5 Easy Ways to Upcycle and Decorate with Vintage Books

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One of my favorite ways to add color, texture and height when I am decorating my home is to use old books. I find them at the salvation army and thrift stores for like $1 or less so they are crazy budget friendly, too. Β You can use them stacked like I’ve done on this painted hutchΒ or create something totally different with a little creativity.

 

painted-furniture-antique-hutch-makeover-using-pure-original-paint-paint-techniques-life-on-kaydeross-creekThis post contains affiliate links. See my full disclosure here.

On this industrial shelf I used books to add depth and texture by stacking some facing forward mixed with some turned backward. Β You can see the industrial shelf project here and the suitcase project here.

5 easy ways to upcycle and decorate with books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

Here are 5 easy and inexpensive ways to decorate with books that add even more personality to your space.

  1. Wrap it up Β – Β Remember back in the day when kids covered their text books with paper grocery bags? Β Who knew the idea would be on Pinterest some day? Whether it’s good old fashioned brown paper, wrapping paper, scrapbook paper, Β drawer liner, burlap or other fabric, you can use it to wrap books to create something totally unique for your home.

Here are some books wrapped in scrapbook paper. Β So pretty for spring!

 

5 easy ways to upcycle and decorate with vintage books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

Elderberry Street

These books wrapped in Script paper are so pretty and would be beautiful during the holidays.

5 easy ways to upcycle and decorate with vintage books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

French Hen Farm

Β These books covered in wrapping paper would make such a pretty display at Christmas.

5 Easy ways to upcycle and decorate with vintage books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

Romancing the Home

For fall, Β I wrapped one in a thrift store plaid shirt. You can see that project here.

 

5 Easy Ways to upcycle and decorate with vintage books - books covered in fabric - Life on Kaydeross Creek

 

How pretty are these books wrapped in beautiful fabric?? What a great way to add color to a space.

 

5 easy and inexpensive ways to upcycle and decorate with books

Two Twenty One

 

What a cute idea to cover them in maps.

 

5 easy and inexpensive ways to upcycle and decorate with old books

Tumbler

 

2. Paint it – Painting the outside of the books allows you to create whatever you want. Here they used chalk paint for a more weathered look.

 

5 easy ways to upcycle and decorate with vintage books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

Knick of Time

 

5 easy ways to upcycle and decorate with vintage books

Jennifer Rizzo

Why not try chalkboard paint? You can change it out for any room or any season.

 

Easy ways to decorate with vintage books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

HGTV

These books from the Savvy Apron are beautifully painted with metallic paint.

5 easy and inexpensive ways to upcycle and decorate with books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

3. Go naked – If you have some books that aren’t in great shape and maybe the covers are just too gone to save, why not take them off? Β They are farmhouse pretty tied with twine or fabric.

Here they are neatly tied in bundles fromΒ My Sweet Savannah.

 

15 simple ways to decorate with books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

 

Make an even bigger impact with a bunch of bundles grouped together. I love the warmth of the brown and white. This is perfect for winter decor mixed with greens.

 

Easy ways to decorate with vintage books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

Desire to Inspire

4. Tie it all together – ribbon, twine, torn fabric or rope make pretty statements tied around old books. I’m in LOVE with this look with an old belt from Knick of Time. Β You may see this in my home soon πŸ™‚

 

5 easy ways to upcycle and decorate with books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

Knick of Time

Books tied with ribbon - 5 easy ways to upycle and decorate with books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

Pinterest

Books tied with twine - 5 easy ways to upcycle and decorate with vintage books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

Pinterest

Books tied with ribbon - 5 easy and inexpensive ways to upcycle and decorate with books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

Vintage Rose Garden

5. Embellish – You can add even more personality with dried flowers , feathers, old keys, vintage post cards and antique jewelry to name a few things.

Β Β 

5 easy ways to upcycle and decorate with vintage books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

Source

5 easy ways to upcycle and decorate with books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

Petite Michelle Louise

5 easy and inexpensive ways to upcycle and decorate with books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

Pinterest

Snow flake embellished books from Live Live DIY

5. Go monochromatic – You can add beautiful color and character to a room with colorful, rustic vintage books.

 

Easy ways to decorate with vintage books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

From 52Flea

 

Easy ways to decorate with vintage books

Mish Mash

5 easy ways to upcycle and decorate with vintage books

French Country Cottage

Whether you try one of these creative ideas or combine a couple of them, it’s a great way to add something unique and petty to any room in your home. Β  I have a few of these projects line up and will share soon. Which one(s) will you try?

5 easy and inexpensive ways to decorate with old books - Life on Kaydeross Creek

Happy DIY’ing!

Col

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15 Comments

    1. Hi Dianne! Those books are gorgeous, for sure! I’m not sure where the paper came from but they were done by a blog called the French Hen Farm. You can find the link in my blog post. Thanks so much for stopping by!

  1. I love these ideas. I have some old books that I haven’t done anything with. I’m so excited to use some of these suggestions! Pinning so I can use other ideas in the future.

  2. Hi, Colleen! Thank you so much for all the good ideas for using old books. My house has so many books on display that I rarely think of using books just for decor, but these ideas have my mind really going.

    Thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I’m featuring you this week!

  3. What beautiful ideas! I am such a book lover, and I hate the idea of old books being stuffed away in cupboards. What beautiful ways to showcase them. Pinning. Visiting from Creative Mondays over at Claire Justine’s. Have a lovely week ahead!

  4. Love this post. What beautiful ideas. I love recycling πŸ™‚ Thanks for sharing at Creative Mondays, you will be one of my featured blogs later today as I am starting the hop early this week πŸ™‚ Pinned.