This Estate Sale Find Is A Hidden Gem All Book Lovers Should Watch Out For

Estate sales, thrift stores, flea markets and other secondhand venues can be filled with a wealth of cool things to help you decorate a space. Not only are some of their offerings much more sustainable and inexpensive than constantly buying new decor, but older items often have a greater sense of history and charm. This is especially true of coffee table books, which can be pricey when they're new but are sometimes very inexpensive secondhand. You will certainly want to pick one up if you spot one since they can be used for a wide variety of functions, including everything from providing a decor accent and reading material to creating unique art and distinctive furniture pieces. 

While many are beautiful all on their own, others can be modified by simply removing their slipcovers to unveil what is underneath. When shopping for great values at an estate sale, look for books that are both lovely on the outside and, if you plan to use them for guests to read and enjoy, something you want to look at. Find volumes that speak to you and represent the flavor of your space and personality. Vintage coffee table books are especially fun to bring into your decorating plans.

Beyond the most obvious use of books as bookshelf content and reading material, coffee table books are perfect for leaving lying around where they can be picked up or posed open to add visual interest and express personality. According to HGTV's Jenn Todryk, adding a stack of coffee table books is an instant way to add elegance to a space. Try placing a stack on a coffee table with one book left open, changing the page it's open to for a fresh new look daily. They also make great risers for other decor items like candles, lamps, and vases. Simply stack them on a console table or floating shelf to create a stunning tableau with multiple visual levels. 

Large format books also work well as furniture themselves. Assemble a stack of your favorites as a fun side table or nightstand composed entirely of books. Leave them stacked there to enjoy or, if you don't plan to read them, create one-of-a-kind furniture pieces out of old books by driving a rod through the center to grant more stability.

Coffee table books can be a great way to add other decorative elements to a space. Consider framing some of your pages of a coffee table book as fun artwork. Maps, charts, and other elements often found in oversized books can also make intriguing wall accents. These pages look especially stunning as a part of a larger gallery wall when mixed with photographs, paintings, and mirrors. If a book has dynamic illustrations or beautiful typography, incorporate the pages as part of a decoupage project. You could also use your favorite pages to create a large format original collage or use pages to cover an entire table or dresser. 

Paper DIY projects are a great use for books and other ephemera you can pick up inexpensively at estate sales. The large format and sizable pages of coffee table books lend them to a variety of other uses, including making handmade paper crafts like cards and invitations. The pages make beautiful and unique gift wrapping for small gifts. Pages from a book about flowers or gardens can be made into DIY seed packets for storing seeds over the winter in a very pretty and easily identifiable way.