I often find myself standing in front of one of my bookshelves, moving books around in an attempt to either fit more books on the already crammed shelf, or to try and make them look more pleasing. It’s almost as if the books are art or a decoration when they’re not busy telling me a story. I can only assume, but based on some of my recent internet travels, I think this might be something that many book lovers do?
I’ve been fascinated with colour coordinated bookshelves lately, and have been thinking about doing this with my books. The only thing that’s stopping me is my OCD need to have all my series together and in order. Of course with the current overpopulation of my bookshelves, that’s getting harder and harder to do anyway. Judging from my web searches, it seems that this colour coordinating is an older trend that people are starting to move away from, but I’ve just discovered it, so it’s all new to me!
So, I thought I’d bring the question to my fellow book lovers! How do you organize your books? And is this your ideal method that you’ve honed over the years, or do you dream of one day having a different system? And if you’re so inclined, tell us why you prefer them this way… Simply because they look pretty? Because they’re easier to find? Or maybe it’s because you just can’t be bothered to try and organize them?
Instead of going to bed like a normal person, I decided to test out this colour coordination on one of my shelves last night. Now there’s not much of an impact with just one shelf done, but tell me what you think! Which do you like better?
Hmmm. Ok, well, while I like the idea of color coding, it’s actually the up and downs on the shelf that bug me. So, in that way, I prefer the before.
That said, I always start organizing alphabetically by author then book title with like genres grouped together. Within the author sections, I will group series together as well. However, I have so many books that I quickly fall into a “where ever it will fit onto a shelf” system. One of my goals for re-doing my back room is to get a better bookshelving system so that I have enough space for all my books AND can keep them organized when adding new books. I don’t know if that’s possible but I have to try!
But, if you organize by author and series, then you must have varying sized books together as well?
My wacky organization system seems to be by genre. But not any typical genres… it’s more like fantasy/chick lit book on one bookcase, then the shelf above is non-fantasy fiction, and I also have a (very small) shelf of non-fiction, one of comics & TV related books, and one of YA collections.
I too like very much the idea of color coding in theory, and yet I think the before pic looks better — for the same reason, I’m not fond of varying sizes.
Aaand I also have the exact same system Rae has: wherever a book fits that’s where it’s going to live for the next while. And, of course, I keep dreaming that one day I’ll get more shelves and then I’ll have everything neatly organized by size and genre yet again
Hi!
Thanks for joining our discussion on Book Blogs! I’ve just added your site to my subscriptions in Google Reader, and I’ll be stopping by again soon to look through more of your posts! But first, I’ve got to finish that pesky Spanish composition that’s due tomorrow…You’ve got a great site here! I look forward to reading your posts!
Natalie @ Mindful Musings
Hi Natalie!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I stopped by your site and it’s great. I’m now a follower.
I organize mine by genre (My books are diverse: all the way from urban fantasy to steampunk)and then by author, alphabetically. But I have a special place for hardbacks or oversizes. And then there are the favorites. And then… okay, it’s a mess. SB Frank
Your “OK it’s a mess”/genre organizing system sounds a little bit like mine.
I keep saying I will organize my books one of these days but that has yet to happen. Currently I seem to know about where every thing is and you know you hate to messa with that – ha ha.
Is that a Harlan Coben book on your shelf? Big blue hard cover?
It’s actually a Dean Koontz book. Seize the Night I believe.
I’ve never read Harlan Coben. Would you recommend?
+JMJ+
I like the “Before” much better than the “After.” I think colour coordinating works best when one can see it from afar–the book covers running together like the strokes in an Impressionist painting–as they are in the first picture you posted. =)