Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Little Women author Louisa May Alcott said, “She is too fond of books, and it has addled her brain.” Well, if you are too fond of books, it may have addled your bookshelf, office, or living room. Reading is one of humanity’s most valuable pastimes. But if you can’t keep yourself from buying books, your collection could become kind of a mess. Let’s take a look at 12 ways to organize your growing library.
1. Purge
I know, I know…it’s a collection. It’s supposed to grow, right? Well, there are bound to be several books in your collection at home that you haven’t read in quite some time, couldn’t really get into, or — and this is a big one — the kids have outgrown. Before you can begin the organizing process, you’ll need to sort through your books and get rid of those you probably won’t pick up again. But think of it this way: you’re passing along something that someone else might find great value in. Donate them to your local Goodwill or book drive.
2. Categorize
Once you’ve purged your book collection of what you don’t need, it’s time to categorize. At this point, perhaps you start making piles. You could organize by genre: cookbooks in one pile, historical fiction in another. Poetry. DIY. Self help. Health. Other sorting options include alphabetically by title or author, chronologically, or even binding color. Do whatever you think will help you quickly locate what you’re looking for.
3. Evaluate Your Bookcase Situation
Once you have all your books off the bookcase and in groups that make the most sense to you, check out your space. Do you need another bookcase? Can you make room for one? Could your collection be moved to a better location? If your books are taking over a room, maybe you need to find a different room to keep them. It makes sense to keep your books in a spot where you’re likely to sit down (or lie down) and read, but you also need to have ample storage space. You might even consider lying a bookcase or two on their side for a different look.
4. Create Space
There are all kinds of ways to create more space for book storage. Reading nooks, closet libraries, high-level shelves, and stairway storage are just a few of your options. And you can always put electronic versions on your tablet or e-reader.
5. Get Creative
Books don’t have to be stored in a traditional bookcase. How about a pleasing pile inside an unused fireplace or lower level of a coffee table? You can use stacks of books as display stands, or floating shelves over a door or on the wall above your bed.
6. Make Collections Portable
When sorting your books, you can also make certain collections easy to carry around to wherever you want to read today. Use baskets on a bookshelf, wagon, or tote and they can follow you (or the kids) anywhere.
7. Make Books a Feature
Ever considered making your book collection into a design feature? Using lighting, art, and a little creativity, your collection can actually become a stunning part of your home.
Leave a Reply