Asked on Dec 16, 2016

Creative Help: DIY Book Decor?

Ariel
by Ariel
Calling all bookworm crafters - what's your favorite way to repurpose old books into wall/home décor?
I have a brand new, empty room to slap pretty things all over, and would love your suggestions, guides, and examples - I put the kinds of things I'm looking to do below.
Thanks guys!

I really like the idea of strung up pages, folded in to shapes like above, or maybe just cut-outs?
I love the  look of this.  What's the best way to keep the books on the walls, or not have them flop around too much?
  17 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Dec 16, 2016

    I have never done this but looks really interesting.Maybe this will help you. https://www.pinterest.com/lindsayjwhite/old-books-into-art/

  • Deanna Nassar Deanna Nassar on Dec 16, 2016

    I remember seeing one that was like a hut or similar to round bird cage. For readers digest size book. You fold all the top corners back to center of book. Glue back to front and add hanger to top. Some people spray paint them. Considering how thin RD has gotten you might have to use 2 or them. Also for larger pages, 3D snowflakes. Need 6 pages each. Square them up. Fold diaganal, corner to corner, then fold again corner to corner. Triangle has 2 folds on one side and one on other, with page edges at bottom. Cut straight across from single fold toward double folded side. Most of way but not all way. Carefully unfold. Start in middle and roll edges toward each other. Place small piece of tape to hold. Flip over and do next the same way. Flip and do the third one, flip again and do last one. Do all pages same way. Take 3 and pile one on top of other, holding by corners. Staple the 3 together at corner. Do the same with other 3. Now put two halves together at corner and staple. Gives you a 6 pointed snow flake. Pick which way looks best and hang with fishing line. If you can figure out origami you could hang a few birds. Or just go back to paper airplanes. The dresses you have are cute.


  • Audrey Trubshaw Audrey Trubshaw on Dec 16, 2016

    I make "book stack" lamps to order from discarded books with "faux" covers and spines put on with Mod Podge. Here's an example: with a custom shade too.

  • Lynne Faulkner Lynne Faulkner on Dec 17, 2016

    If You go to Etsy you will find pictures/patterns to make Designs by folding pages on your books, its called Book art/Book Folding

  • Haysha S. Haysha S. on Dec 18, 2016

    Those look so cool!


  • Shawna Bailey Shawna Bailey on Dec 18, 2016

    I love the dresses garland

  • Donna Arsenault Donna Arsenault on Dec 19, 2016

    I repurpose into wreaths, trees and a few other designs.

  • Patricia Patricia on Dec 19, 2016

    Winter project is creating a half bedroom into a work room. Instead of painting one wall, I plan to use my evening leisure hour to color in the new adult coloring books, one sided, using markers. They will cover the wall eventually, attached with spray adhesive I found at Wal-Mart. It really is like spray super glue. Don't touch. When the wall is covered, I will spray it with a water proof acrylic. I have an old dresser that is my first project from DIY Hometalk. It will be my newly refinished, hinged front storage cabinet. I can't wait to get started!

    • See 1 previous
    • Susan Susan on Dec 24, 2016

      I was thinking the same thing when reading this. Adhesive and acrylic.... You may have to rebuild the wall to change the decor somewhere down the road.


  • Lisa Gage Lisa Gage on Dec 20, 2016

    Tool catalog 700 pages folded and curled.

  • Eve Eve on Dec 20, 2016

    One of my favorite ways may be the simple one. I modpodge pages to the sides of boring waste paper containers. Picture burgundy trash can with gold trim with the pages from Poetry book edged with gold then mod pogged on. or you could use song book, novel

  • Alice Alice on Dec 20, 2016

    Maybe use deep picture frames? Would also keep dust out of your books.


  • Ann Ann on Dec 21, 2016

    Instead of buying matched boxes and containers for my craft room, I used book pages on all kinds of boxes to tie the room together along with black and white contact paper and tissue paper. I also use it for details in furniture redos.

  • Tes8219149 Tes8219149 on Dec 21, 2016

    Stack large books (coffee table book size) on top of each other for a great end table. Everyone that sees it loves it and wants one :)

  • Deb Deb on Dec 21, 2016

    Pinterest has several folded book page projects and YouTube has gobs of videos from basic to very advanced. For Christmas, most basic is find center of thinner book, fold top down to spine, then fold same page against spine again to a triangle shape. There will be a small overhang at bottom. You can either fold it up even with bottom or cut off. You need to do this fold 15-25 pages both directions from the center, depending on how full you want your tree to be. You can then swag with ribbon, thin strand of beads, etc. Add a small wood star at top. Some stamp on either side with carolers, nativity scene and then words on opposite one. It's very cute!

    • Hummingbird Hummingbird on Dec 21, 2016

      And they make awesome gifts! You can do shapes, like a baby foot, or a person's name. Reader's Digest Condense Books are great for some of these projects. I have a scroll saw and plan on carving initials to give to family and kids.

  • Patricia Patricia on Dec 23, 2016

    Thank you, Nancy. I believe you are right! I got some of the spray adhesive on my hands and nothing would take it off, not even nail polish remover. That always works of sticky stuff but not this. Those coloring pages would be up there permanently! Probably a "What was I thinking?" project that needs more thought so it doesn't become an "OOPS!" project!

  • Patricia Patricia on Dec 23, 2016

    I ended up getting it off my hands by washing them when needed for several days and using my finger nails, scraping it off. Everything I touched stuck so several days of scraping finally worked.

  • Patricia Patricia on Dec 24, 2016

    Thanks Susan. I think ya'll are right. The big wall may not be the place for them. Maybe poster board in a thrift store frame is safer. Thank's for the input!!