I do love these displays by color, but I think my books are quite happy to sit randomly or to be stacked. I like them organized by content, cook books in the kitchen, literature on one shelf, magazines another, etc. pve
I try to arrange them by subject so they're easy to find...but admit lately that i've just been stuffing them into my limited shelf space anyway I can get them to fit!!! I always admire the fortitude (and am jealous of the shelf space!) of people who arrange their books by color. But how do you find that ONE book you need in a sea of sameness?
I can't tell you how much I hate the color blocking of books. Many people who are great readers may disagree but to me this vile trend is juvenile, silly and repugnant. I love books more than I like most people. I'm not grumpy this morning. Just seriously opinionated on this subject.
Mine are arranged by category and subject - I read and need on occasionally to reread. I retain all bookjackets because to me they protect the books and aid in locating what I need. I really don't like to see a book stripped of its jacket.
I have to say-really do not like this. it just smacks of all library organization. I adored going to my public library,all sorts of sizes together (oversized below) arranged according to genre and title, author. books were not meant as accessories.
I have so many books and arranging by category & subject is best. Sometimes I end up stacking the art & design blooks on tables and the floor! The bookshelves I like by color because it makes me less crazy and I can always find what I need, the search is actually fun!
I'm guilty! I arrange my books by color within their subjects; my design books go from light to dark, cool to warm colors. My closet is also arranged by color. I think it goes back to my years in interior design showrooms where textiles are hung by color to sooth the eye.
Mine are arranged by subject, though that gets a bit amorphous at times! Especially when dealing with the oversized things. And the fiction section makes sense to me only (like my spice cabinet).
I have enough trouble finding books by title and author. How am I supposed to find Nancy Mitford's letters to Evelyn Waugh? This is a fad that needs to go away! I'm afraid I don't believe that those who organize by "COLOR" actually read books.
As one with few actual bookshelves - I a stacker. Even have one major stack in a corner which reaches almost 5 feet high, with smaller stacks at the base. I'll give the arrange by color concept a big thumbs down, though I do tend to go for stacks with themes: 5 books on Tiaras plus the catalog from Sotheby's Jewels of the Dutchess of Windsor.
I could be wrong, but I suspect that folks who arrange their books by color, might not read them. Or at least they might not often find themselves in a desperate rush to find that one fact or poem or photo that they need in a hurry.
Never by colour, that's only for people whose books are theatrical props. Yet even that fad is more palatable than a shelf of books with their spines hidden and the page edges turned outward. That's when I begin frothing at the mouth.
I arrange mine by subject, and then by sub-subjects within that... But, this week have developed a plan to wrap them all in white or ivory paper for a cohesive look. Something about the jumble of colour I usually love, but is bugging me right now.....!
I agree generally that arranging by colour is for people who probably don't really read BUT in my 7 year old daughter's room her books are arranged by colour and it really helps a lot with (1) getting her to put them back and (2) me picking out books to read (Hint: the pink books are the fairy and princess ones, the red ones are Dr Suess, and so on)
Books in our study are arranged on an eccentrically personal basis including roman history, normal history, then country (english 20th century, old, Australian, US, Australian modern), Mitford, russian history, food tourism, Churchillian, magical realism, Antonia Fraser, French from university, crime, art, cooking, wine, autobiography, poetry, philosophy etc) I know this because I spent about 100 hours moving and sorting them recently and boy was it tiring.
Stacking by color is for magazine stylists. It's not for people who actually read and love their books, and want to be able to find them! How often have you said to yourself,"Gee, I really feel like reading a book with a blue cover today. Let's see what's in the blue section!"
I do love these displays by color, but I think my books are quite happy to sit randomly or to be stacked.
ReplyDeleteI like them organized by content, cook books in the kitchen, literature on one shelf, magazines another, etc.
pve
I try to arrange them by subject so they're easy to find...but admit lately that i've just been stuffing them into my limited shelf space anyway I can get them to fit!!!
ReplyDeleteI always admire the fortitude (and am jealous of the shelf space!) of people who arrange their books by color. But how do you find that ONE book you need in a sea of sameness?
I can't tell you how much I hate the color blocking of books. Many people who are great readers may disagree but to me this vile trend is juvenile, silly and repugnant. I love books more than I like most people. I'm not grumpy this morning. Just seriously opinionated on this subject.
ReplyDeleteMine are arranged by category and subject - I read and need on occasionally to reread. I retain all bookjackets because to me they protect the books and aid in locating what I need. I really don't like to see a book stripped of its jacket.
ReplyDeleteWith me, the question might be, "Do you arrange your books?"
ReplyDeleteI have to say-really do not like this. it just smacks of all library organization. I adored going to my public library,all sorts of sizes together (oversized below) arranged according to genre and title, author. books were not meant as accessories.
ReplyDeleteI have so many books and arranging by category & subject is best. Sometimes I end up stacking the art & design blooks on tables and the floor! The bookshelves I like by color because it makes me less crazy and I can always find what I need, the search is actually fun!
ReplyDeleteKarena
Art by Karena
I'm with Home Before Dark. And really, who actually has space on their bookshelves to bother with this sort of bs?
ReplyDeleteI'm guilty! I arrange my books by color within their subjects; my design books go from light to dark, cool to warm colors. My closet is also arranged by color. I think it goes back to my years in interior design showrooms where textiles are hung by color to sooth the eye.
ReplyDeleteMine are arranged by subject, though that gets a bit amorphous at times! Especially when dealing with the oversized things. And the fiction section makes sense to me only (like my spice cabinet).
ReplyDeleteI have enough trouble finding books by title and author. How am I supposed to find Nancy Mitford's letters to Evelyn Waugh? This is a fad that needs to go away! I'm afraid I don't believe that those who organize by "COLOR" actually read books.
ReplyDeleteAs one with few actual bookshelves -
ReplyDeleteI a stacker. Even have one major stack in a corner which reaches almost 5 feet high, with smaller stacks at the base. I'll give the arrange by color concept a big thumbs down, though I do tend to go for stacks with themes: 5 books on Tiaras plus the catalog from Sotheby's Jewels of the Dutchess of Windsor.
Jjj
I could be wrong, but I suspect that folks who arrange their books by color, might not read them. Or at least they might not often find themselves in a desperate rush to find that one fact or poem or photo that they need in a hurry.
ReplyDeleteNever by colour, that's only for people whose books are theatrical props. Yet even that fad is more palatable than a shelf of books with their spines hidden and the page edges turned outward. That's when I begin frothing at the mouth.
ReplyDeleteI arrange mine by subject, and then by sub-subjects within that...
ReplyDeleteBut, this week have developed a plan to wrap them all in white or ivory paper for a cohesive look.
Something about the jumble of colour I usually love, but is bugging me right now.....!
I agree generally that arranging by colour is for people who probably don't really read BUT in my 7 year old daughter's room her books are arranged by colour and it really helps a lot with (1) getting her to put them back and (2) me picking out books to read (Hint: the pink books are the fairy and princess ones, the red ones are Dr Suess, and so on)
ReplyDeleteBooks in our study are arranged on an eccentrically personal basis including roman history, normal history, then country (english 20th century, old, Australian, US, Australian modern), Mitford, russian history, food tourism, Churchillian, magical realism, Antonia Fraser, French from university, crime, art, cooking, wine, autobiography, poetry, philosophy etc) I know this because I spent about 100 hours moving and sorting them recently and boy was it tiring.
xoox
Stacking by color is for magazine stylists. It's not for people who actually read and love their books, and want to be able to find them! How often have you said to yourself,"Gee, I really feel like reading a book with a blue cover today. Let's see what's in the blue section!"
ReplyDelete