Turn Your Unused Books Into A Stunning Accent Wall

Chances are, you have a stack of old books tucked away in some box or bin, gathering dust and collecting that classic, aged book smell. If you've also got a blank wall in dire need of a transformation, you might have stumbled upon the perfect opportunity to repurpose books that you aren't reading anymore and give them new life. Unused books can make for a stunning bibliophilic accent wall. To show off your love of reading, source some old books, attach them to an MDF board, and hang the board on the wall. Add some dried flowers and folded page details for an even more whimsical aesthetic. While this project can be slightly tedious, it's a stunning addition to spruce up your space.

A DIY book accent wall can be a great eye-catching must-have for the perfect home library or home office. It's a unique idea for using old books that may have missing pages or stains or those that have been forgotten and left in the furthest corners of your attic, basement, or garage. However, if you don't have many unused books lying around, you can still find old books from thrift stores, antique shops, or yard sales. Some libraries or bookstores might also have a discounted bin for defective or ruined books. For bookworms eager to tackle this project, here's how to do it.

To get started, you'll need to source some books. You can use as many as you like, based on the scope of your piece, but we'd recommend around 14 or 15 books for a standard project. Next, you will need a large MDF board as the backing for your piece. You can always opt for a larger or smaller board, depending on the size of your space. Measure the area of the wall you wish to decorate before choosing a board. To put everything together, you'll also need a drill, screws, and some glue.

Once you have your materials, lay the MDF board on the floor and begin laying out your books. Start with your largest books and lay them spine down, open to about the halfway point of the story. Be sure to space out your large books from one another, as you will intersperse them with smaller books. For a more asymmetrical and organic look, allow your books to extend partially beyond the MDF board. Next, start opening and layering the smaller books on top of the larger ones. 

When you're happy with the arrangement, drill the books down to the board and cover your screws by flipping and gluing the next page on top of them. Leave some space on the board uncovered for pilot holes so that you can mount the project to the wall by screwing the MDF board into the studs. Once attached, add flair by curling some pages into the spine. This also creates paper vases to hold dried flowers and add more dimension.

This project may not be ideal for every household, particularly for those who rent or are unable to drill directly into their drywall. Instead of drilling the MDF board to the wall, consider resting the board on the floor and leaning it against the wall, opting for a vertical orientation rather than the horizontal layout. Some DIYers have created a gorgeous book photography backdrop by following this technique. 

Alternatively, if you're experiencing challenges with a three-dimensional setup or you're attempting to create a home library in a small space, you could achieve a similar accent wall aesthetic by using just book pages instead of whole books. Source an old book and carefully remove the pages before attaching them to the wall with glue dots or another non-permanent adhesive. You can layer the pages, set them up in a more uniform pattern to cover the entire wall, or put them in a large frame to create a statement piece. Whether you go all out with your DIY book accent wall or decide keep it simple, this project is a cozy and romantic idea that will draw the attention of any avid reader.