Organizing My Office Bookshelves by Color: The Rainbow Library Makeover
🌈 Finding Joy in the Details
After months of chaos between sick kids, homestead projects, and life in general, I finally gave myself permission to do something purely creative — to make one little corner of my world feel calm again.
My office had become the catch-all for everything: seed catalogs, garden journals, and way too many half-read books stacked on every surface. So I decided it was time for a reset — one that felt both soothing and inspiring.
The result? A rainbow bookshelf that completely transformed my space and my energy.
💛 Why I Did It
This project wasn’t about perfection — it was about peace.
I wanted to walk into my workspace and feel good. Each color on the shelf represents a different kind of joy:
Reds and oranges for energy and warmth
Greens for growth and life
Blues and purples for calm and clarity
It’s funny how something as simple as reorganizing books can lift your whole mood. It reminded me that even in the middle of running a homestead and raising kids, creativity still has a place.
📚 How to Create a Rainbow Bookshelf (Step-by-Step)
If you’ve ever wanted to bring order and color into your space, here’s exactly how I did it — simple, sustainable, and beautiful.
1. Pull Everything Off & Start Fresh
Empty the shelves completely — yes, all of them.
Make three piles: Keep, Donate/Sell, Relocate.
Give your shelves a quick wipe-down (bonus: light a candle to set the mood).
2. Sort Books by Color Family
Lay everything out on the floor by color:
Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet, and Neutrals (black, white, tan, gray).
If you’re short on a color, blend shades together. This part feels a little like painting with paper.
3. Decide Your Color Flow
Classic rainbow order: Red → Orange → Yellow → Green → Blue → Indigo → Violet → Neutrals
Softer gradient: start with whites and work toward darker tones.
No wrong answers here — go with what feels balanced in your space.
4. Arrange by Height and Shape
Within each color, line books tall to short for a polished look.
Alternate between vertical rows and horizontal stacks for movement.
This small shift adds rhythm and keeps the shelves from feeling flat or crowded.
5. Add Breaks with Decorative Pieces
After every couple of stacks, add something that makes you smile:
A small plant (pothos or fern)
A candle or ceramic mug
A natural item — wood bowl, stone, dried flower bundle
A framed photo or heirloom
These pieces act as breathing spaces for your eyes — and your mind.
6. Style the Ends and Tops
Use baskets or neutral bookends at the edges to contain drift.
Stack a few coffee table books horizontally on the top shelf and add a single accent (I used a clay vase from the garden shed).
7. Keep It Functional
Remember: this isn’t just décor. It’s your workspace.
Keep frequently used books at eye level or near your desk. I tucked my homestead and garden reference books together within the green section — practical and pretty.
8. Maintain the Magic
Once a month, do a five-minute tidy: dust, water the plants, and re-shelve stray books by color.
And when you bring in a new one? Let another go. (It’s harder than it sounds, but your shelves will thank you.)
🎥 Watch the Full Makeover
I filmed the entire process — from piles on the floor to the final rainbow reveal. You can watch it all (plus a peek at my newly renovated home office) here:
👉 Watch “Organizing My Office Bookshelves by Color | Rainbow Library Makeover” on YouTube
🌿 Closing Thoughts
This little project reminded me that transformation doesn’t always come from big changes.
Sometimes it’s as simple as cleaning, creating, and adding a bit of color back into your everyday world.
Even in a busy homestead season, there’s power in carving out one small corner that feels like you.