How to Organise and Style Your Bookshelves

Books have a way of multiplying. One minute you have a neat shelf, the next there are piles on the bedside table, the floor and the stairs. Spring is a great time to sort them out. A well organised bookshelf makes it easier to find what you want to read next, and it can become one of the most personal and beautiful features in your home.

Start With a Clear Out

Before you arrange anything, take every book off the shelf. It sounds like a lot of work, but it is the only way to see what you really have.

• Keep the books you love, return to or plan to read soon.
• Pass on books you will not read again. Friends, family, schools, charity shops and little free libraries are all happy homes.
• Repair favourite copies with loose covers or torn dust jackets.

While the shelves are empty, give them a dust and check that they are level and securely fixed, especially tall units.

Choose a System That Suits You

There is no right way to organise books, only the way that works for how you read. Some popular options:

1. By genre or subject. Fiction, cookbooks, travel, history, children’s books. This is the most practical choice for larger collections.
2. Alphabetically by author. Ideal if you have a lot of fiction and like to find a title quickly.
3. By colour. Creates a striking rainbow effect. It looks lovely, but you need a good visual memory to find a particular book.
4. By reading status. Give your to be read pile its own shelf at eye level, so the next book is always waiting for you.
5. By size. Large art and coffee table books lying flat on lower shelves, paperbacks higher up.

Many people mix systems, for example grouping by genre and then sorting by author within each section.

Styling Tips for Beautiful Shelves

A shelf packed edge to edge with books can feel heavy. A few simple styling tricks make it feel lighter and more personal.

• Mix vertical and horizontal. Stack a few books flat and use them as a base for a small object, then stand the next group upright.
• Use bookends. They stop rows from slumping and add a decorative touch. A sculptural design such as this black and gold bookend doubles as a small piece of art.
• Leave some space. Aim for a little breathing room on each shelf. It also gives your collection room to grow.
• Add a few personal objects. A plant, a framed photo, a candle holder or a souvenir from a trip. Keep it to a few pieces per shelf so the books stay the stars.
• Think about balance. Spread colours and heavy looking items across the whole unit rather than putting them all on one side.

Making the Most of Small Spaces

Not everyone has room for a wall of shelves. If space is tight, look at slim wall shelves, floating shelves above a desk or a bed, or a narrow book rack by the sofa for the books you are currently reading. The space above doors and the area under the stairs can also hold more books than you might expect. Browse our book shelves section for ideas.

Looking After Your Books

• Keep shelves out of direct sunlight, which fades spines over time.
• Avoid damp walls and rooms, which can cause musty smells and mould.
• Do not pack books too tightly, as pulling them out can damage spines.
• Dust regularly with a soft cloth or brush.

However you choose to arrange them, the best bookshelf is one that makes you want to stop, browse and pick up something new to read.