How to Arrange Bookcase Shelves

Clean off your bookshelves so you can start with a blank slate. This will allow you to look anew at your shelves so you're not trying to replicate what was there before.

Place your biggest items on the shelves first -- whether they're books, pictures or other objects. Hardcover novels or large coffee table books should be placed first. Stagger these objects across the whole of the shelving unit.

Place your smaller books next. Don't mix hardcover and paperback books. Place smaller hardcover books alongside the larger books. Next, place your paperbacks together in small groups next to the hardcover books.

Place your medium-size and small objects now. After you have placed all of your books, add in the rest of your knickknacks and other decorations to fill out the shelves.