Want to get into the habit of decluttering? Why not start by reorganising your bookshelf to get it looking spic and span? We’ve rounded up seven useful tips to help you do just that. From colour-coding to knowing what to chuck out, our Books Editor shares her best hacks to reorganise your bookshelf in just a few hours.
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The colour code
If you love visual details, then this rainbow look will work for you. A colour-coded bookshelf looks absolutely stunning, and the extra pop of brightness can tie a bland room together. For colour-coding, unpack all books from your shelf, sort them according to colour by separate piles, then repack them, going from light to dark, or mix it up with a different colour per shelf.
See this example:
Stacks on stacks
Sometimes there are the unruly coffee table books that just don’t fit upright on a shelf. For a simple, aesthetically pleasing solution, stack them on their sides, going from the biggest book to the smallest, adding a small, simple décor item on top – like a little cactus, ornament or pen cup for a finishing touch.
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What to chuck?
We all hoard the books we don’t need, and more often than not, they go unread, taking up space on the shelf. So, for a Marie Kondo-inspired clean out, go through all your books, sorting which you’ve read from which you haven’t. From the ones you’ve read, pack back the reads with sentimental value and the ones you’d like to read again. Then go through the remaining books one by one, deciding which you’d like to keep or chuck, based on one simple question: “Does this add value to my life, and does it spark joy?” Trust your own judgement on this – books are precious things.
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Sort paperbacks from hardbacks
Another way to sort your books is to divvy them up between paperbacks and hardbacks. Beautiful hardbacks deserve a focal point on your shelf – consider placing the hardbacks front and centre, with the paperbacks surrounding those.
Sort by genre
Sorting your books according to genre will help you locate whatever you’re in the mood to read quickly. Dedicate a shelf towards each section, organising the books accordingly. If you only have very few books of any specific genre, you can split one shelf between two lesser genres.
Crates for space
If you’ve simply run out of shelf space and can’t bring yourself to chuck anything out, create more space by using wooden crates, like this one from MRP Home, R259,99 (Large), and stack them to create a makeshift bookshelf (for a sturdier base, nail them together) and decorate them with pot plants or ornaments for a retro-chic look.
Video: DIY Easy Wooden Crate Bookshelf
Shelf décor
To make your shelf look a little more presentable, you can decorate with ornaments like paperweights, pot plants, hanging plants, candles and pen cups. Clear pastel objects will draw attention to your bookshelf without any overwhelming patterns or designs clashing with your books. A simple, porcelain ornament can make a huge difference to a bland bookshelf.
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Compiled by Features Writer Savanna Douglas
