How To: Make A Book Headboard

The other day we shared our dilemma about pruning our book collection down and what to do with the books we were getting rid of. Our options mostly consisted of passing them on to others. JessyRatFink over on Instructables has a whole other way to go...

Since we're always looking for inexpensive headboard options, we're intrigued. Not sure how comfortable you feel about destroying old books? Start with a set of outdated encyclopedias. For detailed instructions on how to do this, click here

Comments (19)

don't like the headboard much but that quilt is great...and just using all the same size squares is pretty easy. Never been as daring with color though.

posted by ec05 on August 14th 2009 at 1:16pm
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uh, uh. no. not to mention that musty book smell.

posted by cleveburg on August 14th 2009 at 1:22pm
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Do you really want to be leaning your head up against those books ... and spines? It's sorta cool how the design echos (somewhat) the patchwork quilt, but it just doesn't work overall.
Lately on AT we've seen books turned to the wall, covered by artwork, and segregated by color.
Can't we just let books be books?

posted by mirandabee on August 14th 2009 at 1:32pm
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*mock outrage*

posted by kiljoywashere on August 14th 2009 at 1:34pm
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Just because you can, does not mean that you should.

posted by Jts on August 14th 2009 at 1:34pm
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I'm going to go against the flow here and say that I actually think it's kindof cool. I could never destroy books, though, so it would have to be ones that were unreadable for some reason.

posted by saraannsmith on August 14th 2009 at 1:46pm
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after some thought, I kind of think this would cool with trapper keepers vs. torn up books

posted by ec05 on August 14th 2009 at 2:00pm
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I don't mind the idea of doing that to books, but I'm not a big fan of the look.

posted by everythingistaken on August 14th 2009 at 2:22pm
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I'm beginning to see a trend here - AT has some kind of subconscious hostility to books. Paint them, cut them, give them away, store them with the spines facing the wall, which has got to be classic....

The blocks of primary colors look pretty good though. Why not just do it with paint?

posted by JoanneM on August 14th 2009 at 2:43pm
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If nothing else, I got a really good laugh out of this.

posted by gordon on August 14th 2009 at 2:55pm
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don't forget, Joanne...covering books with brown or white paper!

posted by ec05 on August 14th 2009 at 2:59pm
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No! Stop the book torture!!!

posted by missmouse on August 14th 2009 at 4:04pm
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I think this looks nice. And surely, surely you don't love every single book out there in existence ever.

posted by Cheryl on August 14th 2009 at 4:39pm
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"And surely, surely you don't love every single book out there in existence ever."

Nope - I hated my HS Calculus & Physics Books...
....but that doesn't mean I want to sleep with them hanging over my head either!

posted by bepsf on August 14th 2009 at 7:44pm
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I like it, and trust me there are plenty of unloved books out there.

posted by heather @ dollarstorecrafts.com on August 14th 2009 at 8:23pm
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Couldn't you make it out of something else? I like the color block effect and the "home made" look. Not with books, though.

posted by kevn on August 15th 2009 at 11:56am
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i object to using books for this.

but it's also just plain cutesy cutesy. yuck. cute.

posted by cizinka31000 on August 15th 2009 at 12:44pm
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I don't care about destroying books. Working in publishing and being in school forever kind of takes the luster off most. But this is just kitschy and unattractive.

posted by slowdown on August 15th 2009 at 9:22pm
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What works in Anthropologie doesn't always translate in a home.

posted by Seaside on August 16th 2009 at 10:26am
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