Instant Décor: Beautiful Book Covers
Turn your reads into style statements for bookcase, tabletop and desk
I'm a freelance writer and design enthusiast who believes the best design is collected, not decorated, and that homes should always be as comfortable and functional as they are chic. In addition to writing for Houzz, I work as the Senior Writer for Lonny Magazine.
I'm a freelance writer and design enthusiast who believes the best design... More »
I'm all for fall cleaning, but if you’ve got a pile of old books you’re ready to dump, hold on for a second. It’s no secret that books can double as décor, but it may be less known that even the “ugly” or “beaten up” ones may be in store for a second life. The answer: book covers.
I'm not talking about the old-grade school textbook covers made from grocery bags; these creative book covers are made by talented artists, each are unique, and all surprisingly affordable. And when you slap them on an outdated book, it will appear like new (and oh-so-charming on your coffee table).
So before you go hauling that big bag of books to a secondhand shop, peruse these options first. You may find yourself pulling out several rediscovered (and eventually, re-covered) decorating gems.
I'm not talking about the old-grade school textbook covers made from grocery bags; these creative book covers are made by talented artists, each are unique, and all surprisingly affordable. And when you slap them on an outdated book, it will appear like new (and oh-so-charming on your coffee table).
So before you go hauling that big bag of books to a secondhand shop, peruse these options first. You may find yourself pulling out several rediscovered (and eventually, re-covered) decorating gems.
The feminine floral scheme of these paperback book covers by Shanna Vaughn will bring understated romance to your shelves.
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| You could order several book covers in black and white to add to a chic, streamlined look like this one. Private Comment
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Or order several in varied shades for a bright, rainbow feel.
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This cloth book cover, made from jungle batik and hand-dyed fabric, is the perfect addition to a room with golds and bold colors that would flourish with a little unexpected plant life.
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Dying for toile in your space but no idea where to stick it? This beautifully crafted toile book cover on a coffee or side table will help you get your fix. And for a much lighter price tag than an entire couch.
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Is your space in serious need of vibrant color? Consider this book cover. This undeniable splash of color will liven any drab interior.
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Beautifully covered books look great anywhere, even piled onto the seat of a casual chair.
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Animal prints are always chic décor choice, but what about a lion-inspired book cover? This would be a stylish addition to your tablescape.
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You could even sneak in the lion book cover into a display like this one for an unexpected visual treat.
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Kids’ chapter books are always a bit dingy after several handlings and a few wayward food smudges. Make them like new with a playful book cover, like this Red Birds Print option.
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You can never go wrong with stripes, especially bright yellow ones…
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... it would add just the right topping of extra color on a stack of coffee table books like this.
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These Japanese prints are too beautiful to ignore. Cover a few books with this and place them along a console or in stacks on shelving.
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These book covers are unique in the fact that the artist uses fabric of sentimental value, such as your children’s outgrown clothing, to create these custom covers. She suggests using them for memory books or photo albums, but even covering your child’s favorite book would create a perfect memento.
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Put it in a simple wire basket display for guests to pick up and admire. Accessories with personal touches make homes much more meaningful.
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This artist knows that your standard notebook can be a bit of a bore. Lucky for us, she created reusable notebook covers to spice them up! You can easily leave this out on your desk without anyone knowing the difference between a chic accessory and your everyday planner.
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Is it a purse? Is it a book cover? Who cares. It’s adorable!
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Comments
Beth says:
Maybe its just me, but I know no true bibliophile who is a serious daily book reader who uses book covers.
8 months ago ·
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Lesley Hartwell says:
maybe its an age thing? We made our own book covers at school in home ec to use on books on loan from the library, loved them then, love them now, what a lovely article, thank you.
8 months ago ·
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Deanna says:
Regarding the second picture down, you can do this yourself with a roll of white paper from a crafts store and a labeler. I happen to have tons of paperbacks in addition to my hardbacks. I store my paperbacks in photo boxes for very efficient storage and a look of less clutter. They come with a slot for a label, which I just put the author's name on. You can use a printer or labeler to make the box labels uniform, decorative, etc. to match your decor.
8 months ago ·
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ruffslitch says:
My fave paperbacks are permanentlycovered in vinyl I glued on with a glue gun; then I wrote the titles with gold or silver paint pens. They can handle the inside of a purse pretty well!
8 months ago ·
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These are all very inspiring. But it's super easy to make your own book covers with either paper (any decorative or even plain paper will do) or any fabric you desire. For the cost of one of these, you could self-design/cover many books! This is a fun and easy DIY project. Let's see what some of the readers come up with as they get creative ;-)
8 months ago ·
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rosebud3 says:
azdeanna, love the idea of using photo boxes for paperbacks! The "busyness" of paperback spines has always bothered me. I'll be on the hunt for some lovely photo boxes!
8 months ago ·
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Shuffle Interiors says:
Did a blog on this topic a while back and totally agree - books make a room come to life and can add an incredibly personal touch to any interior. Thanks for sharing! http://shuffleinteriors.wordpress.com/2010/08/16/good-lookin-books/
8 months ago ·
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dancingfish says:
Books do make a room come to life.. but matching spines???? what does that say about your life?
8 months ago ·
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mrsben says:
I totally agree with you that 'books can double as decor' and also agree with 'cdndesign's' comment. If one does not know how to sew (straight stitching is all that is required) one can always achieve a personalized book jacket with the use of a computer, scanner, printer and photo editing program that can be done on either paper or fabric. In both cases, there are plenty of tutorials on the Internet as to 'How To'.
As an example, I've attached two photos of a book cover for a Family Heritage Album that I did a number of years ago using a photo editing program which was printed off in a Banner format. (I had six to do and the book is approx. 9 1/2" x 11 l/2". The photos are all numbered and chronicled on the inside flap.) The program used was somewhat primitive compared to the options of today but it should give your readers an idea as to what can be done with a bit of patience and little effort.
As an example, I've attached two photos of a book cover for a Family Heritage Album that I did a number of years ago using a photo editing program which was printed off in a Banner format. (I had six to do and the book is approx. 9 1/2" x 11 l/2". The photos are all numbered and chronicled on the inside flap.) The program used was somewhat primitive compared to the options of today but it should give your readers an idea as to what can be done with a bit of patience and little effort.
8 months ago ·
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janedaniel says:
My mother-in-law sewed me a quilted book cover out of one of my father-in-law's old hawaiin shirts. Now the paperback that I'm reading is "dressed" when it sits on my night table next to my bed. Great recycling idea, too!
8 months ago ·
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