5 Ways to Decorate with Old Books

If you follow me on Instagram, you are very familiar with my love for old books. I adore them.

The frayed edges.

The worn covers.

The thick, yellowed pages.

Even the smell. I love it all. Old books make for the perfect farmhouse decor.

And my favorite part is that each book has taken its own journey and lived its own life. Its survived years and years of travel in order to end here. That story fascinates me.

Given my obvious infatuation, I think it’s safe to say decorating with old books is my favorite thing to do. It’s just so easy and they add such charm to any look. So here’s my top five favorite ways to decorate with old books.

1. Coffee table vignette

Old books make the perfect coffee table decor. It’s easy, simple, and beautiful. Boom.

This copy of Ivanhoe is currently my favorite. It was printed in 1913 and is full of lovely cursive handwriting on the first few pages. Esther and Mabel. I looove it.

2. Old books + lace

This is actually a pair of old Bibles that are nearly falling apart after a good, long life. Tying a few simple strands of lace and ribbon around them just adds the perfect touch and also helps keep them intact and secure. I love the combination of old and new.

3. Old books on the mantel

Ok. I know this is not necessarily original.

But if you’re like me and struggle with mantels, old books should be your best friend. Really. We’re talking about decorating a tiny little ledge with limited space. Plus it helps to keep things balanced and symmetrical. No one likes a lopsided mantel. No one.

Enter old books. These are easily my favorite thing to put on any mantel. They’re the perfect size, they add texture and dimension, and they are great for displaying other items at various heights. Plus it’s easy peasy to get that desired symmetrical look. And if you look closely there is also an old book in that basket on the wall.

4. Dining Table Centerpiece

If you are looking for a quick and easy centerpiece, you really cannot go wrong with old books. The possibilities are endless. You could easily double what I have done here and have a gorgeous centerpiece perfect for just about any occasion.

5. Old books + photos

There’s something I absolutely love about old books paired with family photos. Maybe it’s the combination of history, but the nature of both is sentimental and even poetic. I just adore the two together.

So there you have it, my top five favorite ways to decorate with old books.

You really can’t go wrong, so go find yourself some old books and get creative!