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Books are little treasures. [1] They can take you to faraway lands, introduce you to new people, make you fall in love, teach you about history, science, music, adventure, and more. But what do you do when you read the final page, and it's time to put the book back on the shelf? Do they pile up on your nightstand? Get shoved into the random nooks and crannies of your home? Or, are they meticulously organised on your bookshelf, [2] turning them into beautiful pieces of art instead of just delightful tales of fiction and nonfiction?
Book organisation is its own form of therapy [3]. Whether you line them up alphabetically, sort them by colour, by genre, or any other way, once you see them artfully arranged on your shelves, your heart will instantly feel more at peace. Check out some of these creatively organised bookshelves on Instagram, posted by self-proclaimed book lovers just like you. Stack them up, take a picture, then share it on social media on the next #SundayShelfie.
Arranged by Colour
Never judge a book by its cover — but it is okay to arrange it by its cover, or more specifically, the colour of its cover. Grouping books by colour is perfect for visual people who prefer to look at the overall picture of your bookshelf and how all the books relate together.
Rainbow Order
Remember Roy G. Biv [4]? He would be proud of this organisation method! It's similar to arranging by colour, except you line up books in rainbow order — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. There is just something so magical about having a rainbow-themed shelf, isn't there?
Alphabetical Order
Arranging your books in alphabetical order is perfect for those who always want to find something quickly: just look for the first letter of the author's last name. It's also much simpler than the Dewey Decimal System that your local library uses.
To Be Read Pile
The only thing better than reading books is buying new books [5]. Who else has a huge TBR pile? If you want to keep your new, to be read books separate from your timeless favourites, then do it! Clear a shelf (or an entire bookshelf) and set it aside specifically for your unread books.
By Decade
History buffs will love this option: grouping your books together by the decade or year they were released. This is especially beautiful if you have a collection of older books, or you know, just want easy access to all your favourite late-'90s summer reads.
Spines Facing Away
Sometimes, simple is better. Maybe you get overwhelmed looking at all the books on your shelf, or perhaps you prefer a more minimalistic look. No matter what your reasoning, try this bookshelf organisation method: turn all your books around so that just the pages are facing out. Yes, really. If you want, you can flip a few books to face with the spine-out to show off your favourites or to match the aesthetic of your room.
Do Whatever Makes You Happy
Do you love Harry Potter [6]? Coffee and cuddly corners [7]? Horror books, pop-culture toys, signs about books? Embrace it! Arrange your bookshelf however you want, showing off your favourite reads, your coolest items, and most importantly, your personality. If it makes you happy, then it's perfect.