Organizing Bookshelves by Color
I love checking my Flickr feeds and seeing what friends are up to, and I particularly love it when I get a candid peek into their homes. There’s just something so neat about seeing how someone else arranges their living room, or paints their kitchen, or decorates their baby’s room.
When I spotted Elizalou’s awesomely color-organized bookshelf this weekend, I had to try it out for myself. I have a bookshelf that’s against one side of the living room next to the TV, and it’s nearly always a mess, with books stacked every which way and random non-book items shoved here and there (three dusty non-working remotes: WHY?).
Organizing by color was easy, I just took everything out and stacked them in color-coordinated piles (which was a great opportunity to set aside a large pile of things for Goodwill, because am I really going to read Scruples again? Judith Krantz, I tip my hat to your unmatched skills in the shopping-and-screwing genre, but I must say farewell), and borrowed from other bookshelves if I didn’t have enough of one particular color.
It was surprising to see just how colorful my books are, even though the majority of them are beat-up paperbacks. I tried one color scheme, then re-arranged it a bit more when I wasn’t satisfied with the effect.
Now instead being of a jumbled, chaotic eyesore, this bookshelf really brightens up the room (here’s another cool example from Jessamyn). This method won’t work for you if you prefer books organized by author or subject, but since I had no organization whatsoever before, it’s like having a fresh selection of books on hand — it’s interesting to see what kind of theme you end up with in any one section.
Fast, free, and super-easy — what more can you ask for in a home improvement effort? If you choose to try this for yourself, make sure you join the Rainbow of Books Flickr pool and share your results!
Posted: August 13th, 2007 under House & home, Books, How-to, Personally recommended by Linda.
Comments: 13
Comments
Comment from GoingLoopy
Time: August 13, 2007, 12:42 pm
I think that all my books are black, with perhaps a few white ones thrown in….but I might check to (a) test my theory about lack of color and (b) decide what needs to go to the used bookstore for trade. Because I believe I have a few of the Judith Krantz-like tomes lurking about too…
Comment from Pickles & Dimes
Time: August 13, 2007, 1:17 pm
I did this awhile back both at home and at work and I love it! I arranged my books lying flat, with the larger books on the bottom and I think it looks great.
I’m glad this is becoming a trend - now maybe I won’t feel like such a freak for organizing both my books and the clothes in my closet by color.
Comment from sooboo
Time: August 13, 2007, 5:45 pm
The first time I saw this done was at Adobe Bookshop in SF.
Here’s a link
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4182224
I also did it at home for awhile. It looks cool. The only problem was when I was looking for a specific book and I couldn’t remember what color it was!
Comment from Emblita
Time: August 14, 2007, 5:41 am
I just did this the other day and I love it! I used to have everything by author, and although I did suffer some pangs of guilt splitting up my Potter and Pratchett books the effect is so cool that I’ve forgotten all about it.
This really brightens up an otherwise dull bookshelf -whodathunkit?
Comment from Jamie
Time: August 14, 2007, 6:22 am
I’ve been doing this for years, mostly because I always remember which books are which by the cover and spine design - like a visual Dewey Decimal system for those of us averse to numbers. I love it, but if one is not careful, it can look a little…well, nursery school-ish. It certainly does brighten up a room, though, that’s for sure.
Comment from Marie Green
Time: August 14, 2007, 8:22 am
LOVE THE IDEA. I’m totally going to try it. Thanks.
Comment from Leslie
Time: August 14, 2007, 8:27 am
Here’s a project to separate the left-brainers from the right. Because there’s no way I could let its aesthetics supercede my need to have books grouped by author and/or subject. Two *Trading Spaces* episodes it brings to mind: In one, the designer took off all the book jackets from the owners’ books. In another, she placed the books spine first so only the pages showed. Two reasons — among many — I detest that particular designer.
Comment from nancy
Time: August 14, 2007, 9:25 am
I did that with my CD’s years ago, and it made my alphabetical husband crazy. He is incredibly OCD about the alphabetical thing (the spices???) so much so that other OCD types have mini-freak out moments when the realize everything is organized. I think the color idea is beautiful, it only bothers me when the actual cover is a completely different color (ie. blue spine, orange cover) because then I can’t find the book quickly.
Comment from Katie
Time: August 20, 2007, 4:58 pm
Dude. I never even imagined that. And here all these other people have thought of it. What else am I missing out on?
Comment from Sue M.
Time: August 26, 2007, 6:54 pm
i tried doing this a number of years back and the result was hideous…should (and will) try it again!
Pingback from Laughing Mommy » Rainbow of Books
Time: August 28, 2007, 1:20 pm
[…] I was inspired to color coordinate my books and join the Rainbow of Books group on Flickr (check it out for some amazing pictures of bookshelves organized by color) by Sundry at Sundrybuzz. Colorful! Filed under: Bloggity Goodness, Cool Stuff — by laughing mommy @ 1:20 pm « Pontoon Party Boat Day 2007 […]
Comment from laughing mommy
Time: August 28, 2007, 1:22 pm
I fixed up my bookshelves and even posted a picture. I think I might have to reorganize… your bookshelves are so much more colorful than mine!
Write a comment