How To Paint Books For Decor | Decorative Books

Please follow and like us:

There’s just something about pretty decorative books. Books are trendy in home decor, so I thought it would be fun to add a little more character by painting them. Here are some fun, easy ways to put a personal spin on painting books to match your own style.

* No books were damaged with this makeover. They’re still readable!

This post contains a few affiliate links to help you find the products I use. You are not charged extra to use any of the links, but any income I make will be used for more fun projects! To see my full disclaimer, click here.

How To Paint Books For Decor | Decorative Books

Supply list for this makeover:

•  Book #1 Flamingo & Blueberry
•  Book #2 Bunker Hill Blue & The Gulf
• Best Dang Wax clear
• Dixie Dirt charcoal
• Dixie Belle Paint Brushes
• Fine Mist Spray bottle for water
• Heat gun for quick drying
• Dixie Belle Copper Gilding Wax

Part 1 Paint Blending | Decorative Books

See part 1 of the video tutorial here.

Finding Old Books for Painting Projects

Finding old books is super easy. Just stop off at your local Goodwill or yard sale and grab you some for just pennies. Or maybe your favorite vintage cookbook. You’re not destroying the book but decorating the cover. I painted mine and I still use it and it looks pretty in my kitchen.

Chalk Painting Decorative Books

After I used the paint blending method on the books, I went back and added what I like to call the easy distressing method. Using the side of a chip brush, I lightly dab the edges to create a chippy paint look but be careful to not overdo it. Just enough to look chippy.

Using Wax and Dixie Dirt On Decorative Books

After the paint had dried on the books, I applied a coat of clear wax over all the painted surfaces. Immediately after waxing, I used a clean chip brush and lightly applied to edges around the book to create a dirty used look. These decorative books are going to look awesome in my kitchen.

Part 2 Paint Blending | Decorative Books

See part 2 of the video tutorial here. I used a product called Chalk Couture in this video but you can use regular stencils and craft paints to personalize your books.

This is a fun and practical way to repurpose and upcycle those old books while getting a little practice in with your painting techniques. Just like I do on cabinet doors because we all need to practice.

DIY Budget-Friendly Decorative Books

Sometimes I just need a little quick gratification and painting books does fill that need for me. They make great gifts too! Who would love to get a cute decorative book? This was such a fun project and I hope you enjoyed my spin on DIY home decor on a budget. Need more budget-friendly home decor ideas. Check this out this Trash To Treasure makeover.

So what did you think? Share your thoughts and comments below about this makeover. I value all opinions and it gives me the feedback I need to know so I can create more fun projects to share with you. Thanks for stopping by.

Until the next project… xo, Do

Don’t forget to PIN IT NOW for later!