You have a few things right; like books being pulled to the front edge of the shelves. Since this is your "library" I think if it most appropriate to store all the books vertically with spines readable. If the shelves are adjustable, then I'd want the bottom ones wider for the taller, heavier looking volumes - like a visual anchor. The 3rd shelf from the bottom left looks the best right now. There is space above the books to put your fingers in and retrieve one. Not so on the top shelf left. One might break a fingernail trying to get a book from the tight squeeze. I'd suggest removing paperbacks, perhaps to a rolling storage that can slip under the daybed. You could also hide them behind the bottom doors, but they don't usually contribute to the library look. Once you eliminate the volumes you're ready to pass on, you may have some room to add decor. If so, the "rule of thumb" for that type of styling is 1/3 books (standing, lying or supporting something) 1/3 decor items and 1/3 open space. Some people go to the extreme of color blocking the book arrangement, but that's a lot of trouble. Might work in a case where you actually never disturb the arrangement to read a book! lol Don't forget to add a comfy reading chair.

Thank you so much for the tips! I love the French Library look

Ideas

-remove the jackets. Nicer look
-all paperbacks together.
-otherwise organize somewhat like a library---novels, alpha by author/history together/biography together/science together.

Just put them on the floor at first, seeing how many you have of each category.

Then, you will want to have all of your shelves lined up. See how yours are not.

Nice that your guests have their own stash of wine! haha Can you put that in the glass cabinet?

Cannot achieve French library look unless you do major purging.

I agree with saratoga.. The key word is "ruthless". Pass along some to friends and family according to the genres they like. Give some to nursing homes, senior citizens centers, shelters and Goodwill. Give them new homes. You'll feel better about letting them go.

There is a veteran organization that collects books and mail it to veterans, as soon as I get a chance I will find the link for you. Running out of the house in a few.

You are right about the wine...I forgot about that;) I plan to hit the treadmill for 30 mins to get me pumped up for the chore ahead, and I will be ruthless in my purging. This will be my afternoon activity. I had not thought about nursing homes, or senior citizen centers! I realized years ago the libraries no longer took books...go figure... I appreciate the ideas and comments.

I think you should edit and keep only the volumes you will use and re-read. There are great used book stores now, like McKay's. Then place them in piles on the floor sorted into categories like a library so you can easily reference them. The sizes should take care of themselves then, and you may have room to mix in a few accessories, too.

I'm in love with books and they can misbehave terribly and still be okay with me. I like the look of your top two shelves, with two small caveats. A full shelf should have the books standing upright like soldiers (unless you've removed one to read, then they can look like soldiers who have had a tooth pulled). Mind you, I think you've got it on the top left shelf so read that caveat as applying to some of the others. Top right, I like the clear distinction between two piles of horizontal books, and a clear space in between for something definite: like the photograph you have there. But arrange the largest at the bottom, smallest at the top. A horizontal pile of books the same size looks great, but can't always be managed.

Please remember that bookends were created for the precise purpose of keeping books neat. You can have a dozen books on a twenty-book shelf and they will look great if you have something to hold them upright.

I prefer organising by size, more or less, rather than by colour, except in very specific instances. I wouldn't remove dustjackets, they are there for a reason and an integral part of a book. I do broadly organise by topic or type, to make it easier to find things, but not being a registered library I don't regard it as a duty. Good idea to organise paperbacks together. Similarly, coffee-table books. Heavier-looking books on the lower shelves, on the whole.

I do want to say that as a guest, as long as I have reading time, there is nothing I would find more welcoming than packed bookshelves.

Lastly, do as I say, not as I do.

PS I can't say that the wine bottles make me miserable, either.

Here are some ideas:

Get a large folding table to sort books onto. Vacuum dust off tops of books with the upholstery/dust brush attachment. Keep the vacuum out, you will need it continuously. Remove wine bottles to put elsewhere.

Pull off enough books to allow you to put the shelves at even heights on right and left. The middle shelf is often nailed in for stability. Take the tallest books to adjust the bottom shelves. Then divide the other shelf heights. Top shelves can be the smallest. Vacuum backs of shelves and wipe with dust cloth and Endust.


Then sort books into four piles: desert island reading, things you love, things you like and things you can give away. Put away the first two categories. Aim for 20% space left free. Vacuum tops of books again to reduce dust. Run an air cleaner if you have one. Moving books stirs up a lot of dust.

Organise according to subject and read all your books again.

Move wine up to eye level and put on each side, to break up books. Then remove 1/3 of them. Stack with titles facing out on top of each other, in between add plants, and other decor items. To break it up and give it more interest. You could add wine glasses to middle area and make that more of a bar. Think out side the box. Find fun thing of interest to fill space. Just not so cluttered.

Best of luck on your book purge! I too like the "French Library" look above.

I find the best way to display books are spines out so they're readable, and also based on spine size. I have all of mine from left to right, the tallest spine to the smallest spine. Or you could get creative and do the tall ones in the middle, etc.

Just a thought. Best of luck!

Schools don't take them either. They're going to e-books, so when the plug gets pulled there won't be any learning there.

http://booksforsoldiers.com/getting-started/

Just wanted to say, you can keep all the books you want. My only point was if you want the French Library look.

I personally love the feel of a real book and have not succumbed to e-books.

KInd of scary…….out of a science fiction novel that we are ridding ourselves of books (and we are doing it to ourselves).

Okay, off my soap box now.

I have at least that many book scattered throughout 4 bookcases, a sofa tableand a basket in the bathroom. I routinely go through mine, and if it's not something I would read again or use for reference, I get rid of it as I'm constantly buying new books.

I group my books by size and type more than anything else. The large hardback books go together next to the large softbound on down in size to the paperbacks. I lay a lot of the paperbacks down and stack them on top of each other, as well as on top of the larger books depending on space available. I also put small kick knacks such as small family picture in front of the books to give it a less academic look.

Looking at your book shelf, it just needs some straightening up so it doesn't appear like the books are falling down.

Armygirl! Thank you for the link to Books For Soldiers. Hope school is going well :)))

Our bookshelves are filled almost entirely with books, and I wouldn't think of getting rid of them. They are organized in sections by subject or genre, and then alphabetically by author within subject categories. The spines are pulled forward to create a flat plane. On the rare shelf that isn't full, we use a bookend to hold them upright, and all the oversized books go together on one taller shelf.

We design and produce bespoke bookshelves and cupboards to organise your books, folders, files, CDs and DVDs which can be customized with doors and drawers. All our furniture have perforated sidewalls for adjustable shelves enabling you to maximize storage. And, if you need extra storage you can get as twice as much by using our innovative sliding bookshelves.

I'm in love with my books too...they are simply old friends. But for the sake of company, I've taken out my paperbacks, organized by height, and used antique plates, heavy sea shells and Wine Bottles to hold and separate my babies. You have a beautiful bookcase...

Have you thought about replacing some of the paperbacks with hardcovers? I buy used books on Amazon. I usually go for the 1 cent books, pay the $3.99 shipping and get a hardback book for $4.00. Sometimes a hardback isn't available or Amazon's new price is better than the used price. I'm usually going for the lowest cost - best condition combo - Very Good. Rarely do I get a book that is in worse condition than was stated. This way your display would be more aesthetically pleasing.

Here is our library.

I love bookshelf walls! Good luck with yours--here's mine.