10 Fresh New Ways To Organize Your Bookshelf

As every book-lover knows, it is important to have a system for organizing your bookshelf (and for pretending you have a window seat reading nook). Whether you prefer to sort by author, title, or the Dewey Decimal system, you should always maintain order — that way you’ll always know where your favorite books are at all times.

Okay, so maybe you don’t have to maintain order — a little chaos can be fun, and goodness knows it’s hard to keep books organized once you have a certain amount of them piling up around your room. And if you’re a book-lover, you definitely have a certain amount piling up around your room.

So, what do you do when you have a million books, and you want to keep them organized? And what do you do when you have a very organized shelf, but you’re ready to switch it up and try something new? I’ve got you covered. As someone who’s obsessed with organizing and re-organizing books, I’m always on the lookout for beautiful, fresh ways to display books. From bookstore displays to literary-inspired Instagram accounts, there are lots of examples out there brought to you by fellow book-lovers who just want to showcase how much they love their libraries. Here are a few of my favorites.

1. Use Books As A Shelf

Running out of shelf space? No worries — just take all your books that won't fit on the shelf and make a shelf using those books. Problem solved.

2. Arrange By Color

If you have a particularly colorful collection of books and an eye for aesthetic, why not try arranging your books by color? You'll refresh your shelf and turn your books into visual art.

3. Store Books In Places Other Than Shelves

My number one problem with organizing my bookshelf tends to be that all my books simply won't fit, so usually when I'm looking for organizational ideas, it involves stuffing extra books into every available space. A trunk is one perfect way to add more room for books and a vintage flair.

4. Remove Dust Jackets For A New Look

If you're going for a new look for your shelf, try removing your dust jackets (and of course storing them somewhere safe!). Obviously, you sometimes want to leave the dust jackets on to protect your books, but there's often a beautiful cover lurking underneath an old dust jacket, just waiting to be revealed. Case in point: I bought the above book at an antique store and didn't even realize how gorgeous the cover was until I peeled back the jacket and found this swirling golden cover.

5. Create Custom Dust Jackets

Of course, if you're a strictly dust jacket person, you can also go for custom jackets. Juniper Books makes some fantastic covers for all your favorites.

6. Add Some Flowers

No matter the season, flowers add some much needed nature to indoor decor. And there's nothing like reading in a garden... so why not bring the garden inside?

7. Turn Books To Face The Front

If bookstores do it, you can too! Don't let a beautiful cover stay hidden on your shelf: turn those books forward so you can admire them.

8. Add String Lights To Your Shelf

Light up your books with a string of lights, so you'll feel like you're in the fairy tales you're always reading.

9. Go Minimalist

This one's difficult for all the book hoarders out there, but if you have a small collection (or you have a lot of shelves) you can try going for a minimalist look. Restrict your shelf to one color and decorate with a few knickknacks, and you've got the perfect decoration.

10. Make Use Of Vertical Space

Of course, let's be real: you can never have too many books. But... maybe you have too many to fit on your shelf at the moment. Never fear! Make use of vertical space on your shelf to fit more of those books on there. Because at the end of the day, the best way to organize your bookshelf is whatever way fits the most books on there.

Images: Instagram/mybookbath (1), Instagram/celinereads (2), Instagram/jennegan26 (1), Instagram/acciojulia (1), Instagram/sarahlostbutfound (2), Instagram/the.blonde.bookworm (2), Instagram/booksenchanted (1)