Once upon a time, we inherited a lot of very old books. We offered the vintage books to a library that said they wanted to buy them. When the curator looked at the titles, they said they had many of the books already. The man exhaled deeply and peered at me over his spectacles. He explained, as if to a dim-witted child, that our books weren’t very desirable to them. He offered to take them off my hands, to ease my burden, but of course they couldn’t buy them as I had originally been told.
I really didn’t like being talked down to, so I said no thank you, I think we’ll just keep them. And I have never looked back. I mark it down to temporary insanity. Why I was going to part with them, I’ll still can’t comprehend. They are FABULOUS. Even if I never read them, they are from the first part of the 1900’s, all pre-1950. Some are first edition… Well, in the end, I’m thrilled they didn’t want them, because I love having them.
Vintage books are marvelous to use in decor and they are so versatile. Here are 9 ways to use them.
1. They can be used as risers.
2. You can fill out a bookcase with them. They can be used with the spine facing out or in. (Sometimes I have the spine facing in so the books all look monocromatic, but that doesn’t work when you are looking for a specific book to read.)
3. I use them on tables,
4. In tote bins.
5. In baskets,
6. On chairs,
7. Under a vase of flowers,
8. Under a tea cup,
9. Stacked on a table next to a chair.
Well I hope this gave you some ideas. How do you like to use books? Well of course besides reading… I like that too.
Nice post! I laughed because I do every one of these things – also under picture frames. I like to buy antique books and often they are old leather. I’ve noticed they get kind of dried out and have been thinking lately I should google the best way to preserve them. Any ideas?
Great ideas! Thanks
Love your books and ideas!
Love your ideas,thanks.
You’re fortunate that the library DIDN’T want the books. They’re fantastic! Enjoyed all your ideas!
Oh so beautiful in such a soulful use of books, there is a blogger who is on my side bar her name is Victoria and she used old book bindings to cover the walls with around an opening to it looked shelved in a niche like way.
So creative to see that even wall papering a project adds to the look of what inspires us so with art and it’s creative use.
I love the cake print on the French table, so much so it inspires me to try and create from what it inspires. I wish I could just buy one, could you possible tell me the artist? Or where you found such a piece. It’s adds every bit the charm to that vignette.
See you soon, and all your grace and beauty.
Xx
Bisous
Doré
Dore, Try farmhouseporch.blogspot.com. She painted it!!
Love my books around the house…they ground me.
I can never have too many!
Love all of your vintage books…I love using them too as risers and adding another element of texture to vignettes…beautiful vignettes Anita!!!
Great ideas, thanks
Chairs are NOT for sitting in my house. IF you ever want to sit again at least. :-). I need therapy for my chair addiction I think. As for the books. You go girl!