Bryna Howes, Houzz Contributor
While we may not collect books at the same rate as we used to (thanks to the little wonder that is the e-reader), there is something magical about a shelf filled with books. It’s another place that allows you to show off your personality and add character to a room. So toss out your preconceived ideas of how and where to keep your books and try one of these fun bookshelf organization ideas instead. With the right touch, your shelf needn’t be just a shelf.
Easy Ways to Declutter Your Book Collection
1. Above a desk. If space is tight and you’ve repurposed an alcove for your home office, go all the way. Add shelving above the desk to reach up to the ceiling — that’s what ladders are for — and fill it with your latest editions.
2. Around an entryway. If you have space to spare around a large entryway, a built-in shelving system at the edges may be just the thing to give it purpose.
3. In the bedroom. Fill your dreams with tales from far away with a custom unit filled with books. This wall unit is painted in a fantastical shade of cherry and is complete with shadow boxes for stashing treasures.
4. In the hallway. If there is one space in your house almost guaranteed to have an open wall, it’s your hallway. Before you get too excited, however, take note: Hallways can be slim and dark. That’s why this example is so inspiring. The shelves are built into the wall, so they don’t jut out and get in the way. Moreover, there is plenty of lighting, effectively turning this corridor into a comfortable library.
Ideas for Making the Most of Your Hallway
5. Behind a barn door. A sliding barn door provides a sliver of hope for the future of books.
6. In the closet. Finding room for all your possessions can be tricky when you live in a small space. But don’t despair; use storage space that has been allocated to other items, such as your clothes. Here, a closet does double duty as a bookshelf.
7. Under the stairs. This under-the-stairs work area makes use of every nook and cranny. Notice how the bookshelf sits behind the stairs? It naturally divides the shelf, so the bottom-right side can be used for notebooks, scrapbooks and reference books, while the top-left side can be used for fiction and fun books.
8. In the kitchen island. Naturally, a kitchen-based shelf would work as a great storage space for cookbooks and food magazines, but if you have room for more, use it. Here, convenient cubbies exist in the bulk of a kitchen island.
9. In a hidden space. Here’s a creative solution for those who don’t want to create an entire wall of shelving. As you can see, mini shelves run along the top of the wall here, creating an out-of-the-way but easy-to-access storage space (especially with the ladder). It’s also a great way to add interest to the upper third of your room if you live in a home with high ceilings.
10. Under the seat. Window seats or bench seats are a storage dream, but typically the seat lifts up, almost like a trunk lid, to reveal the storage. In this room the storage is accessible from the front of the bench, which makes the bench extra versatile.
