Need ideas to add a bit of interest to your decor? Try decorating with books. Here are 5 designer ways to decorate with books.
Did you know you probably have dozens of decorating elements in your home that you may not be using? I’m talking about BOOKS! We all have them, but how many of us use them and display them in our homes? With just a wee bit of thinking outside of the box and purposeful placement, books can add so much personality, your personality, to your decor and home! Here are 5 budget-friendly, designer ways to decorate with books…
These are easy and doable ideas…
USE BOOKS AS RISERS
This is one of my very favorite ways to use books. If your accessories are a little diminutive, place them on a few stacked books to give them some height and visual weight.
Just look at how this object d’art looks stacked on a few books. Elevating something gives it importance and more visual weight.
Here are just a few things you can stack on books…
- lamps
- dishes
- flowers
- plants
- candles
- small vases
- decorative boxes
- pictures in frames
- decorative bowl
- seasonal decor
- and more
Books can be put under almost anything!!! Go into your favorite room and I bet you can find a place to stack a couple books! And your decor will look better for it!
FILL IN THE GAPS
Books work great to fill in gaps in vignettes! Slip in a couple books. Layered horizontally, books can fill up a large space and add an interesting, extra surface to decorate.
It’s surprising how pretty a few books look leaning against each other in a vignette or tucked alongside something.
Books work like magic to pull our eyes into decor!
ADDING COLOR AND TEXTURE
A stack of books adds color and texture to a room. Even these neutral books reinforce the cohesiveness of this room and have lots of great texture too!
When you don’t know what to put in a space try adding a few books.
BOOK COLLECTIONS
Do you have a collection of books? Why keep them hidden away on a bookshelf when you can decorate with them? Group them all together.
They don’t have to be a leather bound matching set to make a pretty statement! Use what you have and let your books earn their decorative keep!
The cookbook above is the ones I am reading and pouring over right now. I love how they also decorate this corner of my kitchen counter!
COVER BOOKS LOOK A UNIFORM
This is a look I can’t resist!!! Most of us have books that we do not want anymore. Why not cover them to work with our decor for a great uniform look! Because I use a lot of neutrals in my decor, covering books with burlap is my first choice!!! And I love love love this look!
Covering books is only limited by your imagination! Use newspaper, sheet music, brown or white craft paper, wrapping paper, and fabric! Find coordinating colors and patterns to cover books! This will give your room an authentic designer look!
If you have never tried covering books and using them to decorate you are in for a big treat!!!! It can be a little addictive! HERE is an easy, step-by-step diy for COVERING BOOKS WITH BURLAP (and any other medium) and still be able to use them.
And here’s how to PAINT BOOKS to work with your color palette.
This is such an easy and budget-friendly way to embellish your decor!!!! How about you? How do you like to use books in your decor?
I am obsessed with your pillows, specifically the zebra pillow and the cream with gold lattice trim around the edges. Do you have a resource for those? Thanks so much,
Hi Deborah, the beige zebra pillow is sold out but here’s a link to the gold one:https://rstyle.me/+OZyU9dvGCjWt18MJfy5ytg
Yvonne,
This is a great tip – using books in your decor. I love the artichoke bookends that are in one of the pictures. Where did yiu get them?
Hi Sue, thanks! Here you go:https://rstyle.me/+rN_0N2VhUTLwVD25GrWjrA
Love your book ideas. I’ve been using books around my home for years. They do make the best risers and add texture. I have a few very favorite cookbooks which are out in my kitchen. I put old silver butter knives and cheese knives between the pages for quick access. Love your ideas…….have a great summer
I would love to cover some books in burlap, but the link to the instructions is broken. Thanks so much for all of the great ideas!
Excellent ideas, that I love, and now have more amazing ideas to include into my decorating styles
Love books & yes, I do have many bookshelves;filled at our house! We do need to downsize…starting! I am so thankful I have one child that has the love for books also! I appreciate this post on how to decorate with books …so many ideas that I appreciate!
I would like to have a small watercolor made of my house. Do you know of anyone who can do this? Etsy has lots of listings. I need a way to pick one out of the bunch.
Your best bet is to contact the people who would paint your home and see which one you like.
Also read the reviews.
I really enjoy your posts. I have an abundance of books.
I have been using them to raise lamps and other pieces of art.. Usually I try to use books I don’t cover them because when I use them I books that are written as a trilogy.
I also enjoy your recipes.