You worked hard to declutter your books. You let go of items you didn’t need or “spark joy.” All that remains is what you use and love – so why does your bookshelf still look messy? In fact, there are two aspects of untidiness; one is you have too many things, and the other is you have the right amount, but it isn’t organized. If your decluttering is complete, let’s look at how to make your bookshelf less messy without throwing anything (else) out.
In 2007, the Journal of Vision published a study on visual clutter. The research focused on how computer programmers and graphic designers can improve website usability by reducing visual clutter. However, we can organize our bookshelves using the same principles by incorporating focal points and improving cohesiveness by grouping items by size, shape or colour.
Your Home is Not the Library
Librarians arrange books by subject and author. Most public libraries use the Dewey Decimal System of classification, whereas research and academic libraries use the Library of Congress system. Both methods of sorting and categorizing books are excellent when many people search for books on many different topics. However, your home is not a library. You and your family are most likely the only people looking for books, so you can organize the books any way you please.
Separate Books
Firstly, consider placing books in different areas of the home. For example, you could put your non-fiction books (dictionaries, business books, etc.) on a shelving unit in your office. Keep fiction books in living rooms or bedrooms. Children can keep their books in their bedrooms or playrooms.
However, even if you separate the books into different shelving units, it can be challenging to make the bookshelves less messy, so here are some tips to reduce visual clutter within each bookshelf unit.
Make Straight Lines
It is much easier for the eye to look at straight lines than zigzag lines. When visual lines are straighter, the brain doesn’t get as many signals as it does when lines are broken, so it interprets less “clutter.” You can take advantage of this by sorting books by size. Adjust the distance between shelves and put taller books across the bottom shelf and shorter books on higher shelves.
You can order books by tallest to shortest and stack books horizontally at the end to create a bookend. This trick works well if some books are too tall to fit on the shelf. Alternatively, intersperse tall and short books so that if you drew a line across the top of the books, it would be relatively flat – at least from a distance. This works well if there are books across the entire shelf or if you add an object at the end of the shelve that is almost as tall as the space between the shelves.
Create Colour Blocks
Organizing by colour isn’t always the best option, but in this case, it can help make your bookshelf less messy. Consider grouping books by colour within the sizes. Again, the brain registers less clutter when the eye sees smooth transitions.
When you look at the books in a set (remember encyclopedias from the olden days?), they are the same height and colour. The only difference between each book is the title on the spine. When you do this, the brain only searches for one piece of information – the title. If the books are all different colours and sizes, it is harder for the brain to sift through the “clutter” to pick a specific book.
Here are some ideas to create uniformity on bookshelves:
- Remove the decorative dust jackets from their books to display the book’s solid-coloured cover.
- Make custom dust jackets to cover some or all of your books. If you’re not a crafty, DIY type, you can buy paper and fabric dust jackets at various online stores.
- Use the same colour and size of binder for all your work.
- Store books in magazine holders. This is a great option for paperbacks, children’s books, and small books. You can decorate cardboard-type holders however you wish.
Linda’s note: Have you ever noticed that books in stock photos face spine-inwards on shelves, so the viewer sees only the edges of the pages? That’s because books (and covers) are protected by copyright laws, meaning photographers cannot sell photos with recognizable books in them. Also, it’s a quick way for photographers to create uniformity – for the photography session. Don’t make your family search for books at home. Place them on the shelves with the spines facing outwards.
Add Balance
Another way to make your bookshelf less messy is to balance “full” and “empty” spaces. Have solid blocks of books beside a “less full” space. For example, fill half the shelf with books, then add one large knickknack or a grouping of smaller ones to balance out the solid block. Alternate blocks of books on each side of the shelf so it doesn’t look like it will fall over.
Try and Try Again
You may need to rearrange the books and other items several times to find a layout you’re happy with. Ideally, wait at least 24 hours before rearranging them again. Additionally, photograph the shelves because sometimes it’s easier to see balance in a photograph than in real life. Besides, if you take a photo of each rearrangement, you can return to it if you like it better.
If you’re struggling with your bookshelves, check out my posts on decluttering your books. If you’re ready to organize and need hands-on help, contact the Out of Chaos team.