Home and product design website Design*Sponge ran a post yesterday featuring homemade furniture with a small quirk—it’s made of books!
The article features a pair of end tables (pictured above) and a coffee table, but I’m thinking this idea could go even further. Book couches! Book dining sets! How about a bookshelf made of books?
I love the look of these tables, but I can’t help feeling sad for the books involved. Selecting the right ones must be a complicated process.
Should it be books you never want to read again? Or should you pick book titles that will impress your friends? (“Why yes, that armoire is composed entirely of different versions of James Joyce’s Ulysses. How kind of you to notice!”) The books featured in these photos appear to be dated and of the sort that the artist didn’t necessarily intend to read, if that old-looking cookbook on top is any indication.
Are these creations a bibliophile’s dream, or should these books be rescued and given to more appreciative readers? What books would you use in your furniture? Leave a comment and let us know what you think!
Click here to see the original post on Design*Sponge.com.
On July 22nd, 2010 at 9:40 pm Anne replied:
good job
On August 24th, 2010 at 10:29 am Traffic Anarchy replied:
How’s about a book made of bookshelves? Sounds a bit Marcel Duchamp or Magritte like, but hey.
Nice upholstery by the way. Tangerine….mmmm
On September 3rd, 2010 at 12:38 pm Nathan Block replied:
Looks like my office…
On September 5th, 2010 at 8:21 am Caleb "Muscles" Anthony replied:
Get a wall made of books supporting a roof made of books (I dont even know if thats possible!) , then prop the tv onto a shelf made of books and watch the lord of the Rings or any other movie based off a novelization…
On November 14th, 2010 at 10:10 am Golf Shop replied:
Love the idea here – the possibilities are endless! If I slept on a book bed, would all that literary genius gradually soak into my brain? !!!
On January 10th, 2011 at 6:16 pm Evangeline replied:
End tables made of books? I know my luck, as soon as I’d built it I would need the book that’s right at the bottom. How about stacking them right up the wall, side to side and top to bottom, covering it completely?
Take a ton of books but what excellent insulation.
On January 18th, 2011 at 10:45 am Majalah replied:
Table made from books? hmm.. it’s good idea. But just remember don’t put any heavy stuff on the table
On January 29th, 2011 at 7:45 pm Jacquelyn Dunn replied:
love the idea for the book end tables. I love to decoraete with books but had never though about using them like this.
On February 7th, 2011 at 11:00 am DerekH replied:
I know a guy who made a an armchair out of used books. Follows a similar concept but is a great conversation point
On February 15th, 2011 at 12:44 am Pinky replied:
Well, the good thing is, we now have a good use for books that we don’t really find interesting. Also, there are a lot of bookstores that sell second-hand books that are sometimes really useless. We could choose those to use for projects like these. At least it wouldn’t break one’s heart to use such books other than for reading them.
On February 16th, 2011 at 3:07 am vacances thalasso replied:
I’d always rather read books than turn them into furniture. If you have books you need to get rid of send them to me!
On April 14th, 2011 at 12:52 am Christine Blythe replied:
Wow! What a great idea! Why didn’t I think of that?
I’m in the process of setting up my son’s old bedroom as a den/library and this is a wonderful idea. I will definitely do it – especially since I’m such a history and genealogy buff and lover of old books and publications. My secret dream is to be an archivist.
Again, thanks for the idea…
On April 23rd, 2011 at 2:35 am Dino@im confidential replied:
Hello,
Great idea. I have over 200 books that I can turn into a kitchen table. Now that I have my Kindle, these books are just a waste of space. I must say, there still is nothing better than the smell of a book.
On April 23rd, 2011 at 8:21 am M Lawrence replied:
This article has given me some great ideas, I never like to get rid of book, thus over the years I have collected thousands.
Now I have even more reasons to hang on to them. (my wife will hate you
On May 12th, 2011 at 10:27 am Michael Dunnam replied:
Thanks for the great info! I don’t know why I didn’t think of that.
On October 6th, 2011 at 12:32 pm Lori @ Keystone Click replied:
Interesting idea. Definitely a different approach to “upcycle”. As I was reading this, I thought about picture frames – using the binding/cover somehow to make picture frames would be cool. I like the chair idea that someone else mentioned.
On October 6th, 2011 at 6:37 pm Freddy replied:
That’s just awesome. Now you can show off even more you high literacy by putting the word on the table.
@ Michael D.
Totally with you on that one. Not sure what will be the most upsetting for her. That I am holding on even more books or that I actually found a good excuse?