DIY A Renter-Friendly Light To Add Sophistication To Any Bookshelf

Adding lighting to your book or décor shelves can be a great way to create an elevated and layered illumination scheme in your home. Bookshelf lighting allows you to easily see and highlight items on the shelf while also reaching into dark corners and the backs of shelves. TikTok user Lone Fox Home recently showed off a fun book upcycling project that creates a unique lighting sconce that slides into place on the shelf and looks just like a book.

To create this fun lighting fixture, you will need a wired sconce with an electrical cord that plugs into the wall, an old book you don't mind removing pages from, some wooden blocks or dowels the same width as your book spine, and a drill. Since these lights do not need to be hardwired into walls, they make a great rental-friendly lighting option you can add to shelves easily and inexpensively. Similar lights, many that look like marble bookends, can cost upwards of $100. This version, however, allows you to fully customize the look of your lamp and shade, as well as the book you add it to. It's also a perfect way to repurpose books you probably aren't reading anymore. 

Begin by removing the cord from your sconce, leaving only the wires. You will need a wire clamp to add the cord back later at the end of your project. Remove the inside text block of the book, leaving only the spine and cover as a hollow case. Glue a block of wood or wood dowel along the inside of the spine from end to end using either wood or hot glue. Then glue two additional pieces on top of it to fill the rest of the book. Make these additional pieces slightly shorter to allow a channel at the bottom of your book for the wiring from the sconce to run through and out the back.

Once your blocks and book are dry, use a drill bit the same diameter as your sconce arm to drill through the spine and thread the wiring through the wood and into the open cavity. Use a clamp to write the cord back to the plug-in wiring, leading it out the back of the book. Add the shade to the sconce and slide the light into place on your shelves.

This fun and bookish project is very customizable to fit with your current décor. You can choose the finish and fabric of your lampshade and fixture to match your room style, including metal finishes, fabric, and other details on the light. Use a simple unadorned shade for a more traditional look or a woven shade to add more texture. For a one-of-a-kind lampshade on a budget, add some pattern and fringe to an inexpensive or thrifted shade, giving you a cottage or boho look.

You can also choose a book for the DIY that fits your space, like a large format photo or design book, your favorite romance novel, or a luxe leather-bound volume for your decorative light fixture. You can also add a faux cover to any book or cover your books in contact paper to match your décor. If you do not have access to an electrical outlet near your shelves that you can plug into, you can leave the project unwired and, instead of a traditional bulb, use a remote-controlled battery LED light to the sconce.