There are treasures to be discovered at thrift stores, estate sales, and even some retailers. There’s also plenty of over-priced junk. I’ve purchased both.
Sometimes I leave empty-handed. Sometimes my hoarding tendencies kick in and I buy something I don’t need or want.
But sometimes, I find just the perfect thing for Around My Home, so I thought I’d share a few of my favorite finds with you in this post.
During a recent trip to Restoration Hardware to buy paint for our kitchen makeover, I took a quick peek around and instantly fell in love with this look:
A closer inspection revealed a small stack of what appeared to be old paperback books sans covers and bound together in a neat little package with twine.
I was surprised to find a price tag – RH sells these bundles for $15 each! Are you kidding me?!
I loved the look but decided I could probably create it myself for close to free.
So I marched right home and instantly went to work. Okay, it was really about two weeks later in the middle of the night when I couldn’t sleep and was looking for something to do and remembered the book idea.
I pulled out some books that I was getting ready to donate and reviewed my stack of recent thrift store book purchases, too.
I was completely delighted (insert happy squeal here) to discover some twine in my husband’s workshop. Yay, Honey for having twine!
I was able to quickly put this bundle together in just a few minutes:
While we’re waiting for the paint to dry on my antique vanity bench project, I thought I’d share with you one of my favorite design tips: how to decorate with books!
I purchased 3 of these books for $1 each. The top one in the stack is a French grammar book that I paid $5 for. It’s one of the most expensive books in my collection.
Old or new, books are a great way to add character, color, and interest to your home.
I opt for books that are conversation starters and are of interest to me. I like that that they display part of my personality without my saying a word. I also love that I can change them up without spending a fortune!
Here’s a sampling of photos showing how I’ve incorporated books into the design Around My Home:
I love these books! One is a vintage Nancy Drew mystery (I think I read every single one of them when I was younger) and the other is the Bobsy twins – each of these cost me $1. I personally love the weathered look.
Books create balance, making the perfect backdrop for organizing pictures and other objects you wish to display. All of the books shown here were gifted or picked up for a bargain.
I picked up each of these beauties for under $4 each (3 at Goodwill and 1 at Barnes and Noble), some still encased in their original shrink wrap! The retail stickers on each of these was $39.95 and up!
Here’s that same stack on it’s home in our family room. Recognize that end table? It’s my first furniture transformation!
This stack is my favorite right now: The big book on the bottom is a gorgeous book on art that was a gift from my mother-in-law. The Rose Book I purchased at Half Price Books for $3. The French culinary book was calling my name and I couldn’t leave without it. I shelled out $14.97 for it – it’s by far my most pricey book purchase to date. And I love it!
I purchased this book for $1. The hydrangeas are from my garden. I dried them and sealed them with acrylic clear coat. (I’ll be providing details on how to do this in a near-future post). I already had the flower pot, but I painted it white and sealed it with a glossy clear coat.
Where to find your books!:
–Garage and Estate sales – deepest discounts are usually offered on Sunday’s.
–Thrift stores such as Salvation Army and Goodwill.
–Bargain or clearance section at retail bookstores.
When you bring them home:
–I dust off the outside covers of the books and mist the pages with Lysol before bringing them in my home. Another tip is to place them in a ziploc bag in your freezer for 48 hours.
–Don’t be afraid to ditch the covers on your books. Some of my favorite books had ugly covers that I tossed to reveal something beautiful beneath it.
Happy Hunting,
My name is Melanie Bolke and I created this site as a resource just for you! Here you'll find quick and easy recipes, tips for cleaning and organizing, budget decorating ideas, DIY furniture transformations, gardening must-haves, and lots of other simple things I enjoy Around My Home. Welcome!
DIY Chalkboard for Back-to-School or anytime! Near-instant gratification with this super easy and inexpensive project. Click here for the tutorial.
Around My Home 