From Chaotic to Curated – Our Bookshelf Organisation Tips

We don’t know about you, but we’re forever rearranging our shelves to try and make room for our ever-growing TBR! 📚

Whether you’re also trying to conjure up more space, are welcoming new shelves into your home, or you just want to switch up the vibe of your existing set up, we have plenty of bookshelf organisation ideas to help you curate your collection and bring order to your bookish realm.

🔤 Alphabetical

Kicking things off with a classic option, organising your books alphabetically by author brings a satisfying sense of structure to even the most overflowing shelves. This easy to navigate system is particularly great for those with large collections, and you can try it by title, too!

🔍 Genre Grouping

Another timeless approach! When you group your books by genre, each shelf become it’s own realm. And whenever the mood strikes, each genre is neatly gathered and easy to explore, which makes picking your next read easier than ever.

🌈 Colour Coordinated

Sorting your books by spine colour turns your shelves into an aesthetic feature that’s vibrant and fun to browse! A focal point in any room, rainbow shelves are striking and always stand out.

💎 Read vs Unread

By keeping the books you have and haven’t read separate, you can easily browse your TBR when you’re ready to pick up your next read. Seeing these books together can stop them from getting lost amongst the stacks and becoming forgotten gems!

⚖️ Keep the Heavy Low and the Light High

Save your sturdiest hardbacks and weighty tomes for the lower shelves, and place your lighter paperbacks up above. This simple trick is not just practical but also pleasing to the eye.

📚 Mix Horizontal and Vertical Stacks

Blend neat rows with a few piles to give your shelves a relaxed, lived-in feel. Such shelf arrangements are perfectly imperfect and have a storybook charm about them!

💜 Consider Height

Lining up your books by height creates smooth, tidy rows and a calm, cohesive look. From the smallest to the tallest, this organisation technique looks and feels serene and structured.

🖼️ Outward Facing Covers

Break up long rows of spines by turning a few books to face outward. This is a lovely way to shine a light on your personal favourites, and to showcase stunning books with artwork too beautiful to hide away.

🎨 Sprayed Edges Out

If you’re a lover of special editions, show off those gorgeous sprayed-edge customisations and have them facing outward! This may not be the most functional option, but it’s certainly one of the prettiest and adds plenty of visual interest.

✨ Bookends

The guardians of your shelves, bookends keep novels safe by holding them in place. And with plenty of magical designs and enchanting character artwork to choose from, they can add a touch of whimsy to your home library.

🧺 Storage

From small woven baskets to ceramic trinket dishes, utilise your shelves to tuck away book marks, book sleeves, and any other items! Thoughtful storage keeps your treasures safe and adds personality to your set up.

🪴 Plants

Nestle some greenery among your books and watch your shelves bloom! From tiny succulents to cascading vines, plants bring your shelves to life.

🕯️ Candles

Let candlelight dance among your books, casting a soft glow that makes your space feel cosy and comforting. A carefully placed flickering flame will add magic to any reading corner!

📸 Photos

Let your shelves tell a story by scattering a few snapshots of loved ones, adventures, or moments you cherish amongst your books.

🧚‍♀️ Bookish Items

Did you know our monthly Young Adult Book + Items subscription box contains not only items inspired by the featured book of the month, but also other titles you know and love? From home décor to stationery, no two boxes are the same! Spots for this subscription are currently full, but you can sign up to the waitlist here.

We hope we’ve sparked some inspiration! 💫 Let us know in the comments how you plan to organise your shelves next!