curious definition of "best" - image #1 (the round bookcase) was universally panned (and deservedly so IMHO) for being utterly unsuitable to storing books. jamming books into such a bookcase would seriously damage the books. trying *way* to hard to be clever with this one.

I agree with mawrtyr88.

sorry - that would be "'way' too hard." Another example of "trying way too hard to be clever" is the organizing books by color. Why is this considered so "clever"? So overdone, and each time seems to be considered so innovative. Please. It really only says "I bought boxes of books at a flea market in order to fill shelf space."

There are people who remember books by color, just like some people remember the title or the author. If organizing books by color helps you to find a book, then organize by color. I read this tip in a 1960s housekeeping book, so it's not a new idea.

But organizing books by color to make a style statement is a bit too twee for me.

And agreeing about that round bookcase. Looks=great. Function=0.

I disagree that color-organized books imply a meaningless collection. We carefully choose the colors of our throw pillows, curtains, rugs, and other accessories in a room. Why not arrange books artfully as well?

I arrange my books by color and they were not purchased in a box at a flea market. They are books that I have collected over my 33 years of life. I just so happen to like them arranged by color, and yes - I can still find them. Before they were arranged by color, they were arranged by size so that they could best fit on the shelves. Just as arbitrary an arrangement, but no one would have accused me then of trying to just fill shelf space.

#1 is ridiculous. Why is it even on the list? That's how someone who doesn't give a crap about their books would store them.

And stacking them vertically seems like a pain in the ass, too, for when you want to get one from the bottom and have to re-stack every time. I like to keep it simple and arrange by author. Of couse, I do separate by book-type, too- cookbooks, how-to books, and graphic novels all get their own space

What can I say? I worked as a shelver at a library for many years and have my books arranged by type (fic/non-fic) and subject. Lo and behold: all my art books are generally oversized, and all my novels are generally similarly sized, etc etc etc. So maybe size-shelving is not so arbitrary after all.

I tend to assume people who do color sorting and spine-in shelving are book poseurs. Sorry. Maybe you're not, but …

Do you also organize your tools by color and size? (fine, fine — tools are not usually something stored in the living room)

Our built in bookcases organized by topic are clever enough.

DuluthGirl and suzemagoo know what's up.

Ha! I also worked as a library page for many years (aka book shelver) I still love to have my books arranged by color. And I read A LOT. It's a personal preference. And I'm not a book poseur. I'm also no longer purchasing books as I've run out of space. I'm now a regular library patron.

image 1 is too messy, unorganized, it doesnt make any sense to pile books up that way;sorry i strongly disagree!

image 5: organizing by color, ummm why not but it doesnt seem practical. You better remember the color of the cover before you place it on the rainbow bookshelf!

Hey. I organize my books by spine color, after separating fiction from non-fiction and before adjusting for height/thickness. I can always find what I want, and I defy anyone to say I'm not a blue-stockinged bibliophile with the best of them.

I couldn't believe the round storage unit with all those books crammed every-which-way in the bottom sections. I'd rather see someone lift the bedskirt and point out a stash of books stored under the bed.

Horrible. You can see the damage to the books easily in the center section of that round one.

My favorite organization of books was by publication date, but this was in an acquaintance's library whose collection was predominantly French fiction from the 17th - 20th century (he was French).

I should mention that it was effective as a "browser's" library more than a "searcher's" library -- although the latter wouldn't be too hard if you had some background in literature.

I love the comments in this post. It's nice to find myself in the company of people who view books as something other than decorative paper bricks.

As much as I like the look of books arranged by colour, it doesn't work in my home because I read lengthy series - and they must must must be in order. Because that is just how it must be for me. But the rest of my books are slowly learning to sit beside ones of similar colour. I never bothered to organize them by author anyway; I find arrangements where books that seem to relate to one another sit together, and it just makes sense when I look for them.
In a small space, I have a fair amount of books, so having them all piled onto a shelf, arranged by colour or not, just looks cluttered. The pretty shelves in picutres and on pinterest have so much empty space, and have so much room for decor items. Looks very nice, but that is so not my life!

And yes, I agree that the first shelf is so impractical.

agree with the first comment about the first bookcase. awful. i don't even like the way that looks (as a general display, yes. with books in it, absolutely not.) i knew as soon as i saw it people would be talking about it, hah.

i'm over the book by color arguing. it pops up every single time it is in any kind of picture. everyone can store their books how they like, and it does not provide any insight as to what they use their books for. some years, i've had my books arranged somewhat by color, some years, by size. never by author/subject, because honestly, that is the way that i would least likely be able to find what i want. i have a very photographic memory, so i know what my books look like just from the spine. having them by color helped me get to it quicker. same by size. i am terrible with names, so having it by author would do me no good. but if that was all aside and i just liked the way it looked one way or another, who cares? they are my books that i read and look at, not yours. let everyone have their way in their own home. i don't have 1,000 books, so whatever way i organize them, or anyone else does, is practical for them.

My comment may be repetitive but I think this is not realistic at all. Its a cute concept though. I collect rare art books and I am careful not even to stack them because it can be so hard on them.

Love all the comments! I'm glad there seem to be enough book lovers out there to keep the 'species' going. I was getting worried that eBooks would eventually eliminate our options. Nothing digital compares with the weight and beauty of a good book. Oh, there is a place for an eBook (bus, traveling, camping maybe. I've thought about it for reference books that might only use occasionally) but nothing electronic comes close to the luxury of curling up, flipping through pages and lingering over photographs (decor and garden books). God bless Gutenberg!

Actually Gutenberg nicked the idea from North Asia! But yes, thanks still due!