Create Heartwarming Bookshelf Decor Inspired By Fixer Upper's Joanna Gaines

Decorating your bookshelves both stylishly and functionally can be a challenge. Too many books and objects can lead to a cluttered look, while too few can make the shelves look unfinished and boring. The best way to decorate a bookshelf includes carefully curating a collection of books, decor, and display items. HGTV's Joanna Gaines, who recently launched a Masterclass on design tips, has inspired home decor enthusiasts to create a perfect mix of usefulness and personality on shelves by adding gorgeous leather-bound volumes as storage. The faux books are visually stunning and double up as containers for storing mementos. There are many ways you can create similar storage pieces for your shelves to keep items like photos, important papers, valuables, and more.

Even better, you can customize these books to fit your decor by embellishing them with lettering, paper, appliques, or paint. They can be a centerpiece on your bookshelves or blend seamlessly into your other books and decor for more stealthy storage. You can also use them as pretty risers to create levels for arranging decor on a bookshelf. Since they are inexpensive to buy or create, they can be perfect for revamping the look of your bookshelf on a budget. You can also use them on nightstands, coffee tables, entryway consoles, and other places for discreetly stashing things like remotes or keys. 

Many retailers sell faux books with secret compartments, like this Hobby Lobby Paper Mache Book Box Set or this Luqeeg Faux Leather Book Box that looks just like real books with real titles. You can customize your faux books by adding dates of important events on the spine that reflect significant family events and memories, then coordinate these with the contents of the boxes. Use a label maker and clear labels, vinyl cut letters and numbers, or store-bought stickers to add the dates.  

Another great idea is to make your own secret storage from actual books. To attempt this project on a budget, use old books you no longer use or buy some pretty volumes from thrift stores. First, glue the front cover and the first 20 pages together, and separate this section from the rest of the pages with a cardboard divider. The remaining pages can be set together by applying glue to the edges when the book is closed. Place a weight on top of the book while the glue dries. Then, remove the divider and draw a rectangular outline on the top page using a ruler and pencil. The shape should be around an inch from each edge, and this will become the secret compartment. Use a utility knife to cut where the rectangle has been drawn, removing the middle of each page. Repeat this throughout the layers of the book until you have a substantial cavity. To finish, glue the inside of the hollow you have created and once again set a weight on top while it dries. You can stick plain paper to the inside of the book to make it look neater.