Unique Things You Can Make From Old Books

Give your old books a new lease on life. Transform your old books into new and exciting items. From decorative pieces to functional accessories.

Unique Things You Can Make From Old Books

Have you ever looked at a stack of old books and wondered what to do with them? Instead of letting them collect dust on a shelf, consider unlocking their hidden potential by repurposing them into unique and practical items.

Sure, you can absolutely donate them, but you could also take some of your much-loved books and upcycle them into some beautiful items. There are a handful of reasons a book might not be able to be donated.

The most common ones I encounter are damaged and advanced reader copies. Books that are missing pages, falling apart or water-damaged will not be accepted as donations. But, we can use them to create some unique items for your home.

Get ready to be inspired.

Wreath made out of old book pages for home decor

Book Page Wreath

For those looking to add a touch of literary charm to their home decor, creating a Book Page Wreath is a delightful project to try.

Let’s create some book-themed art, like this book page wreath from Repurpose and Upcycle. You don’t need to go out and purchase many supplies. They even use a piece of cardboard from an old box to support the back of this wreath.

Secret Storage Book Box

Give your old books a fresh start by transforming them into this unique secret storage book box. I love this idea. You can either upcycle an old box or crate you have on hand or make one from old wood scraps.

For this idea, by Girl In The Garage, she utilizes the outside book casings from hardcover books to create a one-of-a-kind, secret storage box. No one would even know that your shelf contained a hidden storage box.

Creative art piece from old book English Garden

Book Cover Art

Here is a creative upcycling craft to make using an old hardcover book. You can make this lovely English garden-inspired craft. This is a unique way to upcycle your old books into a creative piece of art to display.

This idea was hand-crafted by Jane from Sustain My Craft Habit. Jane takes an old book and turns it into a magical and fun piece of art. Her instructions are easy to understand.

Paper Leaf Fall Garland

I have seen several different fall garland ideas, but this one created by Leanna from Pretty DIY Home is not only unique but very pretty. Instead of hand-cutting leaves, she uses her Cricut Machine. This helps save a lot of time cutting and allows you to create quicker.

For her 74-inch mantel including a 2-foot drop off the sides, she cut out 180 leaves. That’s a lot of leaves and a lot of old book pages.

Book Cover Jewelry Box

Girl In The Garage does it again with another fun upcycled book project. Here she takes a few rulers and the outside jacket to a hardcover book and turns it into a jewelry box.

Such a beautiful way to repurpose your favorite books and transform them into a meaningful and functional piece of decor.

Christmas Ornament from dictionary pages

Christmas Ornaments

Here is a great idea from Picture Box Blue. “Deck the halls with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la! You can design and create DIY Christmas Ornaments from your most loved books. This is a creative way to add a touch of literary charm to your tree, but they also make for a fun and easy DIY project.

Plus, they make amazing gifts. You can even add one or two to a wrapped present. We love fancy gift wrapping.

Leaf Embroidered Fall Decoration

Pillar Box Blue shows us how to spruce up your home for the fall season with this leaf embroidery project. Welcoming a touch of nature into your home.

Not only is it a unique and beautiful way to celebrate the autumn season, but it’s also a fun and accessible craft for all skill levels

Hidden Charging Station

Family Focus Blog shows us how to turn a plain book into a hidden charging station for your phone or use it as a secret compartment. Imagine being able to hide your valuables in plain sight, cleverly disguised within the pages of a book on your shelf or nightstand.

This is the magic of creating a secret compartment hollowed-out book, a fun and creative project that serves as a unique storage solution.