How to Decorate With Books on Side Tables

Some books make lovely objects in themselves, with ornate binding, beautiful illustrations or fascinating text. Not all your books need sit in neat rows on bookshelves. Displaying attractive volumes on side tables adds an interesting touch to the decor. Old books often are also some of the more cost-effective antiques available. Decorating with books goes well beyond the coffee-table picture book. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Select several attractive books that have a personal meaning to you. Choose favorite childhood stories, books on your interests, books that fit a theme or simply books with appealing illustrations.

2

Arrange a small row of books standing up with their spines facing the viewer. Secure in place with a set of ornate bookends. Choose fat volumes with gilt-tooled binding and text detail on the spine. This arrangement looks even better if the books are different sizes.

3

Select several glossy, illustrated books and arrange asymmetrically on a low side table. Open one or more of the books at a particularly striking picture.

4

Prop up a single book on a plate stand. Have the book open at an elaborate illustration. Positioning the table below a floor lamp or spotlight shows the illustration at its best. Plate stands come in a huge variety of styles and several sizes and usually fit a normal-sized book. Alternatively, use a reading stand.

5

Place a complementing or contrasting object on a small stack of books on a similar theme. For example, place a miniature ship or compass atop a small pile of nautical books.