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.
Get more decor tips for the home here.
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 hardback 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 homemade 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:
Spines removed from old books giving them so much character! Jute twine can be used to tie the books together for a grouping.
Super cute!
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!
