I love a good book and have accumulated quite the book collection. As a book lover, I firmly believe a home without books is like a room without windows! Books bring warmth, texture, and personality to our living spaces. They aren’t just meant to be read; they can also be powerful decor elements. Today, I am sharing some of my favorite ways to use books as decor in your home.
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Styled Bookshelves Ideas:
Books come in an endless array of colors, textures, and sizes (did I mention I’m a sucker for a pretty dust cover). So why not use them as decor pieces?? With books, you can play with height, dimension, and color palettes and add depth to shelves, tables, and mantels. The possibilities are endless. Stack books horizontally, arrange them by color, or turn them spine-in for an easy way to add more texture to your home.
- Mix and Match: Combine your books with cherished items like framed photos, plants, decorative boxes, or sculptures. Try to keep the shelves two-thirds full, allowing room for the eye to rest.
- Show Your True Colors: Forget strict organization by author or genre. Arrange books by color scheme to create a dynamic rainbow effect or a soothing, monochromatic look on your shelves. If bold color is not for you try grouping all of a single color neutral together. Neutral books stacked together can calming and restful.
- Stack Them Up: Break up rows of books with horizontal stacks, adding height and visual interest.
- Turn Those Pages: Flip some vintage books around to expose their aged pages and add a touch of vintage charm. Vintage books with beautiful, worn covers or interesting typography can also be displayed individually as tiny pieces of art. If you can find leather-bound books at a flea market that interests you, don’t pass them up!
Coffee Table Books
Coffee-table books (or end tables) are probably my favorite! Here, I display different types of books but concentrate on books with beautiful images. I like that they are conversation starters, and the more interesting books invite guests to browse and explore. Just like other types of home decor, books not only add visual interest to your decor but can also help tell your story. They reflect your interests, hobbies, and experiences. Books as decor can add a touch of quirk and personality to your space.
- Pile ‘Em High: A curated stack of coffee table books becomes a conversation piece in your living room. Choose books focused on something you are passionate about. Art, travel, fashion or design books come to mind.
- Tray Chic: Corral multiple coffee table books on a decorative tray for a more organized look.
- Go Big: A single, oversized coffee table book can make a bold statement by itself.
- Show off those travels: I love to leave printed family photos inside books about the places I’ve traveled. It’s a great way to remember those special places.
- Vintage Finds: Vintage art books or a unique photography book with a beautiful cover will add a touch of history and texture to a small table or bookcase.
Nightstand Decor using books:
Books can add a sense of warmth and lived-in comfort to a room, bringing texture to your nightstands. And if you have a lot of space… what about a book nook?
- Nightstand Stacks: A small stack of current reads adds a cozy touch to your bedside. Add a pretty candle, picture frames, or fresh flowers to complete the restful vibe.
- Bookshelf Oasis: A dedicated bookshelf turns your bedroom into a reading sanctuary. Add a comfy chair or a window seat to complete your book nook.
- Underbed Storage: Keep your TBR (“to be read”) pile neatly stored in decorative boxes or baskets that slide under your bed.
- Use Books as your nightstand: Stack enough of your beloved books together into a book tower and they can BE your nightstand!
Recipe Books in the Kitchen:
Books are an affordable decor element with endless styling possibilities. If you have an amazing cookbook collection, let’s get it shown! You can rearrange and repurpose recipe books to suit your tastes. In our rental properties, I like to highlight a local cookbook on a stand for our guests to thumb through.
- Everyday Inspiration in the kitchen: Create a focal point. Display your favorite recipe books on open shelving and thumb through them when looking for dinner inspiration.
- Vintage Charm: Old cookbooks have beautiful covers and illustrations. Display them with a mini easel to make them part of your kitchen display. This works really well if you decorate for the holidays.
- Corral Countertop Clutter: Keep regularly used cookbooks on the counter in a decorative basket, a pretty dough bowl, or a stand for easy access. All would be great options for using books as decor in the kitchen.
Cocktail Recipe Books:
I am a huge fan of a pretty cocktail and cocktail recipe books let me dream of fancy concoctions. Using them as decor makes me happy. Styling a bar cart or an actual bar with a few recipe books can be a fun way to add a personal touch.
- Bar Cart Beauties: Showcase a selection of cocktail recipe books on your bar cart. Choose ones with aesthetically pleasing covers or interesting themes for a touch of personality.
- Mixology Inspiration: Prop open a cocktail book on a bar tray next to your spirits for easy browsing and recipe inspiration when entertaining.
- Open Shelving in the Kitchen: If you have a dedicated bar area in your kitchen, display your cocktail books on open shelves alongside your glassware and favorite spirits.
Finding Interesting Book Decor:
Etsy, Amazon Used Books, and even eBay can be great sources for beautiful books. Yard sales, thrift stores, and a neighborhood antique store can also be a treasure trove for decorative books with quirky character. You can find a wide selection of genres to fit your aesthetic preference, including historical books with weathered spines, colorful kid books to add a playful touch, beautifully bound classic literature for timeless elegance, or old reference books offering old-world beauty. With a bit of creativity and patience, you can discover hidden gems at these places and transform them into stunning pieces for your home decor.
My Favorite Books as Decor:
DESIGN and DECOR Books:
- “Made for Living” -by Amber Lewis: A popular and practical guide full of design inspiration and advice for every room in the house.
- “The House that Pinterest Built” by Diane Keaton Explores the actress and design enthusiast’s journey to creating her dream home using Pinterest as inspiration.
- “Pacific Natural at Home” by Jenni Kayne is beautifully shot with gorgeous textures and room-by-room tips for creating a coastal feel in your home.
- “Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave” by Joanna Gaines Design is inspired by the beloved designer behind Fixer Upper and focuses on creating a cozy and personal home.
- Establishing Home: Creating Space for a Beautiful Life with Family, Faith, and Friends By Jean Stoffer. Jeans shares both her design inspirations and the journey she took as she built her business.
Floral and Flower Coffee Table Books:
- “Floret Farm’s A Year in Flowers: Designing Gorgeous Arrangements for Every Season” by Erin Benzakein- A best-seller that offers both practical growing instructions and stunning floral design ideas using seasonal blooms.
- The Flower Workshop: Lessons in Arranging Blooms, Branches, Fruits, and Foraged Materials” by Ariella Chezar focuses on using a wide range of natural elements to create creative and new ideas for floral arrangements.
Photography Favorites:
- “Humans of New York” by Brandon Stanton is a stunning collection of images that showcase the outsized personalities of New York.
- “Annie Leibovitz at Work” by Annie Leibovitz- A detailed account of how a photographer works, from conception to publication.
- “Good Dog: A Collection of Portraits by Randal Ford”– Randal Ford now focuses his portraiture lens on the one species that has been by our side for millennia: our best friend.
- “The Lyrics: 1956 to the Present” By Paul McCartney The Lyrics celebrates the creative life and the musical genius of Paul McCartney through 154 of his most meaningful songs.
Travel Books for Decor:
- “Earth From Above” by Yann Arthus-Bertrand- A National Geographic photography collection
- “National Geographic: Journeys of a Lifetime” by National Geographic- 500 of the World’s Greatest Trips
- “100 Hikes of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate Scenic Trails” by Kate Siber- This inspirational guide offers the planet’s best experiences for hikers and sightseers.
- “Wanderlust: A Traveler’s Guide to the Globe” by Moon Travel Guides- This stunning, hardcover book is packed with full-color photos, charming illustrations, and fascinating overviews of each destination, making it the perfect gift for dreamers and adventurers alike.
- “1,000 Places to See Before You Die” by Patricia Schultz- A visual journey of the best the world has to offer.
Let Your Books Shine
Remember, when it comes to decorating with books, let your passions guide you. Bookshelves, nightstands, coffee tables, even your kitchen—there’s space for your favorite reads in every room. Show off your favorite authors, interests, or treasured heirlooms with decorative books and create a home that’s uniquely you!
Are you ready to make books part of your decor? Send pics if you do.
Until next time,
-Libbie
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