How to Wrap Books for Decor: Paper, Linen and Kraft

To wrap books for decor, make a removable jacket, just like a school book cover. Cut paper or fabric a few inches larger than the open book, fold it over the top and bottom edges, wrap it around the covers and tuck the flaps inside. Nothing sticks to the book itself. Wrapped books give a calm, uniform, title-free look; the trade-off is time and lost spine texture.

Below: materials, three methods (paper jacket, linen wrap and kraft with stamped spines), styling wrapped books with real spines, a note on protecting books, and when buying books already in your color is simpler.

Materials

• Paper: kraft paper, cream or white drawing paper, linen-textured paper or sheet music
• Fabric (optional): lightweight linen or cotton, ironed
• A bone folder or the back of a butter knife for crisp creases
• A ruler and pencil
• Scissors or a craft knife and cutting mat
• Double-sided tape for paper-to-paper joins only, never on the book
• Optional: rubber stamps, a gold paint pen or printed labels for spines

A note on protecting books

The Library of Congress advises not using self-adhesive tape, glue or rubber bands on books, and notes that even tape labeled "archival" can cause the same damage as other self-adhesive tape (Library of Congress). So: - don't wrap valuable, rare or sentimental books, - keep tape on the paper or fabric only, - choose inexpensive books you're happy to use as decor.

Method 1: The paper jacket (no glue)

1. Cut the paper. Open the book flat. Cut paper about 2 inches taller than the book and wide enough to wrap both covers and the spine with about 3 inches extra on each side.
2. Fold the top and bottom. Fold the top and bottom edges of the paper so the paper's height matches the book exactly. Crease firmly.
3. Center the spine. Lay the book on the folded paper with the spine centered.
4. Wrap the front. Fold the paper around the front cover and crease along the edge. Tuck the flap inside the front cover.
5. Wrap the back. Close the book to make sure the jacket isn't too tight, then fold and tuck the back flap.
6. Crease the spine edges with a bone folder for crisp lines.

The jacket slides off when you want the original cover back.

Method 2: The linen wrap

Fabric gives a soft, textured look. 1. Iron the fabric smooth. 2. Back it with paper (optional): attach thin paper to the back of the fabric with double-sided tape or spray adhesive, away from the book, to make it hold creases. 3. Cut and fold exactly as for the paper jacket, with an extra half inch on each fold to hide raw edges. 4. Fold raw edges under before tucking the flaps. 5. Crease firmly at the spine. Not sure which colors suit the room? The palette quiz suggests a mix in about a minute.

Linen-wrapped books look calm on minimal shelves and in neutral rooms.

Method 3: Kraft paper with stamped spines

1. Make paper jackets from kraft paper (Method 1).
2. Stamp or write on the spine with a stamp set or gold paint pen: a single word, a number or a simple line.
3. Vary the spine designs slightly so the set looks collected.

Kraft-wrapped books suit farmhouse shelves and holiday displays. For ideas, see Christmas book decor ideas.

Making faux books as props

"How to make fake book covers" and "fake books for decoration" are common searches, usually for props. Simple faux books can be made from foam or cardboard blocks wrapped like Method 1. They're light and useful for very high shelves, events or props, but they won't look real up close. For a comparison, see fake vs. real decorative books. To see how many books a shelf holds, try the bookshelf calculator.

Styling wrapped books

• Mix wrapped and real spines. A shelf of only wrapped books can look staged. A run of real cream spines with a few wrapped books in front of them looks layered.
• Stack them. Wrapped books make neat horizontal stacks under a vase or bowl.
• Repeat the wrap color in another object on the shelf.
• Keep wraps clean. Paper and linen pick up marks; keep them out of busy hands' reach.

Pair cream-wrapped books with real cream spines from Dunes, or black-wrapped books with charcoal spines from Storm, and the two blend together. See white books for decor for styling white and cream spines.

Wrap ideas by style and season

• Minimal: cream or white paper, no spine text, stacked in threes.
• Farmhouse: kraft paper with a stamped number or single word, tied with jute.
• Coastal: pale blue or white linen with a thin navy stripe painted on the spine.
• Holiday: kraft or sheet music, tied with red ribbon or twine and a sprig of greenery.
• Wedding: cream linen with gold-pen initials or table numbers on the spines. See vintage books for wedding decor.
• Library look: dark paper (navy, deep green or black) with a gold paint-pen band near the top and bottom of each spine.

Getting crisp, professional-looking wraps

• Measure each book. Even books that look the same size usually differ slightly.
• Crease before you wrap. Pre-folding the top and bottom edges makes the jacket fit snugly.
• Use a bone folder along every edge.
• Keep grain consistent. Cut all pieces in the same direction on patterned or textured paper so the look matches across the set.
• Line up spine text at the same height on every book in a set.

Wrapped vs. real spines

When to skip the DIY

Wrapping a few books for a holiday mantel is a fun afternoon. Wrapping several feet for a whole bookcase is a big project. If you want a single color across many shelves, books already in that spine color give the look without the wrapping, and keep their cloth texture. Our real hardcover lots are sorted by spine color, about 10-12 books per foot: - cream and ivory (Dunes), - tan and soft brown (Driftwood), - black and charcoal (Storm).

A five-book stack is $39.99, 1 foot is $69.99 and 2 feet is $129.99, with free shipping to the continental U.S.

Common mistakes

• Tape on the book. Keep tape on the wrap only.
• Wrapping too tight. The book should still close fully.
• Thin paper. It tears and shows the cover through.
• Wrapping valuable books. Use inexpensive ones.
• Damp rooms. Paper wraps can cockle; keep books in a dry room, around the 30 to 55 percent relative humidity the Library of Congress suggests.

Books for wrapping or for shelves

Start with real hardcovers in your palette from our decorative books shop, or fill whole bookcases by length on our books by the foot page.

Frequently asked questions