Books: they’re some of my favorite things, and the best way to spend a lazy afternoon at the lake, or in a hot bubble bath after a long day. I love to read, but books are also a little-known design secret. In fact, if you look at Insta-designers or some of your favorite designers, you’ll see that books often play an oft-overlooked role in many design schemes. Before we get rolling, I will add that one of the best places to get cool books is at thrift stores or Estate sales, but if you want to use the books you own, that’s also cost-effective! There’s no need to buy all new books. Here are four ways I like to use books:
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-As a way to add height: Books can be layered underneath photo frames, vases, candles, and other small decor pieces. Just use caution when putting hot candles on top of paper books, but otherwise, they are pretty versatile. Make sure the book you are using is sturdy and large enough to hold the items with a little bit of a margin all the way around. Stack neutral colored books in pairs or trios on a mantle, shelf, or coffee table to add visual interest and raise up other items that look too small alone.
-As a way to add color: you know me, I love a good neutral and french-inspired decor, but you can use books to add a pop of bold color like mustard or blue (I tend to find older volumes of books have solid color covers). If you want to try something more bold, check out examples of decorators using color-coding systems to accentuate colors in their home. It’s really chic and fun. If you want to try something that’s less bold and uses things you already own, flip all your books around and display them with the spines on the inside instead. It creates a muted palette of paper and gives you more of a blank canvas to work with.
-As an affordable way to add content to your rooms: When Christmastime rolls around, I like to put out a bin of holiday themed books. They are not only well-loved by my kids, but they add nostalgia and fun to the room as well. Using books you already own can make a home feel more cozy and lived-in. They are great for filling in space that is empty, without adding a ton of new decor to your home. If all you can find are inexpensive books (think Readers Digest books for $0.10 at a yard sale), you can actually paint them to match!
-As a way to share family memories and a legacy: Displaying your favorite books also gives your home more of a story. You can share them with people who come over, and explain the background of each book you have out or on a table. It’s a really nice way to share some of your favorites, and get your guests and family talking about memories and pastimes! You can also mix in family photo books for something that’s practical and fun.