5 Beautifully Basic DIY Bookends
—Jennifer Noonan
If you have a few especially beloved books in your collection, why not use a pair of DIY bookends to set them apart as a reminder to yourself and a message to your guests? Though making DIY bookends entails some time and effort, the immensely rewarding results can last for years. Scroll down now to see five of our favorite bookends made by creative and stylish do-it-yourselfers. Then either mimic their ideas or let their designs inspire your own signature set.
1. DO A DIORAMA
Photo: seaofshoes.com
You can stock up on hiking guides and trail maps, or you can invite nature onto your shelf another way: with wilderness-themed DIY bookends. In your local craft store, there’s a section devoted to the supplies needed to put together this diorama. Sand and stain a couple of wood blocks, then glue on the tiny scene of your choice.
Related: 16 Ways to Use Salvaged Wood in Your Home
2. TOY WITH TOYS
Photo: theweekendhomemaker.com
Here’s a way to make some “ferociously” fun DIY bookends for a kid’s room. For each bookend, glue and nail two pieces of wood at right angles, forming an L-shaped base. Prime and spray-paint the two wood bases as well as your chosen figurines. Finally, hot-glue the toys to the painted wood. Voilà: one-of-a-kind decor!
Related: 10 Unexpected Uses for Spray Paint
3. REPURPOSE A JAR
Photo: sfgoodwill.org
Do the wonders of spray paint ever cease? Choose a can of paint that features a bold, eye-catching color you love, and use it to transform a couple of canning jars into DIY bookends. (If you don’t have glass jars in the pantry, they can be purchased for a song). Once the paint has dried, fill the jars with pebbles or sand for added weight.
Related: Paint Guide: 10 Essentials for Successful House Painting
4. GO FOR A RECORD
Photo: flickr.com/gasoline_rainbows
For years you’ve held on to a crate full of vinyl records. Choose two, remove them from their sleeves, and then—are you ready for this?—you can actually shape them into retro chic DIY bookends! Run the records under hot water until they’re pliable, then bend them into right angles. Just be careful not to ruin the labels!
Related: Memory Lane: 15 Household Items From Your Childhood That New Houses Will Never See
5. EMBELLISH TWO BRICKS
Photo: abubblylife.com
For DIY bookends like these, you need only a couple of bricks, painter’s tape, and your choice of spray-paint colors. Use the tape to mark off a pleasing geometric design, then spray on a combination of contrasting or complementary colors. There may be no easier—or cheaper—way to control the chaos on your shelves.
Related: Whole-House Storage Solutions: 15 Easy Ideas for Every Room
