I Turned My Dream Built-in Bookshelf into an Organized, Cozy Space

Have you ever dreamed of having something in your home so much that it becomes an obsession? For me, that was a tall bookshelf with a rolling ladder (the kind you see in cozy library photos). But once I finally got it, I froze. How was I supposed to organize it without making it look cluttered?

I tried every trick I knew: grouping objects in threes, stacking books horizontally, even following a few of these bookshelf styling tips. Nothing felt right. With a half-empty shelf and a box of photo frames still sitting on the floor, I finally decided it was time to call in a pro. Enter Jessica Litman of The Organized Mama, who helped me see where I could do even more with my shelves. Here’s how we transformed them.

Litman’s first tip was to pull everything off the shelves and sort it into categories. “Start by grouping all your items together. Then decide what you want to showcase and group based on category,” she says. “This could be grouping by collections, types of books, colors, or whatever you feel makes sense for your stuff.”

For me, that meant grouping like with like. I paired silver photo frames with a matching candlestick, and loosely arranged books by topic. Once everything was in piles, I could finally see what I had to work with.

When it came to the books themselves, Litman suggested organizing by purpose. “Grouping by topic is best,” she says. “Kids’ books on lower shelves make sense so they can grab and read. Grouping fiction books by genre is another great way to showcase the books. You can even group books by ones you are wanting to read, so they don’t get lost in the shelves.” I loved this logic. I gathered my cookbooks together, separated out fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books, and stacked my beautiful coffee-table books horizontally to add texture.

Once everything was sorted, Litman told me to start filling shelves without overthinking and move things around until they felt right. I also followed her advice to place heavier objects on lower shelves and keep smaller, lighter items at eye level. The difference was instant; the entire bookcase suddenly felt more grounded and balanced.

Finally, Litman emphasized the importance of white space. “Giving breathing room to the shelves helps you see all the amazing items you’re displaying,” she says. “Don’t let things get lost in the back of the shelves.” Leaving small gaps between decor and varying how books were stacked kept the whole display from feeling crowded.

Her last piece of advice was what finally freed me from perfectionism: “Don’t overthink things. Put them up and then walk away. As you are living with the shelves, you can tweak and adjust.” Now, my once-overwhelming bookshelf is what I always imagined it would be — a focal point that feels warm, personal, and truly reflective of me.