The Most Clever Bookshelf Organizing Tips

In this era of Zoom meetings, our bookshelves speak volumes. Talking to OprahMag.com, author Lily King confessed that she was wary of audiences scanning her shelves during her virtual book tour. “It just makes me really uneasy. It's like, "No, no, don't judge me," she said.

As King points out, so often, our bookshelves are forms of self-expression. “They speak to your personality,” Nikki Klugh, an interior designer based in San Diego, CA, says. “They can express your style, what’s important to you, and what you value."

There are countless approaches to organizing bookshelves. While Klugh recommends grouping books by color for aesthetic purposes, those with a lot of tomes may want to stack them by genre or alphabetically so you can access them more efficiently. For a more streamlined look, arrange books by height, with the tallest on both sides of the shelves.

Below, find tips sourced from interior designers and professional organizers that'll help you make your library, reading nook, or DIY bookshelf both beautiful and functional.