Decorating Guides
Paperback Books Get a Second Look
Hardcover books get all the decorating love, but paperbacks as a design accessory can hold their own in any room
I'll confess: For years, I was a hardback snob. If a volume that I wanted came only in paperback form, I'd borrow it again and again from the library rather than buy it for my bookshelves. Favorite paperbacks from my student days, which I couldn't quite discard, got shoved into an armoire in the guest bedroom — a thoughtful touch for visitors who might long for a good read, I convinced myself.
And then I got over it. Life's too short to curtail a book collection solely because of binding. Although I still love the clean, crisp look of hardbacks — and my local library branch — I've started looking for opportunities to display my growing assortment of paperbacks in a way that shows them at their humble best. Here's a peek at the design ideas that have inspired me.
And then I got over it. Life's too short to curtail a book collection solely because of binding. Although I still love the clean, crisp look of hardbacks — and my local library branch — I've started looking for opportunities to display my growing assortment of paperbacks in a way that shows them at their humble best. Here's a peek at the design ideas that have inspired me.
A simple stack of books rounds out this whimsical vignette. There's nothing accidental about these selections — notice how they're roughly the same size and conform to a narrow palette. Attention to details like that elevates the arrangement.
Another interesting approach to using books as a design element: turning paperbacks so that their pages face outward. To me, this feels like a novel (sorry) take on the classic designer's trick of covering books in white paper for a uniform look.
Hardbacks might read (double sorry) as too stiff for this rustic space. Instead, floating shelves hold a tumble of paperbacks that look and feel exactly right against the brick wall.
Stacks of paperbacks at the foot of the bed help to shake up this room's formality and symmetry. They also enliven the color scheme in much the same way as a piece of art might do.
The idea of turning chairs into bookshelves isn't new, but this take on it feels unusually fun and fresh to me. Paperbacks are piled on the little round stool like sweets on a cake plate, with a handful more tucked into the glass case. It's a simple, unstudied approach to decorating that has its own low-key charm.
Old phone books, chic? Believe it. Massed tightly along a wall, they create graphic and textural interest. The soft covers bend slightly to create a sense of movement — hardbacks would feel much more rigid.
Quick, where are the books in this room? If you didn't see them at first, you're probably not alone. Although they're limited to a couple of slim stacks amid decorative objects on the shelves, the orange and white covers really tie together the palette.
More:
24 Amazing Walls of Books
Create a Place for Books
Beautiful Modern Home Libraries
DIY Project: Vintage Book Wallpaper
More:
24 Amazing Walls of Books
Create a Place for Books
Beautiful Modern Home Libraries
DIY Project: Vintage Book Wallpaper