Bookends are necessary when a shelf, table or another horizontal storage area for books does not offer side support. Trying to balance numerous books on end is nearly impossible. They end up falling over like dominoes, and they eventually end up stacked and in complete disarray. Stacked books are not stylish or neat in appearance. Bookends can solve the problem while adding unique style to the space, and they are very easy to make using items found in and around the home.
I made a pair of silver bookends for a family room shelf. They looked amazing, and they were very easy to create. I received many compliments on my homemade bookends, and I ended up making a few sets for friends. All of my bookends were completely unique, but when combined they made beautiful sets.
Creative Uses for Field Stones
While seeking creative ways to make bookends, I started looking around my garage and yard. I noticed my pile of unused field rocks, and I came up with a creative idea. I chose two field rocks about the size of a brick. I washed away all of the dirt and let them dry in the sun on sheets of newspaper. I used spray paint to transform them into chunks of silver. I waited for the first sides to dry completely, and I turned them over and coated the other sides. The silver bookends looked great in my contemporary living room, and they were an ideal choice for my open living room shelves.
Create Unique Abstract Bookends with Bricks
I decided to make another set of bookends for my bedroom, but I wanted something different and even more creative. The bedroom had gold accents, and I wanted to create something gold. Instead of spray painting another pair of rocks, I located two red bricks from my backyard shed. I did not want bookends that looked like bricks no matter what color they were. I had to come up with something even more creative. I used a hammer to knock away the corners and portions of the sides. I created modern works of art by simply tapping away the brick. When I was satisfied with the outcome I spray painted the bricks sparkling gold. They no longer looked like bricks. Instead they looked like tabletop sculptures with undefined shapes.
Creative Bookends Made from Clear Plastic Jars
I have a massive amount of cookbooks. It would take ten lifetimes to get through all of the books, but I love reading the recipes and coming up with new ideas. They were always falling over on the kitchen shelf, and I was always repositioning the set. No matter how I positioned the books, they eventually fell over. To keep them upright I came up with creative bookends that I could change and personalize. I saved two large plastic pepper ring containers, and I filled them with layers of colored aquarium gravel that coordinated with the colors in my kitchen. They were very heavy, and they worked exceptionally well to keep my library of cookbooks contained.
Source: Personal and Professional Home Design and Decorating Experience