Books are many things. Your 4am companion, a gateway into an alternate universe, a form of entertainment, a means of knowledge-gathering, a way to escape the reality, and fast-emerging as a decorative adornment. Yes, you heard that right. Over the years, books have embraced a “DIY design principle” for upgrading lifeless spaces into character-driven ones (pun not intended). Plus, you can achieve all this and more without having to spend too much money or effort. So if you’re looking to decorate with books, we’re here to guide you.
Tip 1: The Curious Case of Color-Codes
One of the best ways to decorate a space with books is by color-coding it. Basically, the reds go with the reds, the greens with the greens, and so on and so forth. It creates a contrasting layer of visual harmony that’s calming and stirring all at the same time. So, if you wish to add pops of colour to your home and are looking for something “playful yet artsy”, this should be your go-to choice.
Tip 2: Repurpose Books as Nightstands/Table Lamps
If you have the heart to rip a hole into your books (literally), this tip is for you. Today, books are not just kept on the nightstands but are used to make nightstands! In some cases even table lamps (as shown above). All you have to do is drill a hole through the centre of your books and tie it together with a lamp wire and stack up books sky-high (the length really depends on personal preferences). The good news is that there are hundreds of “DIY” videos available online to make things easier for you. So get researching and get going.
Tip 3: Go “Bookish” with your Headboard
This one’s taking the design world by storm. All you have to do is decorate your bed’s headboard with pages from an old, vintage-looking book. It is every bit as classy and old-school as you can imagine – albeit done tastefully. The biggest learning here is that you don’t always have to adorn your home with ideas that go by the book (pun intended(. Experiment a little and let your creative juices get flowing.
Tip 4: Use Books for an Instant “Boho Vibe”
Many publishers and authors today focus on designing the cover page of the book. From the material to be used to the sort of embossed printing that’ll come into play – every little detail matters. One, it attracts readers and two, it doubles up as a collectable for lack of a better term. This approach typically entails decorating with accents where you mix-and-match diverse textual elements such as photographs, vases, baskets, books (of every size, shape, and colour), art pieces, among other things. Varied trinkets come together to form a beautiful whole.
Tip 5: Time-Travel with the “Timeless Bookshelf”
You may think you really can’t go wrong when it comes to beautifying a bookshelf with books, miniature plants, your favourite clock, tiny tit-bits as such; but we beg to differ. If the bookshelf design isn’t curated keeping your practical and spatial needs in mind, every design trick you try under the book (pun not intended) will fail. Our suggestion? Look up “Furlenco’s Flo Display Unit and Bookshelf,” a great unit that offers enough space to house your 19,89,78,787 books while showcasing your curio collection. What’s more, it comes with a magnetic board, mirror, and a drawer at the bottom offering three-in-one benefits – that too, at a fraction of the cost! Expert tip: Choose wisely as there are hundreds of design alternatives to choose from – from set-in bookshelves and shelves that stack up against the wall to smaller accent shelves and floating ones.
What do you think works best when decorating with books? Share your ideas below and let’s inspire each other!
