Bookshelves don’t always look like the dreamy photos you see online. Sometimes, they’re stuffed, bent, or dusty—some books jammed in, others stacked in strange directions. But even if yours looks chaotic right now, it doesn’t have to stay that way.
Let’s talk about simple ways to get your books in order. And, honestly, why it’s even worth the effort.
Why a Tidy Bookshelf Matters
Messy bookshelves don’t just make a room look busy—they make it tough to find what you need when you want it. You could waste minutes rifling through toppled piles just for that one paperback.
But when your books are neatly organized, you spot what you want right away. There’s less chance of bending covers or losing titles under the mess. A tidy shelf also shows off your books better and just feels more inviting.
It’s not about having some perfect, magazine-worthy setup. It’s mostly about making daily life smoother and your space more enjoyable.
Take a Hard Look at Your Book Collection
Before you start stacking and sorting, stop and look at your whole collection. Getting a sense of what you’re working with can help cut down on frustration later. Pull every book out if you can—yes, even the ones in that hard-to-reach corner.
Check for dust and damage too. Some books might need a wipe, while a few may be too worn or faded to save. Stack your books in one spot so you can see the size of the mess and start sorting from there.
Sometimes, just seeing all your books in one place is a wake-up call. If you haven’t done this in a while, you might find books you forgot you owned.
Start Sorting by Category
Sorting makes things easier from the start. Most people group by genre, but you might prefer organizing by author, color, or even size. Kids’ books often benefit from being grouped separately since they usually have a lot of use.
If you’re a student, textbooks and reference books can go in a section of their own. If you borrow and lend a lot, mark those with a sticky note until they’re returned.
Try not to overthink it. Often, just separating fiction from nonfiction or paperbacks from hardcovers is a good place to start. The main thing is to create categories that make sense to you.
Downsizing: Choosing What to Keep or Give Away
Here’s the tricky part—deciding what stays, what goes to a friend, and what should move on. If you haven’t read a book in years or don’t care to read it again, put it in the “let go” pile.
Duplicates and old textbooks you’re never going to reference can also head out. Sometimes, it’s tough to give up a book, especially if it has sentimental value. But if it’s just taking space and you’re not attached, it might serve someone else better.
Friends, family, libraries, or community book drives can all be happy to receive the books you pass on. Some people also sell books online or donate to thrift shops. Remember: every book you let go of frees up room for the ones you love most.
Setting Up an Organized System
Once you’ve chosen your keepers, think about where they’ll rest on the shelf. You want your favorite or frequently-used books at eye level or easy reach. Heavy or oversized books usually do better on the bottom shelf for stability.
Arranging by size can make shelves look neater, but grouping by theme or author is often more useful if you reference specific titles. Some people split by fiction and nonfiction, while others like chronological order or color-coding.
Your system doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else. The point is you should be able to find what you’re looking for without frustration.
It’s fine to keep some books stacked horizontally. Just don’t put too many on top of each other, so you don’t cause damage or make them hard to remove later.
Adding the Right Storage and Accessories
Not everyone has a purpose-built bookshelf. If you’re dealing with limited space, baskets, boxes, and fabric bins can help wrangle stray books—especially for kids’ picture books or paperbacks.
Bookends can prevent books from falling over or tipping. Adjustable shelves let you accommodate taller items or awkward-sized books alongside regular ones.
Some people use magazine holders for slim volumes or create a ‘current reads’ box. Labels, whether handwritten or printed, can keep categories clear, especially in shared spaces.
A simple label on each shelf telling you what’s there can make finding favorites faster and re-shelving books easier.
Make Maintenance a Habit, Not a Chore
Once your books are sorted, things stay neat for a while. But small piles can creep back in after a busy week, with books not quite making it onto the shelf.
The trick is to build tiny book-related habits into your routine. Set aside five minutes every few days to put away stray books or quickly dust your shelves. This quick tidy keeps clutter from building up again.
Doing a bigger cleanup once every few months gives you a chance to reshuffle and notice books that could move along to a new home.
Even if you fall behind for a few weeks, having an organizing system in place makes it much easier to reset things.
Style and Practicality: Why Not Both?
Arranging your books in a way that feels pleasing isn’t frivolous—it actually makes it more likely you’ll keep things neat. Some people add small plants, framed photos, or trinkets to their shelves for a personal touch.
If you want to make things look even more intentional, try grouping books by color or interspersing vertical rows with horizontal stacks. Don’t overcrowd each shelf—leaving some space makes it look less chaotic.
A shelf that feels like it belongs in your space is more inviting, which means you might actually reach for books more often.
If you’re looking for more tips on keeping your home organized and adding healthy habits, check out this simple guide for down-to-earth ideas.
Enjoying the Results (And Keeping It That Way)
After putting in the initial work, finding the right book should take seconds, not minutes. Your shelves will be easier on the eyes, and you might find yourself browsing them more often for an impromptu reread.
Cleaning up messy books is one of those projects that makes day-to-day living a little smoother. It’s not about chasing perfection. It’s about building a system that fits your habits and reshuffling it when your collection grows or changes.
You can always tweak your setup over time. If one arrangement starts to feel stale or cluttered, move things around again. Bookshelves are living parts of a home, changing alongside you.
If you keep up with the basics, like returning books to their place and passing along the ones you no longer love, your shelves won’t become chaotic again. At the end of the day, it’s just about making your collection work for you—now, and however it grows in the future.