On thing that drives me nuts about interior design advice is it doesn't start from the non-negotiables often enough.

For example I don't think I'm that strange or remarkable for owning about 800 books. I know a lot of people with more. (I have SOME restraint) But if you look for design ideas for books it's not like "here is where you can put all those books" it's more like "get these fake books for this look" --or it's "design a home library." my brother in Christ WHERE.

At least for me the color sorting makes it easier to find the book I'm looking for. I know some people will do a subject shelf sorted by author, or alphabetically, or subtopic... But, if I'm looking at "discrete math books" I won't remember the title. I remember "it was in the light blue one" -- so color helps.

From across the room it looks less jumbled. You also notice how different subjects have different color pallets. Which is neat.

Also, alpha sorting will NOT stay sorted. Color will.

@futurebird Among the magazines I subedit are some interiors titles.

Nothing is weirder than people who turn their books so the spines are towards the back so they won't spoil 'the look'. How do they find the book they want? Do they only have a dozen or so? Do they have incredible memories for placements? It's just *wrong*.

@futurebird aren't all math books yellow? (Actually I don't own any of the Springer yellow books).

I do own some bookshelves that I got made to measure with specific shelf heights though.

On thing that drives me nuts about interior design advice is it doesn't start from the non-negotiables often enough.

For example I don't think I'm that strange or remarkable for owning about 800 books. I know a lot of people with more. (I have SOME restraint) But if you look for design ideas for books it's not like "here is where you can put all those books" it's more like "get these fake books for this look" --or it's "design a home library." my brother in Christ WHERE.

@futurebird "Bookshelf scaping" and "how to fill up all that space in your bookshelves."

The kind of facepalm that risks concussion.

And here is my most controversial one:

Sort your books by SIZE first. The size dictates the shelf height and one tall book can waste a lot of space. (not controversial)

Next by subject. Have the same topic, or author, or genre on the same shelf. (not controversial)

Last, on each shelf sort them by color. It will make the shelf look less chaotic. People get mad about this since it's "looks over function" but if you have a subject shelf you'll be able to find your books.

@futurebird

I remember the story of a couple with many books moving together into an apartment with limited room for shelf space. They prepared by making a database of all their books, including the measurements of each one, to help plan the optimal distribution within the shelves and to be able to find them again in their "optimal utilization of available space" challenge.