There's more to a good book than the story

There’s nothing better than sinking into the fantasy of a good book; to transport yourself to another dimension or time period and walk in someone else’s shoes. The problem with physical literature is that once the fantasy ends, the book itself serves very little purpose. Sure, we can plan to re-read them again in the future or give them to Aunt Edna next time she is in town, but if we are honest with ourselves, those scenarios rarely happen.

If you know me or have worked with me before, you probably know that I love to re-purpose. The fact is that most of us own way too much stuff, and the amount of useable and good quality items that hit the landfills every year is staggering and unnecessary. As technology is taking over and printed materials are becoming a thing of the past, more and more books are being rejected by the libraries, thrift stores and non-profits that once welcomed those slightly worn donations. Instead of throwing them away, here are a few re-purposing hacks that might come in handy:

• Channel your inner decorator - Old books, even the leather-bound classics, are not sellable or worth what they used to be anymore, but they can be used to add depth and texture to a room by stacking a few on a shelf or coffee table or integrating them with various collectibles. Larger books can be used to prop up decorative items where a bit of height is needed, like on top of kitchen cabinets to raise the displayed object above the top molding. Screw an old piece of hardware, like a hook or doorknob, into the center of a book for an instant wall hook.
• Enhance your storage options – Companies like Umbra make brackets that allow you to create a concealed, floating shelf out of a stack of old books. These can create quite a cool effect when grouped together. The pages of hard cover books can also be partially removed or cut away to create a secret compartment or safe place to store valuables in relatively plain sight. In similar fashion, books can be cut apart and glued to a wooden or plastic box or bin so that the stack on the shelf that appears to be books is really a well-hidden container for larger items of value.
• Cover up just about anything - The pages of a book can be used to decoupage an accent wall, picture frame, plant pot or just about anything else that you can envision. Pages can also be used to line a drawer or the shelves of a closet or cabinet.
• Get crafty - A page from a book can be used as a canvas to get creative by painting, drawing or gluing other images to it to create a quick and interesting art piece for the wall. Adhere a bunch of books together, drill a hole in the middle and insert a lamp kit for an instant conversation piece with a glow.
• Foster community – Community book boxes are popping up all over the place, from your local coffee shop to neighborhoods and apartment complexes. Building a book box is relatively easy (hello Pinterest and YouTube) and can act as a spot for your community to share and exchange books without having to worry about them piling up at home.

These are just some of the fun ways that books can be renewed and re-purposed. With a little imagination, there are likely an endless number of ways to put them to use somewhere within your home.