14+ Ways to Decorate with Books

Books are one of the easiest and cheapest ways to decorate your home quickly! Here's 14+ ways to decorate with books around the house.

I don’t know if you know this but, I love books…specifically I love vintage books. I love the story that comes with the wear and tear shown on the antique books. The faded colors and worn down covers. The antiqued pages and the obvious love. There’s just something about them that adds so much life to a room.

This round up of ways to decorate with books contains affiliate links, but nothing that I wouldn’t wholeheartedly recommend anyway! Read my full disclosure here.

Books add height, color, story, texture, and dimension to a space when used as decor. I love searching for the perfect books to tell their story or fill their shelves with the perfect-sized set.

Today I’m sharing some of my favorite ways to use the books as decorations. Whether you’re decorating shelves or looking for ways to save money on wedding decor, there are so many ways to use books to decorate!

A collage of images shows many different ways of decorating with books -- including stacks of vintage books on tables and bookshelves to decorative books on end tables. Text across the center of the image reads "14+ ways to style with books"

Creative Ways To Decorate with Books

If you love the look of books as decor, this list is for you! Whether you're decorating with vintage books or what to show off your extensive and well-read library, here are 14+ creative ways to style your home with books as decor.

Turn the pages out for a neutral look

This can be a pretty controversial topic, so some people may hate you for turning the book spines around. But I, personally love the neutral look that it brings when you face the pages outward on the decorative books.

Use them on a nightstand

It's always nice to keep a book or two by your bed for late-night reading, but they can also function as decor on your nightstand or bedside table too!

Use books to add height to decor on shelves

Of course, one of my favorite things when decorating with books is adding them under items to add a little height to your shelf decor and bring variety.

Use them on tables for wedding or event decorations

I used a ton of vintage books at our wedding, which is one of the many ways we saved money on wedding decorations. Check out these other genius ways to save.

Decoupage a book cover

Photo Credit: meeganmakes.com

Learn how to create a picture on the spines of books with decoupage. It is a fun way to add detail and texture to any bookshelf, home, or office.

Rip off the covers for an unbound look

Photo Credit: sarahjoyblog.com

If you don't like the cover on the book, simply take it off, and voila! You have a farmhouse-style unbound book that styles well on the coffee table or really anywhere in your home! Make it even cuter when you wrap some vintage lace around it or tie some jute twine to hold a stack together.

Use them in the kitchen on shelves (add in cookbooks!)

Photo Credit: www.lizmarieblog.com

One way to bring books into the kitchen area to decorate with books is to use them on your open shelves and built-ins and add in some cookbooks, too. Love the mix shown in this kitchen!