• The Knot
  • The Nest
  • The Bump
|

How to Revamp Your Bookshelf

Liven up your library with a touch of pattern and color.

A wallpaper backing will transform any old shelf into a dazzling backdrop for all your treasured tomes.

Materials

Bookshelf
Wallpaper

Tools

Measuring tape
Utility knife
Pencil
Spray adhesive
Metal ruler
Hammer and brads (optional)

How-To

1. Clear out your bookshelf and lay it flat on its back.

2. Measure the space between the shelves and cut your wallpaper to size using a utility knife and metal ruler as your guide.

3. Apply an even layer of spray adhesive to the back side of your wallpaper and press firmly to the back of the shelf.

Tip If your bookshelf has a detachable back, simply remove it and measure the entire piece. Cut your paper to size and apply it to the back. Reattach using a hammer and small brads.

This project is from Wallpaper Projects: More than 50 Craft and Design Ideas for Your Home, from Accents to Art by Derek Fagerstrom and Lauren Smith.

Check out more DIY Project Ideas from the experts at The Nest

-- The Nest Editors

Jul 01, 2010

See More: Decor Trends , Decor Tricks , DIY , How to , Painting & DIY

share your opinion on this topic
Want to participate? Log in to share your thoughts.

I love this idea! I had just been looking at my ugly bookshelf today thinking I wanted to paint it or something. This is a great idea. Thanks!

by bonniefaye on Jun 10, 2009

If you have a bookshelf full of books and you want them to look more organized and cleaner, I saw people in a magazine who had covered them all in maps. You can pick up local city and state maps for free at your local AAA office. Then just write on the part that people won't see what books they are.

by Snowhugz3 on Sep 09, 2009

I also like to group books and items on the shelf by color for an added dose of style.

by Ruthmarie86 on Dec 10, 2009

I love the book cover Idea! I couldn't bear to throw away any of my text books but they don't look good. Cheap colored wrapping paper would work well too!

by vdonohoe on Mar 01, 2010

I love this idea. We have a really ugly cheap bookshelf... this would make it one of my favorite pieces in the house!

by armbrustway@gmail.com on Mar 29, 2010

This is super cute!

by darla33431 on Apr 07, 2010

I LOVE this idea! Our night stands are cheap build yourself 2 shelf bookcases! This would give them a little pop and maybe make them look less out of place!

by hotsummernitesdream on Aug 13, 2010

Awesome solution! My husband has a TON of hand-me-down furniture he refuses to throw out ("my mother would turn over in her grave...") and this might be a good way to spruce up a few eyesores.

by tree.hugger.chick on Mar 15, 2011

I love this idea. I'm alanning on doing something simalar with some of our old bookshelves. I like to stack books differently to add a little contrast !)

by summerwaverider on Apr 28, 2011

Great idea! :) I have 3 black bookcases and im thinking some red wallpaper with a vintage feel would do it some good!

by Katieladyy on Jun 10, 2011

What a great and simple idea!

by SandC2010 on Jun 19, 2011

I'm surprised everyone likes this so much. I think a bookshelf full of books is gorgeous on its own. I think the wallpaper makes it look like it belongs in a dorm room, not an adult's home. Just my opinion...

by jessica4476 on Jun 21, 2011

I am happy to find your way of writing the post. Now you make it easy for me to understand and the concept. Thanks for this review! Very informative article. Thanks a lot for enjoying this beautiful article with me.
Ronald @ cheap van insurance

by rrgan12 on Jul 06, 2011

I really like this idea, but what if it is a cheap particle board shelf? I've had this shelf, well since I was 4th grade and my sisters used it too, so its been through some hard times but still in great shape. Is there any specific paint I should use? It needs to be repainted first before I try this. Also could I replace the back of it with regular wood?

by monkey20 on Jul 08, 2011

My husband and I are moving to our visit house of our own, and when he put the bookshelf together at our last place (really cheap bookshelf) he put the backing on backwards, so I have been wanting to do something to make it look better. I am thinking of just adding a solid color to the back.

by Becca Bear on Jul 21, 2011

What a charming and simple idea for sprucing up an old bookshelf and giving it new life. We did a similar renovation to a large bookshelf recently, even going so far as installing LED lights on each shelf for making a display shelf.

by JohnChristmas on Jul 24, 2011

The reading group, "John Rawls and Modern Theories of Justice", will center on the analytic theories of law and social justice that derive from his famous and now seminal book "A Theory of Justice." In that book Rawls puts forth a theory of institutional social justice, that rather than deriving its foundation from Marxist and socialist streams of thought, comes from his studies of game theory, law and language. testking 70-433 , testking mcitp , testking 646-205 , testking 642-447 , testking 70-448 , testking 70-511 , testking HP2-Z20 , testking ccvp , testking 220-702 , testking 70-667 ,

by albertpaul68 on Jul 25, 2011

Great tips. I’m new to article writing and all of the tips help out tremendously, especially Create a savings account and future of family. I always look forward to reading the great advice that is sent to me. Again, it’s excellent advice. Natural Breast Enhancement

by jeena1986 on Aug 13, 2011

The comments here are very useful yet high quality article information is really hard to find. Thanks for sharing this. Logo Design Contests

by johntydavid on Sep 21, 2011

Thanks for the nice blog. It Was Very useful for me. Keep Such sharing ideas in the Future as well. moleskin Actually This Was What I Was looking for, and I am glad to cam here ! Thanks for Sharing the information with us Such.

by jugannelson on Oct 15, 2011

What an excellent post. I have been thinking along the same lines but have could never channel my thoughts that well or grasp the concept completely. Your post absolutely states what I always intended to say.buy amoxil online

by keena123 on Oct 17, 2011

I am so excited that I have found this your post because I have been searching for some information about it almost three hours. You helped me a lot indeed and reading this your article I have found many new and useful information about this subject Buy Darvocet Online | Fertility Drugs Online

by Samuelfosss on Oct 17, 2011

this guy is really very funny. i appreciate this funny people because its really very difficult to make laugh others. Buy Darvocet Online

by Samuelfosss on Oct 17, 2011

Farming is not the easy thing to do. but it is good to plant trees to protect our environment. good post help people to think and this writing quality is include in our post. so please keep up the good job to divert the mind of people for job work Fertility Drugs Online

by Samuelfosss on Oct 17, 2011

We should hold Motorboating contests in Iraq and Afghanistan to boast troop morale, share common experiences with local Muslims, but more importantly to establish Milk Kinship so we can see their women without veils--in effect, we'll become family to our Muslim friends. COIN is all about knowing their culture and sharing what we have in common.Video game review pick a bill software TV Digital EM Technologies grouprecycling technology Compare Broadbandbroadband serviceAndroid phone

by lhasa01 on Oct 26, 2011

I think that the people freaking out over the guy going into the “pretzel room” isn’t so crazy as some are thinking. It strikes me because just the other day, I went online to a forum I lurked where it seemed appropriate to ask for advice about a party I wanted to throw. I mentioned that the party theme was “obscure alcoholic beverages” and everyone started tearing me a new one for daring to want to serve alcohol to people. financial force perfect financial workscall free financial dvisorycompare insurance companybe a financial leaderraise your fundbest way to get rich Finance and Insurance Companies' show Sea Product Exportbanner syok Top bannerFocus onSport News

by lhasa01 on Oct 27, 2011

I think it might help me a lot in the related stuff and is particularly quite definitely useful for me. Adequately written I appreciate & must say good job.. Buy cheap generic Lamisil

by beverlymeltista on Nov 08, 2011

What an enjoyable read Cell Phone Lookup this turned out to be! It's not Pellet Stoves too often I find content that impresses me Outdoor Lighting on every level - and this Outdoor Flood Lights post most certainly did. This article has truly enlightened me in ways I could not have anticipated prior to reading Used Pellet Stoves this masterpiece! So, this is one of the more memorable posts I have read on this topic - in large part due to the writing style displayed here. Inasmuch as Outdoor Security Lights I appreciate reading informative posts, I appreciate - even more - content that is delivered in an entertaining and captivating style ... which Landscape Lighting Ideas this is!

by john7334 on Nov 17, 2011

Substantially, the article is really the best on this laudable topic. I concur with your conclusions and will eagerly look forward to your future updates.Just saying thank you will not just be enough, for the wonderful lucidity in your writing. list of article directories

by peterwiliam on Nov 21, 2011

Well its so glad to see this information in your post, i was looking this information on different sites but there was not any proper resource, thanks to you because after see your site now i have the thing which i was looking for my research. list of article submission sites

by peterwiliam on Nov 21, 2011

I am happy to find your distinguished way of writing the post. Now you make it easy for me to understand and implement the concept. cell phone spying

by melissajuliet44 on Dec 30, 2011

We have a few small bookshelves scattered around the house and I think it would be nice to add a little color to some of them. Rugby Teamwear

by juliawells123 on Jan 04, 2012

Thank you for sharing the article is quite us.I enjoyed your own article, and definitely most of all really enjoyed reading how you handled the areas.I will bookmark your site. Chiropractic Marketing

by adlonn on Jan 10, 2012

this is such a great advice "2. Measure the space between the shelves and cut your wallpaper to size using a utility knife and metal ruler as your guide"...thank you so much for sharing... background check

by Apollosan on Jan 28, 2012