How Do You Organize Your Books?

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly meme originally created and hosted by Rukky @ Eternity Books starting in August 2019, and was then cohosted by Dani @ Literary Lion from May 2020 to March 2022. Since April 2022, the meme moved to another host, Aria @ Book Nook Bits.
Let’s Talk Bookish is a meme where participants discuss specific topics, share their opinions, and share their love by visiting each other’s posts.

Hello readers! This week, we’re diving into a topic that all book lovers can relate to—whether you’re a collector of physical books, an ebook enthusiast, or an audiobook aficionado. Have you ever wondered how other readers organize their books? Whether you’ve got a carefully curated system or just a pile of books waiting for attention, the way we organize our libraries says a lot about us and our reading habits.

In today’s post, we’re exploring all the different ways you can arrange your books, from by genre to by color, and even how to keep your digital collection in check. So grab a cup of tea (or coffee, if that’s more your style), and let’s talk all things book organization!
Ready? Let’s jump in!

The topic is

Prompts

How do you organize your books? By color? Author? Genre? Do you often reorganize your books, or are they always the same? If you have a lot of ebooks or audiobooks, do you have a way of organizing those?

How Do You Organize Your Books? The Eternal Dilemma of Book Organization

For book lovers, organizing our books is a strangely personal endeavor. Every book, whether physical or digital, seems to tell a story not only through its pages but also through its place on the shelf or in our virtual library. Some readers prefer a well-ordered system that makes it easy to find their next read, while others go for a more chaotic, free-spirited arrangement that reflects the haphazard nature of their reading habits. So, how do you organize your books? Let’s dive into the different ways readers approach the age-old question of book organization!

1. By Genre: The Logical Approach

Organizing books by genre is probably one of the most common methods, and for good reason. Whether you’re a fan of mystery, fantasy, science fiction, or romance, grouping books by genre helps create a clear, easily navigable system. If you’re in the mood for a specific kind of story, it’s straightforward to walk up to your shelf and grab something that fits your current vibe.

Some readers go a step further and subdivide their genres. For example, you might have a section for high fantasy and urban fantasy under the broader fantasy category. Or, you might organize your thrillers into “psychological” and “action-adventure” subcategories. While this system can help streamline your book-hunting process, it can also require constant rearranging as new books come in. Still, for many, it’s worth the effort to create a system that feels both organized and functional.

2. By Author: For the Dedicated Fans

Another method of book organization is by author. For many readers, this system makes the most sense because it groups books that are often written by the same person, and as a result, share a similar tone, style, or voice. It’s especially useful if you’re a fan of a particular author and want to keep all of their works together.

It also makes sense for readers who often go on author binges—where you find an author you love and just keep picking up their books.Of course, this method can lead to some tricky situations, especially when authors release books in multiple genres or under pseudonyms. Some readers end up creating a “master list” or even a separate section for their different pseudonyms, while others just group the books together in one neat pile, author be damned!

3. By Color: The Aesthetic Choice

A bookish trend that’s grown in popularity is organizing books by their spine colors. While it might not be the most practical method for finding a specific book, it definitely adds an aesthetic flair to any bookshelf. Imagine a rainbow of books stretching across your shelves—an eye-catching display that serves as both decoration and a subtle nod to your literary interests.

This method is popular with people who value the visual appeal of their bookshelves over functionality. For those who want their books to be a part of their home decor, a color-coded system can transform a bookshelf into an artistic statement. However, this can make it a bit challenging when it’s time to find a book based on its title or author, so many color-organizers balance it with a little bit of chaos, putting their most frequently-read books near the front for easy access.

4. By Size: The Obsessive Compulsive Method

For some book collectors, organizing books by size—or rather, height—becomes a satisfying exercise in orderliness. This system is especially useful for those with large collections or who like everything to “fit” neatly. Imagine your tallest books standing proudly at the back of the shelf, with smaller ones lining up in front. It gives the bookshelf a sort of geometric rhythm that some readers find both soothing and visually appealing.

While this system ensures every book fits snugly on the shelf, it can present challenges when you mix paperback and hardcover editions. One solution is to arrange the paperbacks in front of the hardcovers, but that may require constant adjustments. Still, for the ultra-organized, it’s a system worth considering!

5. By “TBR,” “Currently Reading,” and “Finished”

For many readers, the organization goes beyond just the shelves and into how they manage their reading journey. You might have a dedicated space for your TBR (To Be Read) pile, a section for your currently reading books, and then a more permanent spot for your finished reads. This system keeps everything in motion, constantly evolving as books are added and removed from the reading list.

For those who don’t want to constantly rearrange shelves, this method keeps everything neat while allowing for easy tracking of what’s next on the reading horizon. And for those who enjoy seeing their progress, there’s something immensely satisfying about watching that currently reading pile shrink as books are added to the finished section.

6. Digital Books: Organizing Ebooks and Audiobooks

When it comes to digital libraries, organization can be a bit more complex—and a bit more fluid. For ebooks, many readers rely on their device’s built-in organizational tools, such as folders or collections. You can sort your books by author, title, or genre, and many ebook platforms (like Kindle, Apple Books, or Google Play Books) allow you to manually sort your library. There are also options to organize by “Reading Status,” so you can clearly identify which books are on your TBR list, currently reading, or completed.

For audiobooks, platforms like Audible offer their own organizational features, allowing users to create custom lists or sort their audiobooks by categories such as “Favorites” or “Recently Added.” While it can be hard to replicate the tactile experience of handling a physical book, these digital tools give you the flexibility to arrange your collection in whatever way makes the most sense for your reading habits.

7. Do You Often Reorganize?

A big question for some book lovers is how often they reorganize their books. If you’re anything like me, you might find yourself rearranging your bookshelves every few months—especially when new books arrive or when you decide that a new organizational system is worth a try. Reorganizing can feel like a mini-refresh of your reading life, breathing new life into your collection. It’s also a great way to rediscover forgotten books!

However, some readers find a system that works and stick with it. Once everything is in its place, they rarely have the need to shuffle things around again.