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DIY/ DIFY: 54 Eco-Friendly Bookends

August 18, 2015 Carolyn Raskauskas
1.  Shell bookends  from  Caprock Vintage   2.  Bowling pin  by  Luncheonette Vintage   3.  Globe bookends  by  Cartographics  

1. Shell bookends from Caprock Vintage 
2. Bowling pin by Luncheonette Vintage 
3. Globe bookends by Cartographics 

As a closet nerd, I have many paper-bound books.  But as an artist and visual merchandiser, a messy bookcase gives me borderline-intense anxiety.  My home library contains many (Ok, mostly) books with brightly-multi-colored-eye-catching-neon spines (because I do judge books by their covers-- literally, not metaphorically), but looking at the books displayed all together in disarray stressed me out and makes me feel like I'm at an underground rave in 1980s London.

4.  Terrarium  by  BeastOfSlumber  // 5.  Vintage bookends  by  IronCharlie  // 6.  Bear bookends  by  EclecticForest   // 7  .  Vintage figurine bookend  from  WhatNotsToLove  // 8.  Vintage bookends  from  TheVintageDecorator   // 9.  Mason jar terrarium  by  DoodleBirdie

4. Terrarium by BeastOfSlumber // 5. Vintage bookends by IronCharlie // 6. Bear bookends by EclecticForest  // 7. Vintage figurine bookend from WhatNotsToLove // 8. Vintage bookends from TheVintageDecorator  // 9. Mason jar terrarium by DoodleBirdie

So, in order to maintain my sanity and prevent my guests from seizing upon entering my home, an organized bookcase is one of my home decorating musts.  But how's a superficial book buyer like myself supposed to display her psychedelic collection?

10.  Wood slice vase  by  TheRusticNature   11.  Vintage dog bookends  from  vintagearcheology

10. Wood slice vase by TheRusticNature 
11. Vintage dog bookends from vintagearcheology

The old school's old faithful Dewey Decimal system leaves your shelves looking more A Beautiful Mind than HouseBeautiful, and the new school's collect-by-color method is only realistic for home decorating magazine's photo shoots or blogger's well-styled "casual lifestyle" Instagram pics (no one's real-life home library only contains Mark Twain anthologies and Encyclopedia Britannica's from 1992-- even I'm not that nerdy).  

12.  Moose bookends  by  EclecticForest   // 13.  Felt plant holders  by  theYarnKitchen

12. Moose bookends by EclecticForest  // 13. Felt plant holders by theYarnKitchen

Move over, Dewey, there's a new librarian in town...

To calm the chaos of my colorful collection, I first break up the collection into a few book groups, and then spread them out across a few shelves.  I display some stacks horizontally and some vertically, organizing the books by height with the tallest closest to the wall (check out this pictorial for inspiration).

14.  Beach terrarium  by  TheFreeFolk    15.  Candle centerpieces  by  PartySpin

14. Beach terrarium by TheFreeFolk  
15. Candle centerpieces by PartySpin

Then, to prevent my bookcase from looking like a literary clown car, I use neutral or mono-colored bookends that match my decor to desaturate the blindingly bright book covers, such as a jar filled with shells, marbles, or monochromatic sea glass.  This is also a great way to integrate the random things you collect into your decor, and will also camouflage massive collections so you don't look like a hoarder.

16.  Vintage ship bookends  from  BeachLaneVintage  //17.  Vintage jar  by  StateStreetVintage  //18.  Rope doorstop  by  AlaskaRugCompany  // 19  .  Shell bookends  from  bluebutterflyvintage  // 20.  Cast iron anchor  by  ShabbyChicCharm  // 21.  Photograph  by  dullbluelight

16. Vintage ship bookends from BeachLaneVintage //17. Vintage jar by StateStreetVintage //18. Rope doorstop by AlaskaRugCompany // 19. Shell bookends from bluebutterflyvintage // 20. Cast iron anchor by ShabbyChicCharm // 21. Photograph by dullbluelight

But don't think of bookends just as a tool to keep your books in place-- think of them as an opportunity.  A way to display yourself on your shelf.  These few inches of shelf space are a canvas upon which you have the freedom to paint a portrait of yourself-- your best self-- and share it with the world!

22.  Hanging terrarium  by  MyLittlePlants   // 23.   Blue Agate gemstone bookends  by  Lemesto  // 24.  Vintage wood shoes  from  simplychi   // 25.  Painted butterfly stone  by  Fantasiedipietra  

22. Hanging terrarium by MyLittlePlants  // 23.  Blue Agate gemstone bookends by Lemesto // 24. Vintage wood shoes from simplychi  // 25. Painted butterfly stone by Fantasiedipietra 

I encourage you to take advantage of this chance, this moment!, and utilize both the left AND the right side of the book stack as an outlet for your dreams, a window to your soul.  You are the artist and these are your tools.

26.  Lightbulb bookends  by  Worley's Lighting  //27.  Camera bookends  by  Light And Time Art  //28.  Record bookends  by  WhenTheMusicsOver  // 29  .  Bookends  by  Hobart Collectables  // 30.  Owl bookends  by  Scottie In A Canoe  // 31.  Jax bookend  by  Urban Trading Post

26. Lightbulb bookends by Worley's Lighting //27. Camera bookends by Light And Time Art //28. Record bookends by WhenTheMusicsOver // 29. Bookends by Hobart Collectables // 30. Owl bookends by Scottie In A Canoe // 31. Jax bookend by Urban Trading Post

Use your bookends as a means to give roommates, dinner party guests, potential suitors, and home insurance inspectors a glimpse of who you are, what you do, what you love, and who you want to be.  Don't let this expressi-tunity (opportunity to express yourself) dry up like a raisin in the sun!

32.  Gold dipped vases  by  NellieFellow  //33.  Animal figurines  by  WhiteFauxTaxidermy  // 34.  Book collection  from  StevesBookDecor  //   35.  Elephant planter  by  PlantandColor  // 36.  Pineapple bookends  from  HarpersFlea  // 37.  Drapes  by  TheFabricAffair

32. Gold dipped vases by NellieFellow //33. Animal figurines by WhiteFauxTaxidermy // 34. Book collection from StevesBookDecor // 35. Elephant planter by PlantandColor // 36. Pineapple bookends from HarpersFlea // 37. Drapes by TheFabricAffair

OK so I got a little carried away there.  Bookends are just a tool to prevent your books from falling down, but they can still look cool (and make you look cool) while doing it.  

38.  Vintage eagle bookends  from  genrestoration  // 39.  Buddha figurine  by  nashpop  //40.  Crystal bookends  by  EarthSeaWarrior  // 41  .  Gun bookends  by  Theshabbyshak  // 42.  Vintage duck figurines  from  DelightfullyDutch  // 43.  Geometric glass terrarium  by  Waen

38. Vintage eagle bookends from genrestoration // 39. Buddha figurine by nashpop //40. Crystal bookends by EarthSeaWarrior // 41. Gun bookends by Theshabbyshak // 42. Vintage duck figurines from DelightfullyDutch // 43. Geometric glass terrarium by Waen

What can you use as a bookend, my friend?  Anything heavy, really.  The figurines we made in this blog post would make epic bookends.  Just paint a vintage sculpture, bust, figurine or toy and bright color and pop them on your shelf for an easy and awesome DIY.  

44.  Upcycled figurine  by  nashpop  // 45.  Pop Art bookend  by  FancyBrick  // 46.  Figurine bookends  by  nashpop   

44. Upcycled figurine by nashpop // 45. Pop Art bookend by FancyBrick // 46. Figurine bookends by nashpop 

When I was a kid, my friends and I decorated bricks and gave them to each other as gifts.  I know what you're thinking: Who does that?  Who gives a brick as a gift? Were you a street rat friend of Disney's Aladdin when you were a kid?  And those are all valid questions.  At least until you see this super awesome hand painted pop art bookend brick by FancyBrick... Actually, no, the questions are still valid when directed at me because our bricks weren't nearly are cool as FancyBrick's...  

47.  Upcycled mermaids  by   SeasationCreations   // 48.   Anchor bookends  from    porchandparlor     // 49.  Pineapple bookends  from   JudysJunktion   // 50.  Giraffe figurine bookends  by   thegoldenlittles

47. Upcycled mermaids by SeasationCreations // 48. Anchor bookends from porchandparlor // 49. Pineapple bookends from JudysJunktion // 50. Giraffe figurine bookends by thegoldenlittles

51.  Tennis racket bookend  from  MarketHome   52.  Retro bowling trophy  from  aHintOfMUSTARD

51. Tennis racket bookend from MarketHome 
52. Retro bowling trophy from aHintOfMUSTARD

Trophies are a great way to keep your books in line. Plus they'll show those potential suiters that you're both brains and body AKA you're the total package.

Athletes and Math-leates can use their own trophies or if love the look but prefer not to break a sweat, you can display vintage trophies, like these ones I found on Etsy. 

53.  Chestnut horse bookends  by  Equine by Lauren Radvansky   54.  Horse head bookends  by  Equine by Lauren Radvansky

53. Chestnut horse bookends by Equine by Lauren Radvansky 
54. Horse head bookends by Equine by Lauren Radvansky

I grew up in a barn, so I especially love these horse-y bookends by Equine by Lauren Radvansky.  

Lauren uses Breyer Horse figurines (a must-have for any pony-loving kid. Misty of Chincoteague was my fav) to make all kinds of cool things., like book ends, coat racks, and jewelry organizers.


Vintage Archeology  *  Haven Vintage  *  Rue de Louves  Susantique  *  Timbo Decor  *  UKA Mobile  *  Crol & Co  

DesignSea on Pinterest 
DesignSea on Etsy

When a flamingo looses a feather, the feather looses it's color.  When a bald eagle looses a feather on one wing, it looses the matching feather on the other wing so the bird will remain balanced.  


http://www.designseahandmade.com/shop-personalized-bracelet-sets-83
Source: etsy.com
In DIY, Eco-Friendly, Etsy, Handmade, Home Decor, vintage Tags diy bookends, ecofriendly home decor, home decorating, interior design, green living
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