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 along side of 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 to this room and 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 are 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 book! This will give your room a real 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 use old books as risers and for display. At an auction many years ago, I bid on a box of old books. Such a treasure! I pick colours based on my vignette colors. On my coffee table I have a rotating selection of large coffee table books for the different seasons. I’ve used books since the 1990s. Such an inexpensive way to add to design.
Very smart, Joanna!
Thank you for promoting the use of books! I love books to read and to repurpose books for decorating as you so beautifully described. I use “book folding” books as a focal point in my seasonal decor. I saw a display of folded books at Longwood Gardens several years ago and was smitten! They are beautiful and quite unusual. I’d be happy to share some pictures with you if you are interested. Thank you again for your lovely ideas of simplicity and elegance.
Gail, Longwood Gardens is one of my favorite places.
I love the wire basket idea. Can change the books too. Slow cooker recipe books for the winter, garden books for spring, etc.
Of course, Nancy! The books in my kitchen are ones I’m using right now.
OH MY! I love the burlap with the letters mixed with the plain burlap. I want to run out and copy most everything you show us but I just can’t keep up with you!! I’m still blowing eggs to cover them with book pages. You have great guests that share incredible ideas and I appreciate looking at what others are creating too. Looking forward to seeing what you are adding to the neutral color in your den. Navy Blue is such a classic.
I love this post and the different ideas for using books. I have many books of all kinds in a large bookcase in my great room–they add a lot of color and interest. And I bought a tall Ikea bookcase with doors to house my many cookbooks. I think it adds a lot of style to my kitchen, and I have easy access to them.
I almost got rid of some tall Disney books from my childhood, but once I looked through them and remembered how much I loved the pictures, I couldn’t do it. They are sitting in my great room, but I’m going to use some of your ideas for display. I especially love the wire basket idea. Thank you for posting so often–finding a new post from you is truly a wonderful way to start my day.
Love your blog — Every aspect of every element. Thank you for your decorating inspiration, outstanding recipe menus, great DIY ideas, and spiritual guidance. My style is different from yours, but the guidelines are the same. This post warmed my heart because I have always had an incredible hardcover book collection that for years I’ve incorporated in my decorating. This past Christmas a neighbor couple stopped in for a visit. The Mrs. frequents our home regularly, but her Mr. has only been in our home a couple of times over 10 years (outdoors many times). As he sat in our living room he commented on how cozy it felt. Then he said “I really like the way you use books throughout your decorations”. I greatly appreciated his attention to detail. He then asked if he could bring friends over to see our holiday decorations. Compliments do not get better than his. Wouldn’t you agree? He felt the way I feel when I read your blog. Thank you for being. (BTW, both my grandmother & mother are named Yvonne. My younger sister & niece, Yvonne is their middle name.) Also, enjoyed your feature in the Cottage Journal, Autumn 2017. Recognized it without reading a word!
Donna how wonderful for you. You will now be known as the resident decorator! As the name, I tolerate it. I often think to myself,”what was my Mother thinking!!!!!!”
Thank you for the idea of using books, I have some that I was going to give away, but now I can’t wait to cover them and use on my coffee table
Oh, my goodness! Now I am on fire to cover some books with beautiful paper or fabric! I can just envision covering some books with beautiful pink rose floral fabric or paper for spring! Thanks for the wonderful idea!
Yvonne it is great the ideas of decorating with apples, how to use books in decor and each of the ladies and you on decor on a budget! Thank you and God bless
I love the decorating with books look. It something about book, I just love. However, I am dot that great in the right placement of decorating with them. You did an excellent job. Thanks for the ideas.
The display of cookbooks is wonderful. I have cookbooks in my library yet I never thought about using them as décor. Perhaps when they are on my coffee table guest may think it’s décor. 🙂
I love all your decorating tips! Esp these! Such lovely displays!
What great ideas! I have used books but these ideas give me even more incentive to use them more. Thanks for the inspiration!
Love the whole book idea. Many ideas to keep in mind. Thanks.
I am going out to search for some vintage books tomorrow, thanks Yvonne!!!
How can you cover them and still know what the book is? I have so many and can’t decide which to cover.
Have you tried painting them, Tracey? I have a book that’s very special to me. The spine was black while the front and back covers were red – which just didn’t suit the rest of my decor – so I painted over the red with ordinary acrylic craft paint and it now looks great. Really old books (I have some from the 40’s), however, I never, ever alter as their worn covers and gold lettering (on the spines) is simply too beautiful to change. I find old books add such character to a room.
Where did you get the beautiful rug in your dining room?
As I’ve said in previous emails, my taste is so similar to yours and I’ve done the same as you regarding books. However, even I was taken by surprise to see your cookbooks in a wire basket because five months ago, I bought an inexpensive wire basket at Home Sense (same as USA Home Goods) and did the VERY same thing!! lol!
I also have three various shades of blue-covered books on my mantel serving as a riser for some agate book-ends that looked a little too low for the vignette I was arranging.
The one thing I haven’t done, though Yvonne, is cover some books but with your instructions, I’ll give it a try very soon!
I LOVE decorating with books! I’m so glad to see someone else does too! I am going to give a shot to wrapping some old books in burlap. They look fantastic in your photos.
Great idea, I have not covered a book since school . But I love the look of burlap can not wait to try it..
Have a blessed day.
Pam
I love the way you add some texture and interest to your decor with Books Yvonne. What a great idea. I love the look of the books covered in burlap! Thanks for sharing your beautiful decor and inspiration!
Love your home and all of the lovely books. You’ve got so much style!!
I have been following your footsteps decorating with books. Corralled in a wooded tray is a stack of blue, beige, and cream book, “Inspired You”
being one of them. A pitcher of white silk faux tulips( interchange with real ones when I am entertaining) and a soft blue candle taper in a hurricane are also in the wooded tray which sits on our coffee table. I am truly inspired by your decorating tips. Thank you, Yvonne.
So nice to hear, Sandy!
Beautifully presented! You are so good at sharing your decorating tips!!!!
Great idea, Yvonne, thank you for sharing! I’ve always used books in décor too, from clever coffee books full of décor or witty satire, to stacks on dressers….but my favorite is my Salvador Dali art book that has always graced my kitchen countertop! 🙂
You’ve given me so much inspiration, as always, Yvonne!!! My heart went pitter-patter when I saw that stack of blue books. 🙂 I love being apart of this series with you sweet friend and thank you so much for your encouraging comment on my post today. Just wish I could give you a big ol’ hug!
Thanks for the inspiration! I just created a book stack on a hunt board in our greatroom! I put three ceramic prars on top of the books. Most of our books are still stacked from our recent downsizing. Now…what to do with all of our books! We had a study/library at our other house. Sheila
I love the way you decorate so creatively and beautifully with books!….Books add such wonderful texture, color and interest to every decor. Have a great day Yvonne!
Thanks for sharing the book ideas, Yvonne. Love your spring looks! I too, have incorporated the pale aqua into my neutral décor ……………….love the floral pillow, was it found online?? I am loving that color! Thanks so much. Have a great day!
The floral pillows came from Ballard Designs. See the whole post here: http://www.stonegableblog.com/spring-coffee-table-vignette/