Decorate Your Home Using Repurposed Books With TikTok's Stylish Idea

If you're a fan of the bookshelf wealth interior trend, odds are you love finding new ways to display your book collection. One way of doing just that is by turning old books into a chic yet unexpected artwork by bending the pages into a variety of shapes, then attaching the cover to the wall. It probably goes without saying, but you're going to need a whole lot of books for this. 

Not so keen on bending any of the pages of your books? No problem. One of the best things about this DIY artwork is that you can breathe new life into just about any book to do it. Head to estate sales, charity stores, flea markets, or anywhere you might be able to find some good hardcovers. Alternatively, if you'd prefer to repurpose books that aren't being read anymore and are at risk of being tossed altogether, reach out to local libraries and schools to find out if they plan on throwing any away. Sustainability, all the way. 

One thing that is worth keeping in mind is that the book's cover will carry all the weight for this particular hack, so be sure to prioritize hard covers in your search. Other than that, the only other things you'll need are a hole punch ($5.99 on Amazon and just over $1.50 at Walmart) and a nail knocked into the wall. 

As for the artworks themselves, there are a few ways to bend the pages into shape. One option is to alternate with 20 pages folded (gently — more like a loop than an actual fold) toward the spine, with another 20 folded in a triangle shape, also toward the spine. Continue until you've finished all the book's pages, and you should be left with a chic, well-secured artwork. Of course, you could do the same thing using inverted triangles. Placed side-by-side with the original folded book, you'd create even more interest. 

Another option would be to fold the tops of 20-page sections into triangles until all the pages have been used. Again, you can do the same thing with an inverted triangle shape, too. Looking for an even easier option? Simply use 20-page sections to create loops, folding each towards the book's spine. 

Once you've folded all your books, all that's left to do is hang them up. Punch a hole in each book at the top of the spine, then hang them on the nail. As for where you'll place said nails, you can follow artist Joleen Emery and arrange 100 books into a giant square on your wall. However, you could also play around with whatever you like best. They would look great arranged along a staircase or in a line above your bed (bringing a whole new meaning to bedtime stories!). Alternatively, just one book is enough to make an impact on an empty wall. 

We're of the mind that this particular hack is a great way to incorporate books as art in your home, so if you're happy using just books for this, feel free to leave it as is. That said, if you're thinking of using this hack in a kid's room (or simply love the idea of enchanted library-themed artwork for yourself), you could also add a little bit of sparkle to the mix. 

One way to do this would be by brushing some metallic or glitter paint on the edges of the book's pages before folding anything. You can go for thicker layers if you really want the shimmer to stand out or to create the look of a gilded edge, but just a little hint will also be enough to catch the light and give a very ethereal feel. Of course, if you're planning on looping all the pages towards the spine, you won't see much of the book's edges. That said, you could also mix some glitter into Elmer's glue and brush it gently over those looped pages. Do keep it subtle, though — it should add some sparkle to the words on the pages, not conceal them. 

However you decide to personalize your book artwork, be sure to dust the resulting piece regularly. Doing so will allow you to be super gentle, which is important in keeping the carefully looped and bent pages in place and looking stunning.