Tired of cramming your books wherever there’s a free space on the bookshelf? Want to stay organized, but don’t want to conform to a routine every so often?
The good news is, you can organize your bookshelf however you want. And, if you don’t know where to start, then you came to the right place.
In this article, we’ll cover seven organizational tips that you can use, the next time you feel the need to declutter your bookshelf, and turn it into the library that you’ve always wanted.
1. Go By Genre
“Genre is one of the key elements in a book,” says Rebecca Hale, a writer at Eliteassignmenthelp and Writing Services. “When you visit a bookstore, you’ll see all the books separated by genre – fiction, nonfiction, and how-to books, just to name a few. It’s a simple technique to use for your bookshelves at home.”
2. Go By Publication Date
Want to feel like you’re traveling back in time? This organizational technique is right up your alley. Consider organizing by publication date, so that you can create sections for certain time periods. For example, if you have books from the 18th century, then create a section dedicated to 18th-century literature.
Ultimately, this allows you to literally travel through the evolution of literature.
3. Categorize By Hardcover Or Paperback
Books come in all shapes and sizes, but the most important formats you’ll hear about are hardcover and paperback. A book is a hardcover when the spine, the front, and back are thick, and tend to last longer; whereas, paperbacks are slightly smaller, and tend to suffer more wear and tear due to their thin spine, book front, and back.
In that case, divide your hardbacks and paperbacks into their own sections on the bookshelf.
4. Stack Books, If Desired
Stacking books is not uncommon. Sometimes, bookstores and libraries may have stacked books here and there. In fact, keeping books in neat rows might now be a thing of the past.
So, don’t be afraid to stack books, especially if you feel that a handful of select books might be standing out to you. There’s no right or wrong way to do this, which makes things a lot more fun.
5. Have Your Favorite Books Stand Out
Ever had a favorite book that you can’t live out? Or, do you have books that you constantly read on a day-to-day basis? If you said “yes” to either question, then this technique is for you!
Why settle for leaving your favorites among the usual crowd, when you can dedicate a place for them on the shelf? In this way, it’ll be easy to point out your favorite book, the next time you’re asked what your favorite is.
6. Organize Alphabetically
“Organizing alphabetically is a great way to tame your library,” says Jean Liles, a journalist at Revieweal and Academized. “Though, this technique will only work, if you’re more familiar of book titles and author names than their genres and plot points.”
Here are some ways to organize your books alphabetically:
By Title – The only downsides are that it can make organizing more tedious than fun, and sometimes the “A” and “The” in titles will have you struggling to find the appropriate place for them in alphabetical order.
By Author – Whether you like to categorize by first or last name, it’s all up to you. But for books with more than one author, or a list of names preceding “Edited by…” you’ll need to take special consideration of, even if you have more than one book by those same editors.
7. Go Based On What You Feel Like Reading
What you feel like reading matters. Sometimes, you’ll find yourself gravitating towards a different book, rather than one of your usual favorites.
In that case, it doesn’t hurt to organize your books by what you feel like reading at any given time. In this way, you’ll be reorganizing your books constantly, instead of sticking to one format. And who doesn’t like to organize their books the way they want?
Conclusion
So, now that you’ve seen the seven ways to organize your bookshelf, why not try them out, and see which one(s) works best for you? And the fun part is, you can integrate one technique with another, if desired. The only thing that you need to consider is knowing how you feel about your books – only you know what’s best for your readerly self.
So, have fun organizing, and happy reading!
Author Bio: Beatrix Potter is a writer at Literature Assignment Help and Essay Help. She is also a manager and editor at Top assignment writing services in Australian Capital Territory. She loves to read, and she’s your go-to person on how to have a neat and tidy bookshelf.
