DIY decor projects for book lovers…….Okay, so I have this thing (read: obsession) with books. Not just reading them—though yes, I’ve been known to hide in my car during lunch breaks with a paperback because office small talk is terrifying. But the thing is… books aren’t just for reading. They’re kinda like the ultimate home decor flex. You know, the whole “look at my shelves, I’m sophisticated and slightly mysterious” vibe.
And because my rent money disappears faster than my coffee in the morning, I’m big on DIY decor projects for book lovers. Cheap, creative, and let’s be honest—half the fun is making something that feels like yours. (Plus, nobody can judge you for spending three hours decoupaging old Harry Potter pages onto a lamp if the lamp looks awesome afterward.)
So, if your books are currently stacked in sad little piles on the floor like mine were, let’s fix that. Here are 17 totally doable, slightly messy, and ridiculously fun book-themed DIY projects that will make your space feel like Belle’s library—without needing a castle or a talking candlestick.
1. Floating Bookshelf Magic Trick ✨
You know those shelves that make books look like they’re just floating on the wall? Yeah. You can actually DIY them with some cheap L-brackets and a little faith in gravity. Mount the bracket, stick the bottom book’s cover over it, stack more books, and ta-da—you’re basically a magician.
2. Old Book Pages = Wall Art
Ripped pages from thrift store books (sorry, purists) can become framed wall art. Add doodles, watercolor splashes, or just let the yellowed paper speak for itself. Instant vintage vibes.
I once glued an entire wall with book pages in my college apartment—looked amazing. My landlord, however, did not agree.
3. Book Planters (Yes, Really) 🌱
Take a beat-up hardcover, hollow it out, and stick in a little succulent. Boom. Book + plant = hipster Pinterest gold.
4. DIY Book Lamps
I stacked a few old hardcovers, drilled a hole through them, and ran a lamp kit through. Almost burned my fingers but hey—it works, and it’s a conversation piece.
5. Cozy Book Nook With Fairy Lights
Grab some string lights, a blanket, and an embarrassing number of pillows. Then shove them into a corner and call it a “reading nook.” Cheap, magical, and makes you feel like a 12-year-old hiding from chores again.
6. Invisible Book Safe (Secret Agent Style)
Cut out the inside of a hardcover (yes, it hurts at first). Hide snacks, keys, or candy from your kids in there. Bonus points if you use a book with a boring title—nobody’s stealing from “Accounting Principles, 1982.”
7. Literary Quote Wall
Get some chalk paint or peel-and-stick decals and plaster your favorite book quotes across a wall. Mine says: “I solemnly swear I am up to no good.” Which, frankly, is true 80% of the time.
8. Vintage Book Clock ⏰
Take a hardcover, add a cheap clock kit from Amazon, poke a hole in the middle, and suddenly you’re the kind of person who owns a book clock. Which sounds way fancier than it is.
9. Stacked Book Side Table
All you need: a bunch of big hardcovers (thrift shops, estate sales—go wild) and some glue. Stack ’em tall, slap some glass or wood on top, and boom: quirky nightstand.
10. Themed Bookends (DIY-Style)
You don’t need fancy marble bookends. You can spray-paint dinosaurs, glue rocks, or even use thrifted toys as bookends. (My cousin spray-painted two thrift store cat statues gold. They look like they belong in an art gallery, but they cost her like $6.)
11. Bookish Candle Holders
Wrap mason jars with book pages, tie with twine, and stick in tea lights. Cozy glow, minimal effort, max Instagram vibes.
12. DIY Library Ladder (Kinda)
Okay, so maybe not a full Belle-style rolling ladder (unless you’re secretly a carpenter). But you can repurpose an old step ladder, paint it fun colors, and use it as a quirky bookshelf.
13. Book Page Garland
Cut hearts, stars, or random shapes from old pages. String them up with twine across your wall or shelves. Cheesy? Maybe. But also kinda adorable.
14. Comic Book Coasters
Mod Podge old comic pages onto tiles. Your coffee table will thank you, and your friends will suddenly think you’re crafty. (You don’t have to tell them it was a 20-minute project.)
15. Personalized Bookmarks
Scraps of fabric, washi tape, old photos—you can make bookmarks out of basically anything. I once made one from a Pop-Tart box because I was too lazy to get real cardstock. Worked just fine.
16. Mini Bookshelf From a Crate
Flip a wooden crate on its side, paint it, add some wheels if you’re feeling extra, and bam—you’ve got a rolling mini library.
17. DIY Reading Pillow With Pocket
Yes, you can sew (or hot glue, let’s be honest) a pillow with a little pocket in the front to stash your book. It’s like the couch is hugging your current read.
A Quick Side Tangent: DIY decor projects for book lovers
When I was about 12, I tried to build my own “bookshelf” by stacking shoeboxes and duct-taping them together. Spoiler: it collapsed during the night and scared the absolute heck out of me. So, yeah—these projects are way sturdier. Probably.
Wrapping It Up (but not too neatly)
Here’s the thing—decorating with books doesn’t have to be about perfectly color-coordinated shelves or buying $90 “aesthetic” hardcovers from Anthropologie. It’s about making your space feel like you. Messy, nerdy, cozy, magical—you pick.
And these 17 easy DIY decor projects for book lovers? They’re just little invitations to play with the stories you love and bring them into your daily space.
So if you’re sitting in a room surrounded by piles of novels, thinking “I should probably organize this,” maybe start with one of these. Or don’t. Just call the piles “floor decor” and own it. Honestly, that’s kinda chic too.
Outbound Links:
- Paulo Coelho interview — The Guardian
- Sylvia Plath bio & works — Poetry Foundation
- Original “Crying in H Mart” essay — The New Yorker
- James Clear’s 3-2-1 newsletter — James Clear
- Matt Haig’s blog — Matt Haig
