How to Organize Books Without a Bookshelf
Struggling to find space in your office for a bookshelf? Here are some tips for storing books without a bookshelf
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Books are one of those items that can pile up in your home before you know it. And it’s really annoying to have to hunt through stacks of unorganized books when you have one, in particular, you can’t find.
Whether you’re in college or simply a reading enthusiast, a collection of volumes (including magazines and newspapers) can easily cause disarray in your apartment when you don’t have a shelf for them. In an ideal world, you would have several high-quality bookshelves to organize your favorite books on. This would enable you to easily find the one you’re looking for any time without any hassle.
But this type of furniture can be quite expensive, and not everyone has enough room for that in their place. Fortunately, there are some creative ways you can showcase and even find a double use for your books that don’t involve shelves. You also won’t have to put together any flat-pack furniture or hall any heavy items, which is a major plus!
Stacking on the Floor
If you’d rather not spend any money on storing your books, stacking them on the floor is a simple and straightforward method for keeping them organized. You can place your books up against the wall, putting them on top of each other to form little towers.
There are several ways you can choose to organize them: by size, color, genre, or alphabetically. I recommend placing the titles you’ll need to access most often at the tops of the piles. Otherwise, you’ll risk toppling your stacks each time you need to grab a book.
Use a Table
If you’re a bookworm, you may already know that any available surface can work for storing your prized collection. If you have a coffee table, nightstand, or even kitchen counter that isn’t being used, you already have a suitable bookcase alternative ready to go.
As mentioned before, you can organize your titles however you see fit for making them more accessible to you. But it’s best to keep the books you’ll want to reference most often at the top of the piles for easier access.
Windowsill Storage
If you don’t already have any items on your windowsills, they can work as makeshift shelving for your books. Make sure you arrange them in a way that allows you to still open and close your windows without too much hassle. You can use any heavy decorative items (such as a vase) as bookends to hold them in place.
Make a Table
Books can be used to create a table in the center of your living room. Simply stack them so that the towers are all leaning against each other. You can make the table whatever size you want.
You may also add a sheet of glass over the top if you want more surface area for placing items. Keep in mind that this technique is best for books that you don’t use very often.
Switch to an Amazon Kindle
Another way to organize your books without a bookcase is by eliminating the need for physical books at all. Switching to a Kindle is an easy way to access your favorite titles without having to hunt through stacks and stacks of volumes.
This convenient, handheld device can store hundreds (or even thousands) of books and makes them simple to find when you need them. You can also use the device to shop for new novels to read, in addition to magazines and newspapers.
We’ll cover a few different models to choose from below:
The Kindle
The Kindle is a convenient device with an adjustable front light that allows you to read comfortably outside or inside. The Kindle reads like real paper, even if you use it by the pool in direct sunlight.
You can read without distractions by adjusting text size, translating words, looking up definitions, and highlighting sections without having to leave your story. Choose from nearly unlimited audiobooks, newspapers, and books that can all fit effortlessly in your bag. You won’t have to charge your Kindle very long as it can hold a charge for weeks, depending on the frequency of use.
Kindles are comfortable to hold in your hand for long periods so that you can get lost in your novel. Pair the device with Bluetooth speakers or headphones if you’d like to use it for both listening and reading. Prime Reading offers Amazon Prime members access to hundreds of titles for free.
The Kindle Paperwhite
The Kindle Paperwhite is the lightest and thinnest Paperwhite model yet. Like the Kindle mentioned above, it reads just like paper, even when you’re outside in the sun.
The device now comes in Twilight Blue and Black. It offers a waterproof reading experience for reading in the bath or pool. The Kindle Paperwhite battery lasts very long when it’s in hibernation mode. It can even stay charged for weeks if you aren’t using the device. Its built-in light is adjustable and can be used to read day or night, inside or outside.
You can select the storage capacity necessary for your needs, with 32 GB available for those who need to store many audiobooks, magazines, and comics. One thing to note is that the screen has a slight glare, though that’s to be expected with digital devices.
The Kindle Oasis
The Kindle Oasis has a light, thin design that’s comfortable to hold and comes with page turn buttons. It has a Paperwhite display with an adjustable light that allows you to switch from white to an amber hue. The Kindle Oasis is waterproof so you can bring it to the pool or read in the bathtub and gives you instant access to millions of audiobooks, newspapers, and novels.
It reads like real paper and with fast page turns and two easy physical controls. The aluminum design is sleek and attractive. You can adjust the screen temperature display manually or set the device to change the temp along with sunrise and sunset. Pair your Kindle Oasis with Bluetooth speakers or headphones so you can switch between listening and reading.
As you can see, there are plenty of creative ways to organize your books without a bookshelf. Or even to make them a decorative accent in your home. If you’d rather get rid of some (or all) of your books, an Amazon Kindle is a great choice.
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