10 Fun Ideas for Decorating with Vintage Books!

“Old books exert a strange fascination for me — their smell, their feel, their history; wondering who might have owned them, how they lived, what they felt.”
― Lauren Willig

I luv decorating with vintage books. They add so much texture and character to built-ins, cupboards, mantels, kitchens, and more. I have collected vintage books for years now and thought I would take this chance to share a few ideas with you here.

You can find vintage books at your local thrift shop, flea market, consignment shop, antique store, etc.. And they are usually not that expensive to purchase. You may even find them on Amazon here and here.

Vintage books with blue glass candlesticks and basket on shelf.

I luv the touch of blue in these books! And partnered with the blue glass candlesticks and neutral colors, it really adds to that soft vintage charm.

Step ladder with vintage books, candle and more.

If you like farmhouse style, a simple step stool with vintage books, candles, and spindles along with a drop cloth look so fun in a corner, sunroom, porch, etc..

Vintage books with picture frames as bookends.

Here are a few vintage books with framed pictures as bookends! (My parents) 🙂

Vintage books with boy and girl bust and a neutral basket.

I found these vintage busts at a local consignment shop and they are so fun with the vintage books and neutral basket. I used to think busts were really creepy, but not anymore! Ha…

Vintage black books with dried pale pink roses and burlap bow.

Luv these black vintage books where I simply added a burlap bow and dried pale pink roses and placed them on our mantel for Valentine’s Day. It added such a romantic feel.

Vintage books, clock, postal box, bottle, picture and more on a built-in shelf.

Luv the small vintage books along with all my vintage flea market finds, decorated on the Built-Ins. Neutral colors with whites are so softening.

I found these printing press letters at an antique shop and luv how they represent our state of Vermont (VT), and how the vintage books are green in color, also representing VT colors!

Vintage books in a hutch with all white pottery and vintage scale.

Adding vintage books to an old hutch in the dining room.

Vintage books with tulips in a jar next to a chair.

Luv this little vintage stand I found while thrifting in Maine and the vintage books look so cute with simple flowers on top!

I recently discovered Allison Ginn on Instagram. She folds and creates these amazing books. She customizes the book the way you want it too! You may check her work out at Fold Between the Lines.