Organising Books

[juneybean]

I will very shortly be hearing back whether I've been accepted for a mortgage and instead of all the other stuff I should be thinking about, I'm considering how to organise my books which currently are sat in boxes feeling unloved.

I have a notebook at the ready to record their titles/authors but how should I organise them on the bookshelves.

I wanted to go alphabetically but I have some that are parts of a collection (so different authors but similar spines)

I also cannot decided WHICH notebook to use... ah it's hard being this nerdy.

[MrsWinnibago]

I'm afraid I do mine by colour. It looks nice and somehow I can find what I need easily.

[VikingLady]

Ok, well I'm incredibly sad but I do organise mine by genre, then collection (if relevant), then by author. But between us DH and I have thousands of books, so it is pretty much necessary! How many do you have?

[juneybean]

Have started cataloging accessible ones in my bedroom and am up to 80, there are more in the loft and cupboards :/ I'm going to wish I never started.

Colour has always intrigued me ...

[QueenAnneofAustriaSpain]

I organise by genre as far as possible.

[Lovage]

I organise by a combination of genre (and within that author) and size/ shape - some of our bookcases only take paperback sized books, some have huge shelves that paperbacks look silly in.

[littlerach]

I moved last month and had a lovely evening with my mate arranging my books into alphabetical fiction then non-fiction into vague genres, then alphabetical. Witithn the fiction the authors with multiple books were sorted chronoligically... Unfortunately we consumed a good amount iof wine and lost some of our gusto for the latter!

I have plans to try the colour arrangment at some point.

[magimedi]

Fiction is alphabetical - just to the letter!

Then in genres, so poetry, travel, horticulture, biography.

Works well for me, I can find any book I want in 30 seconds.

[juneybean]

That sounds like the best plan Magimedi I like the idea of having non-fiction by genre.

I really want the expedit/kallax bookcase but not sure it's going to work in terms of shelf space.

I mean ideally I want fitted shelves in the alcoves but can't quite afford that ;)

Might have to go for a billy.

[magimedi]

I went for Billys & am delighted with them. I have a couple of other small Billys that are 20+ years old & have survived 12 moves!!!

[juneybean]

Can you leave the back off a billy?

[magimedi]

I'm not sure - I think if you did you would have to use some sort of fixing at the top of the billy to attach it to the wall - although the back isn't much I think it does help to give rigidity to the whole thing.

Why do you need to leave the back off?

I'd ask the same question in the property/diy topic - there are some really good diy-ers who hang out there!

[juneybean]

My plan is to wallpaper in the alcove and paint the chimney breast and covering it with a billy would cover the wallpaper so I'd quite like to see it!

I will ask in DIY, thank you!

[Hobbes8]

You could wallpaper the back of the Billy. I've seen that done.

[AtYourCervix]

Mine are also by colour. Like a rainbow. Very purty.

[magimedi]

DH says that Billys wobble like mad before you put the back on!

Easy enough to paper the back of the Billy.

[juneybean]

Ohh okay thank you magimedi

[TheOnlyOliviaMumsnet]

Yes you can leave the back off a billy]

[QueenAnneofAustriaSpain]

I love how we all instantly know what a Billy is. We have lots of Billy's in our house.

I think I might rearrange my billies now. I am going to do it like Daunt books - by country. So fiction and non fiction together.

Excited.

[juneybean]

Went to ikea to touch some Billy's today. Honestly I don't trust the measurements the vendor gave me so won't make any decisions until I can get into the house to measure myself...