Try This Gorgeous Alternative Use For A Thrifted Wall Shelf

You'll often find that one of the most common items at your favorite thrift store or antique shop is single wooden shelves. These floating shelves likely once held dishes, books, or décor and are usually made of solid wood, some with elaborately carved decorative details like engraving or scalloping. Even if you do not need another shelf in your home, Instagram user @we_dabble shows off how you may be able to repurpose these handsome shelves into a fun book rack for keeping volumes upright on a table or shelf.

This ingenious and unconventional reuse can provide a stylish alternative to buying bookends. It allows you to store a cache of books on a flat surface without constantly falling over. These shelves can usually be found for under $10 at secondhand venues like thrift stores, flea markets, or Facebook Marketplace. Since they are open in the back, they will accommodate even your largest photo and coffee table books, as well as small volumes.

To turn a wooden shelf into a stunning book holder, simply turn it upside down and add some books. While you can leave the shelf in its original finish for a rustic look, you can also add paint, decorative peel-and-stick paper, or a trendy paint finish like crackling or distressing to make it more closely match your décor. If the shelf is on the plainer side, you can also add some interest with decorative millwork appliques like these Yalikop Wood Appliques and Onlays, stenciled details, or hand-painted accents to the front piece or brackets.

These inverted shelf racks are also perfect for places you might want to keep a smaller collection of titles like your to-be-read pile collecting dust on your nightstand or copies of your favorite inspirational books easily accessible on your desk. You can also add them to hold a multi-volume series attractively together in one place to thoughtfully decorate a bookshelf, which is particularly lovely if they have coordinating spines. Or store your favorite cookbooks on your counter or the top of your fridge within easy reach.