How to arrange your collection – and clear your mind
Books tell stories – not only through words, but also by how and where they’re placed. Whether you’re an avid reader, a collector, or just trying to get more structure into your space: organizing your books properly brings clarity, aesthetics, and a sense of calm.
But what’s the best way to do it? There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. You can sort by color, genre, author, or size – whatever works for your home and your habits.
This guide shows you clever methods for organizing your books, how to store them space-efficiently, and how to keep your collection safe and accessible – even when it’s not on display.
Why Should You Organize Your Books?
A messy bookshelf can feel overwhelming and make it hard to find what you’re looking for. And let’s face it: bookshelves take up space – especially if your collection keeps growing.
Organizing your books means:
- Better orientation and quicker access
- A tidier, more stylish living space
- Protection for fragile or valuable items
- More room for new books (or other things)
- A calm and inspiring atmosphere
Whether you’re a book lover, minimalist or both – a well-organized shelf does more than just hold paper.
The Most Popular Ways to Sort Books
There’s no “right” system – just the one that fits your lifestyle and reading habits.
1. Alphabetically by author
Perfect for large collections or frequent readers. Especially useful for reference books or fiction series.
2. By genre or topic
Fiction, cookbooks, biographies, travel – if you sort by interest, you’ll always find what suits your mood.
3. By color – for visual harmony
Great if your shelves are part of your interior design. Gradient color schemes (light to dark) look particularly soothing.
4. By size or format
Helpful when mixing paperbacks, hardcovers, and oversized books – keeps shelves looking clean.
5. By reading history
Chronological sorting by purchase or reading date adds emotional meaning – your own timeline in books.
💡 Mix and match! You might sort novels by color and non-fiction alphabetically – the best system is the one you’ll actually use.
What If There’s Just No More Shelf Space?
Let’s be honest: book collections grow. And at some point, your shelves, windowsills and coffee tables can’t keep up. But that doesn’t mean you have to part with your books.
Smart storage options include:
- Seasonal rotation: keep only current reads on the shelf
- Labelled storage boxes organized by theme or genre
- Sturdy storage containers – ideal during renovations or moves
- Archiving rare or fragile books with protective materials
And if your home really is out of space? That’s where off-site self storage comes in.
Book Storage, Made Simple – with SaveSpace
You love your book collection, but you don’t want it taking over your living space? We’ve got you covered.
With SaveSpace, you can store books safely – and we’ll even pick them up from your home.
Here’s how it works:
- We pick up your book boxes right at your door
- We store them safely in secure, dry, video-monitored facilities
- You receive a digital inventory with photos – so you always know what you’ve stored
- Request partial or full returns anytime – for example, when you need your winter reads
- You only pay for the actual space you use – no hidden fees
- Convenient, flexible self storage – nationwide
Whether you’re storing a few boxes or your entire library – SaveSpace helps you make room without saying goodbye to what you love.
Make Room for New Stories – Without Losing the Old Ones
Books are timeless – but your shelf space isn’t.
Store your collection safely and free up space to read, live, and breathe.
📦 Start storing your books today – the smart and simple way with SaveSpace