DIY Book Headboard
The new apartment was still feeling a little empty and un-lived in so Simon and I set about on this fun little project! It took as about 4 days to put it all together but most that time was spent sourcing the materials so if you were smart about it (and know where to get things – unlike us) then you could do it in a day easy.
1. To start this project I needed a lot of books – I tried yard sales first but ended up finding all my books at thrift stores. Some stores charge way more than others for the books, so I set myself a budget of $1 per book.
2. Choosing the books can be difficult! You want as many hardcover books of the same size as possible as this will make laying out the books much easier. I ended up using 27 of the 42 books I bought.
3. Measure up the size you would like your headboard but make sure it is about 1cm in from where the mattress ends on either side. This helps give the illusions that the books are simply there and not attached to anything. If like me you can’t transport one large piece of wood home you can get two pieces which will then be secured together.
4. Put the wood how the finished headboard will be so that you can mark the mattress height. Marking this is so that you know where on the boards the books should start.
5. Now move the boards to somewhere they can be laid flat and you have room to move around them. Choosing the layout for the books is like finishing a jigsaw puzzle. You need to place the books in lines of the same height books and make sure the books extend over the edges of the board at least a little on both sides. I found the books on the top and the bottom row can be different heights but the books in the middle rows must be the same height.
6. Once you have an order you are happy with make sure you number the books so that if they get mixed up you know exactly where they go back.
7. When securing the books I used small nails, I left 2-4 pages free above the ones I nailed down. I started with the second row from the top as this would give me a nice straight line to work with. Next I nailed down the top row and then moved my way down from there. If you are using two boards of wood rather than one make sure that you use sturdy books where the join is and add some extra nails.
8. Once all the books are secured you can move the headboard into place – you will need two people for this! Now those loose pages need to be secured. Using double sided table stick down the top pages. If there are pages that lay fairly flat you may want to leave a few loose. To create the illusion of how a book would look if it were just sitting open on a table stick the pages so a bump is created. Be creative with how you secure the pages, you don’t want every book to look the same. However the bottom row of books should have the pages secured as flat as possible so that they do not get caught on pillows or sheets.
9. Now its time to enjoy your creation!
Richard Everson
Hi Kassandra,
Your creativity knows no bounds! Looks great. My mum would suggest it may get a little dusty (she doesn’t know how conscientious you are at housekeeping!). For those after a low maintenace version, consider building a frame around the books and laying a piece of 3 mm perspex on top – kind of like building a 3D picture frame.
10/16/12 – 6:11 am
admin
the perspex is a pretty good idea! For now I think ill stick to dusting :)
10/16/12 – 6:48 am
Jeanette
What an amazing idea and a great way to surround yourself with beloved book! Love the colors that old book pages turn and there is nothing like the smell of a book. Great job!
10/16/12 – 3:15 am
snyggsnag
Amazing idea and it looks so beautiful! Have to keep it in mind when I will get a new bed …
10/16/12 – 12:56 pm
ReFab Diaries
I’ve imagined doing something like this so many times … wonderful wonderful!!!! Good for you!
10/16/12 – 2:39 pm
Ann Morris Bruehler
Love this idea and have never seen anything like it! I might do this to a small wall…
10/16/12 – 6:25 pm
admin
I think this would make a great wall or you could do something like this inside a large box frame. If you do something I would love to see photos :)
10/16/12 – 6:30 pm
Mija
Hello! Beautiful headboard, and I may be stealing this idea, but thats because its so beautiful, I want one for myself, and it is a great use out of those old books I have laying around! I want to ask, how did you hang/mount your pieces of wood onto your wall?
10/16/12 – 6:38 pm
Kassandra
Thank you and if you do something I would love to see pics. I have a very solid bed frame so it is actually just resting against the wall but if your bedframe won’t support it then you could always add a few screws into the wall maybe leave a couple of books off where you want to attach it to the wall and then attach those books at the very end once it is up.
10/16/12 – 7:09 pm
Gina
Is it comfortable if you want to lean against while sitting up in bed?
10/16/12 – 8:44 pm
Natalie
Oh the possibilities stemming from this idea. A kids headboard perhaps with children’s illustrated books.
10/16/12 – 2:44 am
Marie
What a waste of books. Books are sources of knowledge and to be nailed to a board so no one can read them is a shame. Use a bookshelf as headboard but don’t ruin the books.
10/16/12 – 3:15 am
Kassandra
cute idea Natalie. If you could find kids books that has the same colour schemes it would look even more adorable.
10/16/12 – 3:45 am
Kassandra
Half of them are in languages I can’t read, most were bought for 25c and the reference books are well out of date. But I did find a few books from the 20′s that are now sitting on my bookshelf because like you say, they were simply to beautiful to not be able to flick through. So I don’t think it was a wast at all, more of a saving of books if anything.
10/16/12 – 3:48 am
Emma
Don’t you tear the pages when you lean up against it to, say, read in bed? Seems like it wouldn’t stand up very well.
10/16/12 – 3:10 pm
Laura
I would love to try this with old comic annuals!
10/16/12 – 3:46 pm
Ron Heard
Oh, Kassandra,
I knew you were in sooooo much trouble when you mentioned nailing and gluing books. … The confirmed bibliophiles would be lighting torches and heating tar all over town. But, I like the concept, and I will take the sacrilege one giant leap forward. I have been collecting old books on religion (as opposed to old religious books) and have quite a number. (I have been fascinated by the human need for religious guidance…) Nailing them to a board would be soooo deliciously poetic, and I will have the double whammy of sleeping soundly beneath the protection of so much religious thought and expended energy!
Thank you for the wonderful idea and suggestion, but keep your head under your pillows for a while.
10/16/12 – 5:46 pm
MackenziLee
This is so unbelievably awesome, but how did you mount it on your wall? My landlord won’t let me drill holes. Any other ideas for how to make it work without screws?
10/16/12 – 7:48 pm
Makeup tips
Awaiting more posts!
10/16/12 – 9:56 pm
Delaney
As an avid reader, I absolutely love this! Thanks so much for sharing!
10/16/12 – 10:14 pm
Kassandra
Hey Emma, The pages of the bottom row of books are stuck down extra well so they dont catch when you prop up the pillows agains them :)
10/16/12 – 11:53 pm
Kassandra
my bedbase holds up the whole headboard – if you think your bed base won’t hold it up you could try attaching it to the bed for extra support
10/16/12 – 11:56 pm
Zara Tretyakova
Great post, I admire the writing style :) A little off topic here but what theme are you using? Looks pretty cool.
10/16/12 – 4:47 pm
Kassandra
Thank you Zara :) and as for the theme its one I created
10/16/12 – 5:09 pm
Vitaly Izmailova
That’s really interesting. Thanks for posting all the great information! Had never thought of it all that way before.
10/16/12 – 12:33 am
Helen
What happens when one props pillows up against it to sit up and read in bed? Probably not possible to read in bed anymore. In my opinion not a very practical idea, but certainly creative.
10/16/12 – 12:36 pm
Hermoine
This is a great idea! But, I’m concerned about dust and those tiny book worms. Any ideas how to keep the dust and tiny book worms away?
10/16/12 – 2:14 pm
Books in Bed « David Bjoerling Jensen
[...] here for directions on how to make your [...]
10/16/12 – 3:52 pm
Amy
Love this! Very creative idea for an old book lover like me!
10/16/12 – 5:59 pm
Rose from Fine Craft Guild .com
ABSOLUTELY fabulous! We will feature you this month!
10/16/12 – 7:04 pm
Megan
This is lovely! I may have to forgo the patina of older books though and do what I can with new ones. I’m allergic to dust/mold of old books! I used to have to do any library research in nurse gloves and pray I wasn’t stupid enough to rub my eyes.
I may try some dying treatment with tea. If you’re interested I can let you know about the results.
Cheers!
10/16/12 – 1:58 pm
Marion
I love this idea – what would happen if you used a clear shellac to cover the
books to give them a clear coat. It would get rid the problem of pages ripping,
and make it easier to dust. Just not sure what it would do to the pages.
Any ideas?
10/16/12 – 1:19 pm
mariela
Muy util
10/16/12 – 7:47 pm
Fátima Regina da Silva
I love it!
10/16/12 – 10:35 pm
maria malakellis
nice idea love how you have teamed it up with the suck uk pendant light…
10/16/12 – 11:54 pm
Mat
I gave your idea a try last night and I think it turned out nice. Used an old set of encyclopedias, set of children’s books and some old medical dictionaries. It was fun finding specific pages that related to my wife and I in some way. Here’s my Flickr page with the result.
10/16/12 – 12:08 am
Bedtime stories « OLIVIER FRANCHETEAU Styles & co
[...] Utzinger a conçu cette ingénieuse installation en guise de tête de lit, c’est sur son blog. De quoi relooker complètement votre chambre en lui donnant une touche résolument littéraire. [...]
10/16/12 – 8:38 am
Susan
Great idea – for anyone else looking to do this head to your local library. Most of them sell their old books for less than $1 a piece, some as low as $0.25 and not only are you getting some books for your project, but you help support the library programs.
10/16/12 – 1:36 pm
joe
use screws
10/16/12 – 9:19 pm
DIY book headboard | Husligheter – inredning och design som blogg.
[...] för en sänggavel som garanterat blir både en prydnad och en snackis. Instruktioner finns hos Design Every Day, och hade jag inte precis byggt en annan typ av DIY-sänggavel så hade jag snott den här idén [...]
10/16/12 – 9:30 am
DIY Book Headboard! WHAT?!?! – Blushing Belles
[...] I’m in love…. For the full tutorial (which is so easy it’s sick) check out Design Every Day! I wonder if my husband will let me do [...]
10/16/12 – 3:55 pm
Jeannine
This is a clever idea. Thanks for sharing
10/16/12 – 12:53 am
Emma
Omg *drool* I love this! So cool
10/16/12 – 11:06 pm
joyce
LOVE IT!! I am stealing your idea for two twin beds. I want to do them with children’s books. I am thinking colorful illustrated pages would look good., and they would mount flatter, easier to install and switch out when the pages get damaged or dirtied; and glossy pages might be easier to dust. I also thought buying a series of books that all come in the same size.
But if I am to do it for myself, I love the variety of colors of pages and thickness that you have done here. Bravo!!
10/16/12 – 5:15 pm
Late Wednesday Link Love: Design Blogs « The Airloom
[...] this is a day late. I’ve haven’t been sleeping on the job (in the bed above from Design Every Day) but I wanted to make sure you all saw my post about Alex Nagle and the work he is doing for The [...]
10/16/12 – 10:46 pm
Killing your darlings » SÄNGGAVEL FÖR EN BOKMAL – UNDERBARA IDE.
[...] gamla böcker,hammare och spik är allt som behövs för en sänggavel. Instruktioner finns hos Design Every Day, Bara fantasin som sätter gränser. Underbara ide. Med sol/Åsa Bilder via Design [...]
10/16/12 – 5:48 am
6 Unique DIY Headboard Ideas
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10/16/12 – 9:00 am
Katherine
I am crazy about the book headboard!!! I love to read, but the only time I get to read is at night. This headboard is my dream board!! The only drawback is I love books and It would be like hurting a good friend to nail all thoes wonderful books to the wall. Thanks for sush an inspiring idea!
10/16/12 – 10:34 am
Simone Martins
wonderful!
10/16/12 – 9:57 pm
Linda DeCristofaro
I saw this picture on facebook and had so many questions – which have now been answered! I love this and plan to do a smaller version of this in my office. Great job!
10/16/12 – 1:43 pm
Inspire Me Heather
Wow, that’s too cool and I love how you put together the post, very well done! I’ve got this linked to my DIY headboards post too today, for inspiration!
10/16/12 – 2:07 pm
Christopher Liveoak
Hi…
[...]move making use of your tips on those things i could truthfully not need had the opportunity to manage[...]…
10/16/12 – 4:13 am
Reseller baju bayi
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10/16/12 – 4:00 pm
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10/16/12 – 4:28 am
Reseller baju bayi
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10/16/12 – 4:35 am
הרפובליקה הספרותית » הדפדפן 1112: הלינקים השווים לחודש נובמבר
[...] רוצים לבנות לעצמכם ראש מיטה עשוי מספרים? ההדרכה הבאה בבלוג Design Every day מעוררת השראה וגם מפורטת [...]
10/16/12 – 10:20 pm
nothing is impossible + links. | Love Without Handles
[...] wonderful is this headboard made of [...]
10/16/12 – 7:39 am
Повери съня си в прегръдките на книгите | Eitaka.com
[...] предложение от designeverydayblog.com! Ако обожавате аромата на старите книги, ако той [...]
10/16/12 – 3:07 pm
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[...] Design Every Day: DIY Book Headboard [...]
10/16/12 – 7:47 pm
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10/16/12 – 1:28 pm
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[...] -Cabeceira feita com livros, com tutorial no Design Every Day [...]
10/16/12 – 8:40 pm
Cabecero de cama hecho con libros | Soovil
[...] necesitas instrucciones detalladas o más fotografías, visita Design Every Day, el site deKasandra, la creadora de esta magnífica labor. Fuente: decoratrucos.es printvar [...]
10/16/12 – 3:57 pm
Jenny
Hi Kassandra, This is such an amazing idea!! This is exactly what I was looking for, and I can’t wait to get started and make my own. I’m curious to know what type of materials you bought, in terms of the type of wood particularly. I’m also assuming the sizing of each book matters. Did you buy the books all based on the same dimensions? Carpentry is not my strong suit at all, so any extra tips or advice would be terrific. Thanks!!
10/16/12 – 12:53 am
Kassandra
Hi Jenny,
I was on a budget so when we went to the hardware store we chose the cheapest large pieces of wood that were still thick enough to stand without warping… you can always just ask the staff and they can point you in the right direction! When buying the books you just want to find as many that are the same height as possible (width and thickness doesn’t matter as much)… the trickiest but most fun part is laying out the books… it is a little like a jigsaw puzzle! Good luck and I would love to see photos when you done
10/16/12 – 6:12 am
chantal
awesome.
10/16/12 – 10:57 am
Angelica
I absolutely adore this…sharing my love of books and sleeping in one LOL
10/16/12 – 4:32 pm
Mary Herrnstein
this is so totally amazing…I want it too!!!
10/16/12 – 5:15 am
Something from Nothing: 5 DIY Headboards | Nashville Real Estate | Nashville MLS
[...] 3) Books. This headboard is made entirely of books found at a thrift store. They’ve been hammered onto a couple pieces of plywood that have been cut to size and hung over the bed. See the step by step here. [...]
10/16/12 – 9:07 pm
Friday Fav’s « This, That and the Other Thang
[...] DYI: Book Headboard. For those times when I am too lazy to get out of bed to get another book. HOW [...]
10/16/12 – 10:20 pm
Jill G. Colvin
I work at the local library and we receive donations of books all the time – too many to process and put to good use. Furthermore, those “yellow” pages are really a fungus that attacks books and will spread through an entire collection. All of this to say some books just need to be cast aside…..This is a great use for cast-offs and I LOVE the idea for a children’s headboard.
10/16/12 – 1:26 am
letizia
E’ bellissima
10/16/12 – 6:04 pm
Inspiration Tête de lit | Tata Cousette
[...] bois et à mon avis plus simple à construire, elle nous explique toutes les étapes sur son blog Design Every Day [...]
10/16/12 – 10:17 pm
Ithunn
Fantastic! I am circulating this project among my creative writing circle friends and am going to do it once I moive into my new home with my fiancée. Thank you for sharing this and for the detailed instructions!
Love from a foggy Milan, Italy
10/16/12 – 10:09 am
EIRIENT DIY
[...] Ecco un modo per riutilizzare i vecchi libri che non entrano più nel tuo scaffale! Photo: Kassandra of Design Every Day Forse non piacerà molto agli amanti dei libri, ma questa idea Do It Yourself di Kassandra è [...]
10/16/12 – 11:58 am
Inge
It looks wonderful!
10/16/12 – 4:43 pm
Wendy W
This is fabulous. I found you from the A Pair and a Spare fashion blog. You could do this in a child’s room with kid’s books, and to add more color in an adult room you could use art books, which with patience you should be able to find cheaply in thrift stores.
10/16/12 – 10:34 pm
DIY headboard for the bed made of old books | My desired home
[...] info in designeverydayblog.com Posts related to DIY headboard for the bed made of old booksAn igloo made of books by Miler [...]
10/16/12 – 5:14 pm
DIY Book Headboard | Craziest Gadgets
[...] as a wall decoration for a library or other room, it doesn’t have to be a headboard. (via design every day)Sharing is cool.ra1-pw-alone-button, .ra1-pw-button-small { padding-right: 0px !important; } [...]
10/16/12 – 11:00 pm
Decorator in a Box
[...] a book I thought we could look at a different use for old ones. This d.i.y book headboard from Design Every Day is brilliant. The possibilities are endless. It would work really well in a children’s room [...]
10/16/12 – 3:27 pm
DIY HOME: CREATIVE HEADBOARDS « a pair & a spare
[...] here, here, here, here, here, [...]
10/16/12 – 7:54 am
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[...] formas más fáciles de conseguir cabeceros de cama tan originales, versátiles y vistosos. En Design Every Day, hemos encontrado el proceso para poder construir uno. 5. PAPEL Quizás no es el material a [...]
10/16/12 – 12:29 pm
mary hooten
genius
10/16/12 – 5:31 pm
Za kraj tjedna… | Dizajniram
[...] Uradi sam: uzglavlje od knjiga. [...]
10/16/12 – 4:51 pm
frAn
fantastic idea on it own
even more do for us bookwormd!!’
thanks
10/16/12 – 6:51 am
DIY : book headboard | Recyclart
[...] ++ From Design every day [...]
10/16/12 – 7:00 am
Boklig sänggavel | Bokbabbel
[...] Lite kvar i semestermoden ännu känns det som, vad tycks om den här bokliga sänggaveln? Jag tänker mig att man antingen sover som en prinsessa där, eller så vakar man onödigt länge när man försöker läsa de fastspikade böckerna. Bild och instruktioner ifall ni vill försöka er på något liknande finns här. [...]
10/16/12 – 8:03 am
DIY : book headboard
[...] ++ From Design every day [...]
10/16/12 – 11:38 am
Peri
This is a wonderful Idea I really can not wait to try this.
10/16/12 – 6:53 pm
Dora
I had to share this unique blog post, “DIY Book Headboard / Design Every Day” with my own buddies on facebook.
Ionly just planned to spread ur very good posting!
Thanks a lot, Christy
Dora recently posted…Dora
10/16/12 – 8:08 pm
50 Things to do with Old Books | Gulf Coast Inspired
[...] imagination, look through a keyhole, make a broom, make a diorama, make a friend, make a memorial, make a headboard, make a proposal, make a vase, make an impression, make some origami, paint a picture, plant a [...]
10/16/12 – 5:13 am
CHERIE DILLMAN
Do you read me?
10/16/12 – 2:10 am
Kris Black
no smoking in bed
10/16/12 – 2:18 pm
Julie Kertesz
Love the picture! But love too much the books to clue them: no more possible to.read then.
10/16/12 – 7:51 am
本をあしらったヘッドボードをDIYで【DIY Book Headboard / Design Every Day】 marginalia.jp：古本市・古書・本の買取・読書・読書グッズの情報サイト
[...] DIY Book Headboard / Design Every Dayhttp://www.designeverydayblog.com/diy-book-headboard/ [...]
10/16/12 – 12:51 pm
15 Creative DIY Projects Featuring Recycled Old Books
[...] If you want your bedroom to have an eye-catching and original headboard, then this would be a great way of doing it. You’ll have to start with a simple wooden headboard and a bunch of books, after you’ve arranged them the way you like it, start putting nails into the books to attach them to the headboard and to keep them open. Cover the whole headboard with books.{found on designeverydayblog}. [...]
10/16/12 – 12:20 pm
Katie
I love this idea and I’m seriously thinking about making it too. Thank you for posting it. I think I’m going to add a little twist to mine. Check out my idea http://wp.me/p2upe1-pQ
10/16/12 – 7:27 pm
Stelios
Vb
10/16/12 – 10:15 am
lightiningeyes
I thought of an extra step that can make this a more finished and seamless project – paint the wood base the same color as the wall it is mounted on!
10/16/12 – 7:33 pm
Pins I’m Loving This Week: March 1-7 | Dream Till Green
[...] empty wall I would love to make something like this. That also gets me thinking about making this book headboard, but then doing a painting on it like this. What do you [...]
10/16/12 – 4:34 am
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[...] http://www.designeverydayblog.com [...]
10/16/12 – 3:01 am
Guest Post: Inspiring Recycled Book Furniture | Recycled Reads Blog
[...] Book Headboard – This first design is one I really love. It is so simple to make also. All you need is some plywood, some nails, and of course some hard backed books. You want the books to all be about the same size for a uniform look. Just cut the plywood into the right size and shape for your headboard and then make a mark where the mattress hits. Above that mark lay out your books, open, and see which layout works the best to cover the whole area. Once you have them lined up just nail them on and cover up the nails by using double sided tape for the cover page. A great headboard in no time at all! [...]
10/16/12 – 6:51 pm
Pins I’m Loving This Week: April 1-5 | Dream Till Green
[...] I love this secret shelf on the side. I think it will be ingenious to have this with this headboard I posted about earlier. [...]
10/16/12 – 1:12 pm
8 cabeceros caseros
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10/16/12 – 3:00 pm
Candice
Greetings! I featured this tutorial some time last year and an good friend of mine actually made it. Her home was just featured on Apartment Therapy … I thought you might like to see it:
http://www.refabdiaries.com/2013/04/repurpose-book-loving-diyers-decorate.html
Candice recently posted…Repurpose: Book-loving DIY’ers decorate …
10/16/12 – 4:45 pm
Kassandra
Thank you so much for sharing this, totally made my day!
10/16/12 – 5:34 pm
Book Fetish: LXX
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10/16/12 – 3:30 pm
INTERIOR JUNKIE » DIY boeken als bedframe
[...] Bekijk de volledige DIY op de site van Design Every Day. [...]
10/16/12 – 10:02 am
24 DIY con un libro como protagonista | Cosas Molonas | Blog de Inspiración & DIY |
[...] 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / [...]
10/16/12 – 6:02 am
Annelie
such a great idea!
10/16/12 – 6:49 am
julie mack
As a used Book seller, I can tell you that if you use outdated books for this project, it is ok. Not every book is valuable or even useful. As for bugs, if you are paranoid about them, bake your books for ah hour in a 250-300 degree oven. Do NOT bake them any higher than that. Paper combusts at 415 degrees F. The books will dry out. mold and mildew will die and little bugs too. You could also freeze them for 24 hours if you have room in your freezer. I love this project, I have a lot of books with bad spine damage this would be good for. Also there are a lot of books out there like encyclopedias and farmers almanacs that are almost free. Love this Project. Trying to convince technohubby that it is just that cool, that we need to do this.
10/16/12 – 7:39 pm
Nicole
OMG, this is such a creative idea.
Nicole recently posted…View All Headboards For Beds
10/16/12 – 10:57 am
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10/16/12 – 8:58 am
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10/16/12 – 6:13 pm