I love finding ways to change up the decor in my home for little to no money, don't you? Decorating with books is a great way to do just that. A little burlap or chalk paint can transform an old book into a pretty decor accessory.
Supplies to transform old hardback books:
- Burlap or chalk paint in color of choice (see my recipe on how to save even more by making your own chalk paint)
- Old hard back books (You likely have several books you no longer use at your home. But, if not, flea markets are a great place to look.)
- Mod Podge
- Foam brush for Mod Podge if covering with fabric
- Chip brush if using chalk paint
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Burlap Covered Books:
When I have a few burlap scraps left over from a project (like when I covered a bulletin board with burlap or when I made resusable fabric gift bags from burlap), I hold onto them.
With just a little bit of burlap fabric, I am able to cover a book pretty easily. Stone Gable has a great tutorial for covering books. I followed her instructions and I loved the results! Check out her post for detailed directions!
Stacking books adds a little bit of height for more dimension in a table display. I give some tips on how to style the perfect vignette here.
In the below photo you can see how I got a little bit crazy with buffalo plaid this winter. I have since put it away because I'm ready for spring! But, you better believe it will find it's way into my home again next winter;-)
Painting books with Chalk paint:
Chalk paint is on more surfaces in my home than I can count! Paint is such an easy, and fairly inexpensive, way to update a space. The below table got a major makeover with my home made chalk paint recipe. I give a step by step tutorial for my Chalk Paint Recipe with Calcium Carbonate in a previous post.
While I was painting the table, I took a few extra minutes to paint several old books. I have since spread the above stack of books into various places in my home as it was a bit too much Urbane Bronze in one space. By the way, if you are looking for a deep, dark neutral color, look into Urbane Bronze by Sherwin Williams. It has my heart!
A few other places in my home where I used Urbane Bronze: Updating old frames, Our front doors (inside and out), and our garage doors. As I'm writing this, I can think of several other places I've used that color, I just don't have photos. It's a winner, you guys!
As a side note, if you decide to make your own chalk paint, know the final color will be a bit different than before adding the calcium carbonate. Once again, read through my tips in this post for more information.
Painting the books was fast and easy. What a great way to add to home decor by reusing items you already have. In a previous post, I show you a number of other items that got a new life with some paint. Get some of my ideas here!
Removing the spine from old hard back books:
Very Violet is a home decor boutique near me that I just cannot get enough of. The staging of the farmhouse style home decor and other merchandise is simply beautiful. I love to pop in for inspiration as often as I possibly can. Below is a picture from Very Violet, using old books in a fun decor grouping.
Photo from Very Violet Facebook Page. Check it out! You'll love it, too!
As you can see, the spines have been removed from old books, giving them so much character! She also uses a lot of jute twine to tie a grouping of books together in a decor display. Super cute!
I'm dying to do this with some of my books! When I do, I'll add pictures for you!
I hope you got some inspiration for decorating with books!
One of my favorite things to do with home decor is to reuse items I already have in a different way. What are some creative ways you have given old items new life in your home? Leave a comment. I love to hear from you!
