I decided to share another very cheap and easy home decor project today. I love the look of old books and I’ve been fortunate enough to find some cool ones on my thrifting excursions, but what if you can’t find any old books? No problem.
Run (or drive) to your local thrift store and pick up a stack of hard back books. I bought mine at Goodwill for $.97/each. Try to find books that have yellowed pages and a bit of age to them. Most of the books I found were from the 1980’s.
Using an exacto knife, cut the bound pages from the spine and remove the cover.
Bundle the books together using twine and use for display. (Just a tip – Don’t do this to your husband’s civil war book collection on a day you’re mad at him.)
These neutral book bundles are a great way to decorate a book shelf, fill space on an end table, or add height to shorter objects in a vignette.
The other little project I worked on today was painting these birds.
They started out as black and looked a little flat and boring. I painted them cream and added an antique glaze to bring out the detail.
These birds are going to be for sale. “Where?”, you ask. Well, that’s for another post…
32 Responses
The book bundles are very old world to me. Pottery barn actually sells them for a terribly scary price. hugs♥olive
Luuuve the birdies. How sweet are they! Great job, as usual!
I have been doing this lately.. but I just RIP the covers off!! Good stress buster!! LOL
I love the book bundles – what a great vintage look!
Thanks for the old book tip. Love the way you tied yours with jute. And the birds are so cute. I want to do some too. I love any kind of bird used for decoration. They are so sweet! Hope you have had a wonderful weekend. Love & blessings from NC!
What can I say… you continue to inspire me with each and every post. 🙂
Donna
I've been loving these old book bundles. Restoration Hardware sells 'em for $29 for a bundle o' 4! Highway robbery, I tell you!
xoxo,
~Olivia
Adorable! Love it & you just are amazing! 🙂
xo,
Shellagh
Hee hee. Love the 'hubby's books' tip. I scored some lovely old dictionaries & children's books for 70% off at a thrift store last week with this very idea in mind. Now to find some cute birds that need a lift. 🙂
It's a look that I just don't get. I like the look, but can't bring myself to rip up books. Sure wouldn't pay for them! I'd rather have the books I read on display. But I generally love your ideas.
The birds are just too cute – much cuter this way then in black.
Mom
The comment about the books with some age on them from the 1980's made me laugh. Then it made me feel old! lol Love the little birds. So cute.
great tips. your projects turned out so well.
I just recently went to work on a trove of old books, love the way they turned out, and I had to laugh about not using old civil war books. Sounds like we may have something in common with this. My hubbs is a collector…now he just better behave himself! te he!
xo,
Debra
I love decorating with books and this is such a great tip!
Great idea on the books…and the birds came out great.
Love the idea for the books. I needed some extras for decorating today. I will have to try it and no, I won't use any of my husband's. 🙂
Great idea. Love the little birdies!
I love love love the birds!
Very clever idea with the books.
Hope you had a good holiday weekend.
Morning Miss Mustard Seed! I am so happy to have found your blog! I have lived in the panhandle of WV for 9 years and didn't know anything about "Lucketts" events and have even driven through there a few times!!! So now thanks to you I will be a regular!lol I can't wait for the weekend to explore the shops and will now look for the next event! Glad you had a great time there; you will be seeing a lot of me visiting you. I just adore your blog!!!! Have a great week – Sincerely, Jeannette
So simple, so effective, so beautiful.
The book bundle idea is great and I love the birds!!
Hugs
SueAnn
Love the way old books look, great idea for an inexpensive display!
XO
Lenore
I am not the excitable type, but can't wait until you spill the beans!!!
I love this – I always wonder about old books and mine aren't really that old! Thanks!
Thosee little birdies are adorable…hard to believe they were once very black?!?! Love the books bound with twine too!
~Des
This is fabulous!! REally such a great idea! I've been covering them with scrap paper, I like this much more!
Enjoy your day XOXO
I love your idea but as a book lover I don't know if I would ever have the heart to actually tear the cover off a good book. They look so good though I might just have to put morals aside and try.
April @ homehinges.com
Oh, I love the birdies – very sweet and great detail!
How very "Anthropologie" without the hefty price tag.
Love it!
Love the look of the books! What a great idea. (Although, I have to admit it hurt my heart a little to see you doing that to The White Dragon.. one of my favorite books! LOL)