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There’s nothing quite like books to make a house feel cozy and lived in. That’s why interior designers have been decorating with them for years. It’s a design trick that’s finally going mainstream – and it’s easier to accomplish then ever!
Curated-for-you books sets
I used to spend hours scouring vintage book shops for hardcovers that were the right size and color for various spaces in my home. Now, however, there are Etsy sellers who do that work for you!
Here are three I like with product listings that tend to run in the $25-45 range:
Tiny Fern Books
Bridget, the owner, offers dozens of color combinations. These are three of them at the time I’m writing this story.
She makes hand-stamped seasonal books, too.
Book Mosaic
Here are three of the many hardback color combinations that the owner has in stock at the time of this writing.
They make decoratively alter and paint paperback books, as well.
Rough Draft Romance
Rough Draft Romance also has pretty painted book bundles, like this one pictured on the left. Owner Carly Jo will add whatever text you’d like. (See the product listing for quantity and color options.)
Beyond books
Another great way to inject pops of color – and your personality – are bookends. There are really creative Etsy sellers in this category, who are making true works of art.
The designs range from rustic to intricate and cover every hobby, profession and past time you can imagine…
J.K. Rowling fans, these next three are for you.
If you like the concept, but you want more options, here are tons of other unique bookends.
Wall art
Here are two great ways to incorporate a love of books into your wall art. You can display a favorite quote…
Or hang a piece of art with script or an image (often a book character) over a book page.
This “A good friend knows all your stories” art print, by Cecelia Rose Book Art, is available in two framed sizes and two unframed sizes. The print(s) you purchase will be of the image you select, but the vintage book page it is printed on will be different. Every piece is an original work of art.
See more book-themed wall art ideas.
Throw pillows
There are a lot of fun reading-themed pillows, as well!
This “Just one more chapter” throw pillow cover by The Flying Turkey is available in three sizes and 19 colors.
These library card throw pillows below are super cute, too. The version on the left is available in 13 colors. The one on the right has a vintage look and, if you’d like, the designer will customize it by adding a name under the “Percy Jackson” line.
Feeling inspired?
As you can see, there are many ways to add a bibliophile’s personality and interests to a home or office.
I hope these thought-starters help, whether you want inspiration for your own space, or to spark gift ideas for someone else!
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I’m sorry, but this seems really, really stupid. Just use the books that you actually read as decoration instead of buying random ones.
At some point, a guest will come up to you and ask you about your opinion on a specific book that you have laying around, and you’ll have to tell them “Oh, i don’t know, i just got this as decoration”. Seems kind of embarassing.
Thank you for your feedback. I assume you’re referring to the vintage books part of this article. I can’t speak for everyone who decorates with them, but most of mine are about topics that interest me. The books don’t all have to be stories, either. For example, in a kitchen or dining room, you can have cookbooks or books that relate to entertaining. (And yes, they can certainly contain content that reflect your tastes or personality.) When my son was a baby, I had vintage books that related to the theme of his nursery, which was Winnie the Pooh. As for the bookends, throw pillows and wall art I highlighted, those can very much reflect someone’s interests. There is a lot of variety when you start looking. 😉