How to Organize a Bookshelf

Bookshelves are designed to display your intelligence as well as your impressive book collection. While it is helpful for bookshelves to be functional, it is just as important for them to be stylish. Read on to learn about how to organize a bookshelf.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Book separators
• Bookshelf
• Label maker

How to Organize a Bookshelf

1. Determine how you want to organize the books. Alphabetical order, by size, by color or by topic. If you are constantly having to look things up, it might be easier to put them in order according to topic.
2. Sort the books in piles as you organize them. For example, if you decide to alphabetize them, start a pile for A-E. It helps to write out on paper cards what each pile is, especially if you order them by topic.
3. After you have organized the books on the floor, determine how you will arrange them on the book case. Now that the books are in piles on the floor, you can see how much room you need. As you put the books on the shelf, create labels (use whatever you put on your paper labels in the last step) with a label maker and place them on the outside edge of the bookshelf. This will help you find things faster so you don't have to memorize where everything is.
4. Use book separators to delineate each section. Some dividers are thin metal or they also come in more modern styles like small people holding the books up and some are even animals.
5. If there is enough room left on your shelf, add interesting and eclectic items. Sea shells, an hour glass, a small clock, pictures and storage boxes can add some personality to your shelf. Of you might have a book shelf with a personality instead, which wouldn't need extra items to liven it up.

Tips & Warnings

• Make the bookshelf work for you and your lifestyle.
• Double check that your book case is sturdy and put together properly before putting books on it.