor fiction).
- By Topic
This is an especially useful method of organizing books when you have a large non-fiction collection. You could group books not only according to their niche or genre, but you could also form groupings within each topic to help you remember and personalize your collection.
Pros
- Topics help you remember where to put a book when you are returning it to the shelf. As a bonus, you can also use 3D elements to help you create and enhance your bookshelf. You could, for instance, group a series of comics or graphic novels with the Hulk figurine you bought on eBay recently.
- Not only does this become visually appealing, but it also helps build a fondness for your passion for collecting books and matching memorabilia.
Cons
- Topic groupings may prevent you from reading wider or having a more diversified interest in reading.
- You may become obsessed with only comic books instead of the other topics in your library, and you may end up no longer interested in the rest of your collection.
- Combinations
By far the most preferred method of organizing your home library is to use combinations of organizational structures.
So, you might have a shelf for fiction followed by a shelf for non-fiction, which may be related in some way to the fiction. An example would be fantasy books arranged above a shelf with books on medieval weaponry.
Pros
- Combinations are handy for creating an overall pleasing effect on the bookshelf.
- You may use subordinate systems such as alphabetical or topic-based guides within each combination.
- Psychology books could be combined with fiction books like psychological thrillers.
Cons
- Some books don’t naturally lend themselves to combinations, which can create odds.
- Not all people will understand the combinations you choose to use.
- Combinations may not give you a pleasing color scheme or size grouping.
- By Color
While some of us may prefer to use an organizational system based on the book names or content, others prefer the visual aspects of sorting books according to the color of the covers. This presents a collection that is color specific, and while it is visually pleasing, it may not be everyone’s page-turner.
Pros
- With books having unique and interesting cover designs, there are endless possibilities for arranging according to color.
- You might group books in shades of gray (pun intended) or in patterns according to the designs on the spine.
- Even the choice of print on the spine may offer you a range of possibilities.
Cons
- There are some limitations, though, as black tends to be the overall choice in book cover designs, so this may dominate your collection.
- Additionally, when your book collection is grouped according to color, you may struggle to find a particular book.
- It is harder to search for the books in a series when they are all split up according to color.
- Hierarchy
While a little more complicated to organize your books according to hierarchy, this can make for an organized system that is efficient and structured. Since it follows a grouping or theme rule, it can make researching easier and help with comparisons.
Pros
- With a hierarchical approach to organizing your library, you can be assured you will find related books easily.
- This works especially well for non-fiction, where you could group themes such as medieval art and Byzantium churches together, or 20th-century poets with modern philosophies.
- You can easily see which collections are well fleshed out and which can grow, helping you with planning future purchases.
- It also helps your loved ones and friends with ideas for gifts as they can see what you have and what you don’t.
Cons
- Finding a specific work by an author can take longer unless you know what theme the work is in.
- Your bookshelves may look disorganized when you have books of different sizes all grouped mishmash.
- Some books also don’t fit into any one hierarchy, so this can make it complicated to know where to place them.
- Organizing your collection like this can also take up more space, making it impractical for a smaller home with many books.
- Personal Categories
Some of us prefer to organize our book collection based on some personal category such as countries we have visited (where we purchased the books), who gave them to us, or even a story that’s behind the purchase.
While these may not always make sense to others, it is a way to bring something personal into your organizational system.
Pros
- It’s a fun and interesting way to organize your book collection. It can help you remember where you put a book or the reason for owning the book.
Cons
- Other people will not have any idea where your books are or why you have sorted them as you did. This can create the impression that you have no organizational system at all.
- Over time, and as your collection grows, it can become difficult to remember where and how you organized something.
9. New and Old
Your filing system may also be determined by the newer books you purchase and the older ones you already have. Not all books will remain on your bookshelves, and you may end up throwing out books you no longer read, which can change the dynamic of your bookshelf.
You may decide to organize your collection based on books that are older or have been read before and books that are new or haven’t been read before. This offers the potential to make things simpler in your home. It also helps your family to know what you are reading at the moment and what you have already read.
Pros
- A clear classification of “read,” “haven’t read,” or “busy reading” can make life a lot simpler.
- Your family will know what you are reading based on what is currently in a specific section of your book collection.
Cons
- Not all books are always entertaining enough to be read to conclusion, and while your book may not be in the “have read” section, you could end up not wanting to finish the book.
- If you are reading a series, you may end up with books in the “read” and the “to read” sections, making it difficult to keep the series together.
When sorting your shelves, you may need to pack all books out, group them into categories of fiction and non-fiction, then subgroup each according to author, historical period, topic, genre, color, and whichever other subcategories you prefer. Don’t pack your books back until you have them sorted.
Whichever system you choose, it needs to be functional, help you have some order in storing your books, and help you find a book without having to look for hours.
However, your organizing strategy will also be largely dependent on the space available to store your collection, the size of your collection, and the physical arrangement of your shelves.
Physical Space: Organizing What You See and How It Looks
Your physical space in your home is where your bookshelves will be. Whether you purchase a bookshelf system from a reputable dealer or supplier or build your own shelving system, you need to ensure it is sturdy and can accommodate your whole book collection.
You should also keep in mind that book collections aren’t static, and you may constantly be adding to yours. Books require care too as they are fragile and can be an investment.
Care for Your Books
However you store your books, you need to ensure they are kept in conditions that will ensure they don’t lose value, develop mold, bleach, or rot. This means considering how you care for your books.
There are certain conditions that a book requires to last. Libraries have to follow strict protocols for caring for and storing books, and you should too.
Be sure to avoid the following:
- Strong Sunlight
Books that are exposed to harsh sunlight will bleach, and the paper will become brittle and degrade. The glue of the binding may also melt and perish, so keep your books away from strong sunlight, even if that idea on House Beautiful of putting shelves in front of your windows looked so cool.
- Moisture
Books don’t like moisture. Avoid putting them on outside walls, near windows, or by doorways where accidental exposure to rain may cause them to get damp. You don’t want pages sticking together or books becoming twins when paper becomes mushy or shrinks.
- Excessive Pressure
While books are often made in a process of stretching paper and putting covers under pressure, they are not made to support large quantities of pressure indefinitely.
If you decide to organize your collection by placing books stacked upon each other, you may find some books deciding to become glued together or no longer paging.
- No Air, No Dust
Books breathe. They need air circulating to prevent mold, dry out damp spots, and keep the paper fresh. Pushing your books to the back of the shelf is not advisable as books need that space to circulate air. Using bookends to help space out books and make openings for air to move through is also a great idea.
Prevent your books from developing a layer of dust on them. This means regularly cleaning out your bookshelf, dusting covers, or using a dust cover to help protect the outside book jacket.
Dust discolors books; it can encourage damp formation, and it may give insects a handy place to nest (while eating your Lady Chatterley’s Lover).
Physical Organization of Your Books
While there are many systems for organizing your books, you should also consider the physical appearance of those books on the shelf. A poorly organized shelf can be a wall of clutter and chaos, which will make you feel uninspired and make visitors cringe.
Be sure to consider what your bookshelf looks like. Consider:
- Appearance
With a classical collection of leather-bound books, all of a similar size and color, it is okay to have a wall of books. However, with a modern book collection where books are in different sizes, shapes, and colors, it becomes much more complicated to create a visually appealing presentation.
You should consider using space to balance out certain books, whether all books will be standing, if some will be lying down, and if you will be using decorative elements in your bookshelf. A well-structured book collection is not just pretty to look at; you will also find what you are looking for in a snap.
Using color to organize your system can be useful, although there are some cons to this. Height can help you, and you can consider placing books either from tallest to shortest, or create pyramid shapes by stacking from short to tall and back to short again. You can also alternate, following a tall-short-tall-short rhythm. Whichever you choose, it will have a definite visual dynamic.
- Space
Books create visual weight. Mentally, we know they are heavy, and if you stack all your books to one side of the shelf, it will create the impression that your bookshelf is about to fall. Be sure to have enough space to add new additions to your collection while still keeping some order and rhythm to your bookshelves.
- Personality
Your bookshelf will have a unique personality to it. This helps make your book collection special, but you need to be aware of the conflicting messages the books and the decor on your shelf may send.
While you like figurines, displaying them with your collection of highly academic reading may not necessarily be a great idea. But adding interesting mannequins with your medical texts and horror stories could be a great statement.
If you collect books on butterflies and journaling, you may be able to use your paperweight collection to complement your books. Be aware of what your ornaments say. They shouldn’t dominate your books.
Plan Ahead
Your book collection is never going to be the same. Over time, your tastes will change, and you will buy new books. Be sure to plan your organizational structure to allow for this.
If you remove books you no longer want or read, you will have space to add something new from the top authors like the new Haruki Murakami or the latest John le Carré.
If you are running short on space, you may consider going vertical with your shelving. This is ideal for small spaces such as apartments. Vertical bookshelves may require a small ladder to access higher shelves.
Also, be aware of the increased weight of the book collection and how this impacts your floors. If you have hardwood floors, you may need to reinforce the area under the bookshelf.
With a little planning, your bookshelf will accommodate and proudly display your collection of amazing books. In the words of Cicero, “A room without books is like a body without a soul,” so be sure to make the most of your book/soul collection.
Bonus: Book Hoarders 911
Book collecting can become an obsession. After all, while certain books may be limited edition, there is no limit to the number of books out there. This can be a wonderful pastime, but what do you do when it comes to storing them?
Here are a few quick solutions to help you accommodate your overflowing collection of books on your existing shelves.
- Go Horizontal
While it is traditional to store books vertically, you can fit more books on a shelf when you group and stack them horizontally, i.e., lying flat on the shelf. If you combine this with a few sections of vertical books, you can create a visually pleasing structure too.
- Free Stacking
Decor magazines abound with ideas of using books stacked horizontally to make coffee tables, side tables, or decorative elements in rooms. When you have run out of space on your shelves, this is a great way to still accommodate some of your collection.
Free stacks are a little wonky, and unless you enjoy yelling “timber!” you may want to support these stacks against the walls of your room or the sides of your bookshelves.
- Repurpose Space
In your home, there are probably a range of areas you could use to fit in some of the books you are struggling to organize.
You could fit your collection of Danielle Steel under your bed base, which places them in reach for some late-night mystery. Cookbooks can be stacked in the kitchen, and even the bathroom can become a great place to house books with short stories (in case you need inspiration).
Book Organizing FAQs
- What is the best way to organize books?
There are many ways to organize books. From sorting hardcover and paperbacks apart to alphabetizing your books, what you choose must be personal and functional. After all, you want to know where your books are and easily find a particular book.
- How do I set up a home library?
A home library requires adequate ventilation, light, supported floors and shelves, and enough space to provide a spot to read and reflect. Choose a spot that is not too damp or too dry to preserve books, and avoid harsh sunlight to prevent pages from yellowing.
The Final Shelf
Organizing your constantly expanding collection of books is not a dying art. While eBooks have become extremely popular, discerning collectors still prefer paperback or hardcover books.
There is something about holding a new book in your hands, breathing in the smell, and seeing the clear contrast of ink on paper … but you need to organize it or you could end up losing your precious collection.
Whichever system you choose, be sure to focus on being able to find a book when you need to, knowing what you have in your collection (there are amazing home library apps for this), and creating an overall visually pleasing and space-optimized collection. How do you organize your books?