How to Organize (and Style!) Your Books
As a proud and self-proclaimed book nerd, I know just how hard it can be to get your collection under control. Does your room resemble literary Jenga? Towers of books teetering on every surface, stacked on shelves and windowsills, crammed into corners, or (eek!) still sealed in boxes from your last move?
For many, organizing is not nearly as scary as the idea of parting with some of those books. Or moving them. Again. The good news is you’re the hero of this story, and I’m your trusty sidekick, here to help you conquer your fears and the chaos that's taking over your home, one dusty book cover at a time.
Judge That Book By Its Cover (Just This Once)
That's right. I’m officially giving you permission to be a little judgy. For organizational purposes only, of course.
Start by gathering all of your books. Yes, all of them. Go on a literary scavenger hunt around your home. Check every room, every tote bag, every suspiciously heavy storage bin. Rescue the books being used as doorstops, dig out the ones buried under the bed, and finally open that box still taped shut from your last move. No book left behind.
Once you’ve reunited your entire collection, it’s time to sort. Whatever system makes sense to you, go with it.
Genre? Classic.
Author? Respect.
Subject matter? Smart.
Size, shape, binding bling? Do your thing.
This part isn’t about getting it perfect. The goal is to pull everything together and dust off those book covers so you can see what you’re working with.
Once you’ve loosely grouped your collection, take a deep breath. Now comes the hard part (cue dramatic music)...the edit. Red pen optional.
Channel Your Inner Book Critic
Now’s your moment to slip into that metaphorical turtleneck, grab an imaginary latte, and embrace your inner book critic. Be thoughtful. Be discerning. Be just a little bit ruthless.
Because let's face it: not every book in your home is a timeless treasure. Some were impulse buys at the airport, others were well-meaning gifts, and some, if you’re being honest, you have no memory of buying. They just appeared, as if placed in your home by super stealth literary ninjas in the dark of night.
Hold each book in your hands and ask yourself the tough questions:
Would you read it again?
Would you really read it again?
Would you recommend it to a friend?
Does it spark genuine joy (and not just vague guilt)?
If the answer is no, set it free. I'm talking to you, intro to philosophy book from college. You too, diet fad that lasted a week. Not so fast, birthday gift you never wanted. Time to go, obligatory book club book you never read past chapter three.
Remember: donating a book isn’t a betrayal. It's a gift. You're helping a story find a new reader, and that reader may just gift it a five-star review.
And don’t forget the duplicates. Unless you’re running a living room library in your spare time, one copy is usually more than enough.
This step isn’t about being cold. It's about being curated. And in this newly organized museum of your literary life, only the exhibits that still mean something to you should remain on display.
And where should those “goodbye” books go? The options are endless! We love to donate books to places where we know they will be enjoyed. Find a local Little Free Library to offer up a few favorites to your neighbors, drop off a few boxes of high-quality books to the Prison Book Program (and maybe spend some time supporting their mission while you’re there!), or schedule a More Than Words pickup if you are downsizing your whole collection.
Choose Your Own Adventure
Now for the fun part: putting it all back together. Forget the Dewey Decimal system. This is your literary realm, and you make the rules.
There’s no single “right” way to organize your books. You have options, and you can pick whatever system works best for you. Arrange by genre, author, subject matter, or even by size and shape. Alphabetize by title or author. Group by hardcover vs. paperback, old vs. new, read vs. to-be-read one day soon. Let the books be your inspiration.
If you’d like, you can even chase the rainbow and organize by spine color. But don’t do it just because you saw it on Instagram or The Home Edit. The color method looks stunning and absolutely works for some people (especially kids), but it can be tricky unless you actually remember the hue of every book spine like some kind of publishing-savvy chameleon.
The only real rule: make it make sense to you. Then step back and soak up those good book vibes.
Make it Shelfie Worthy
Want to take things to the next level? Add a little visual flair. My favorite book pairing option is plants. Trailing pothos? Chef's kiss. Just proceed with caution on watering day. You want lush greenery, not soggy paperbacks.
But plants aren't your only styling option. You can incorporate any special knickknacks or framed photos. Bonus points for candles that smell like old books. Just don't overdo it. Your books should always remain the main characters.
Think of your bookshelf as a reflection not just of what you read, but how you want to feel. Because yes, your bookshelf also tells a story, and spoiler alert: this story is all yours.
Happy organizing!
