Turn water-stained vintage editions or torn antique volumes into creative projects that enhance the beauty of your decor. Non-salvageable books don’t have to be thrown away as a whole — the undamaged portions are perfect for craft projects, decorating ideas, and much more.

Framed Editions

Turn lightly damaged covers or elegant prints tucked inside a crumbling volume into one-of-a-kind framed prints. Antique covers often bear elegant and striking engravings and designs, while many vintage volumes contain glossy prints or ink etchings worthy of a frame and a place on your wall.

Wallpaper Pattern

Turn old sheets of paper and print into wallpaper using a simple decoupage technique. Cover whole or partials walls, bulletin boards, or borders with yellowed and brown pages from damaged vintage volumes. Water damage or tear marks won’t matter when you’re using a glue or paste to layer your pages into a rich antiqued texture across your wall space.

Furniture Fun

Stack battered and broken books together with the help of little glue to create table legs perfect for a glass or wood top. For extra strength, drill a hole through the center of each volume and slide a dowel or metal rod through the stack to reinforce your structure. The same principle can be used to build book sculptures, hall trees, even quilt or blanket racks with battered books used as the base of your structure. Pose your volumes creatively and use glue to help hold them in place.

For ex-library editions, obscure bargain books, and worn-out selections, turning books into home decor recycles these neglected or unwanted volumes with a dash of creativity. Add a touch of “book whimsy” to a room in your house and rescue a few unwanted volumes from the bargain book shelves or your own basement.