How to Thrift Books Like a Designer
I wanted to address a topic and question I’m often asked about… thrifting books. Whether you’re searching for your next read or styling shelves at home, I’ve definitely got some tips to share when it comes to buying secondhand books! They can really get expensive when buying new, so I like to supplement my new reads, design books, or coffee table books with thrifted ones. It’s an easy, inexpensive way to create a curated collection that fits your aesthetic and preferred subject matter, when it comes to reading material. I will say, filling up a large shelf or expansive built-in takes more books than you might expect. If you’re thrifting solely to style, it may take multiple trips to thrift stores to acquire the amount of books you need. If you have the time, patience, and enjoy a good thrifting trip- then this is an awesome option!
While you’re out vintage and secondhand shopping, you may also be interested in my tips for thrifting good vintage glassware. I’ve also created a list of my tried & true thrifting tips– I hope those five easy ones are helpful. Here’s how to approach thrifting books like a designer… from what to look for to how to style them once you get home.
How to Choose the Right Books
I can almost always find an interesting or unique book at the thrift store. It’s the one section I feel is always a guarantee when secondhand shopping. Before you start browsing, think about your goal… are you collecting for reading, decorating, or both? I usually try to find books that fit both categories.
I know a lot of people turn to thrift stores to buy books solely used for styling. If that’s your goal, be sure to keep project notes with you while thrifting. What color of books are you looking for (warm tones, cool tones, all one color, etc)? What size will best fit your space, built-in, or bookcase? Having these dimensions, color palette, or even book styling inspiration images saved will make the process easier. Here’s what I consider when making my selections:
- Content matters. Choose subjects you actually enjoy: design, architecture, art, or travel always look stylish and engaging.
- Remove the jacket. Sometimes a plain or torn dust jacket hides a stunning linen or embossed cover beneath it.
- Check the condition. Look for clean, sturdy books without moisture damage or musty smells.
- Think color & proportion. Keep your palette in mind and consider where might you style this book. A mix of neutral tones or complementary colors adds balance and interest.
- Mind the price. My thrift stores typically prices books between 50 cents and three dollars-perfect for building a collection affordably.
What to Look For While Thrifting
The most fun thing about thrifting books is discovering unique finds. You never know what you’ll stumble upon: from beautiful typography, pressed florals, or notes left inside by someone else- I enjoy finding these little details that tell the story of the book’s journey. I think that’s part of the charm! Keep an eye out for these while you shop…
- Gold leaf or foil typography
- Linen, fabric, or leather covers
- Embossed text
- Unique or niche subject matter
- Signed copies or first editions
- Oversized coffee table books
Cleaning and Caring for Used Books
I’d say I’m a self proclaimed germaphobe, but buying used books or thrifted decor has never really bothered me. I do take precautions and give everything a good clean before bringing it into our home, but for the most part, I’m not freaked out by that. When it comes to selecting secondhand books, I do try to choose ones that are in good condition, don’t have a funky odor, and have been well taken care of. Here are some cleaning tips if that’s a big concern for you:
- Dust, vacuum, or wipe them off. I like to remove the jackets anyway, so those go straight to the recycling bin. Gently dust the covers and edges with a soft cloth or brush.
- Air them out. I just keep mine in the sun or in our garage for a day or two before hauling them inside to eliminate odors.
- Neutralize smells. If your thrifted books have a funky smell, you can put them in an airtight tote or container with a jar of activated charcoal, baking soda, or talcum powder. I’ve also heard of people resting a book in rice or cat litter to absorb mustiness.
- Freeze it. Place books in a sealed plastic bag and freeze for a week to kill any potential pests.
- Erase marks. A kneaded/gum eraser works wonders for removing smudges or pencil marks.
Styling Thrifted Books in Your Home
Books are one of my favorite styling tools. They bring texture, warmth, and depth to any space. Whether you’re styling a coffee table, a console, or an entire built-in, here’s how to do it thoughtfully:
- Mix orientations. Stack some books horizontally and others vertically to add movement.
- Group by color or tone. Warm hues feel cozy and layered; cool tones feel clean and collected.
- Use books as pedestals. Elevate a vase, candle, or decorative object to create dimension.
- Layer textures. Combine glossy art books with soft linen-bound novels for balance.
- Think in threes. Arrange small clusters of books for a visually pleasing composition.
FAQs
Check local spots that organize by genre or size. Don’t overlook estate sales, library clearances, or flea markets- they’re full of hidden gems. I also like to bring books home when traveling- a souvenir of sorts.
Edit intentionally. Keep each vignette simple. Add decorative pauses like ceramics or framed art. Stick to a color palette or theme, like all neutrals, moody tones, or travel titles. Use repetition and negative space to make your styled shelves feel curated, not cluttered.
Look for first editions, signed copies, or publishers’ marks that indicate rarity. A quick online search of the title and edition number can reveal if you’ve stumbled on a collectible.
If you’re looking for cohesive books for styling and don’t have the time (or desire) to thrift, you can purchase curated book bundles. Books bundles are usually grouped by size, color, subject, etc. Depending on what you’re looking for, that may be an easier option for your book styling project. I found many options on Etsy and even at Pottery Barn (which was a surprise).
Mix old and new! Pair vintage books with sleek accessories, ceramics, or metal accents. The contrast between aged textures and clean lines feels intentional and elevated.
Related Posts
I talk about styling often on the blog. If you’d like to check out some past posts from the archives on that topic (that are more design focused), here are some good posts to reference…
- 10 Easy Fall Styling Ideas Using What You Already Own
- The Best Amazon Vases, Vessels & Pottery for Classic Styling
- The Best Faux Fur Throw Blankets for Styling This Winter
- Ideas for Styling Crystal Table Lamps
- Design Discussion : Shelf Styling with Books
- The Best Fall Branches from Amazon (and How to Style Them)
- 10 Tips for Shelf Styling with Lots of Books
Let me know if you have any other questions about thrifting books. I did a lot of shopping to fill my built-ins. Emmett went to the thrift store with me (to push the cart and help me carry), and he was amazed at my selection process & criteria. Ha! We also found a lot of good books we’re excited to read! He ended up with a bag of his own books, which included one on cabinet making, a finance book, and a fiction book he had been wanting to read for fun.
Thrifting books is such a rewarding mix of design and discovery. So next time you’re at a thrift store, don’t skip the book aisle… it’s full of potential, personality, and maybe even your next favorite read. I hope this post was helpful. Happy thrifting, friends- may your next book find be a beautifully bound treasure that tells its own story.
Good morning! Look at you with those sneaky peeks of the office! As much as I love thrifting (and reading!), the only time I have really thrifted books was during my bestie’s son’s early childhood. I brought him a book every week for book club. I adore vintage kids’ books! The colors, the images and the stories are bananas. Children’s books often have glossy covers too-the better for surface disinfection.😉 I also had a blast one time searching for on-theme books to decorate the dessert table at a party. I think I’m realizing that I need more of a focus when looking at used books! The selection for me can seem overwhelming… Your tip for keeping notes on dimensions, palette and styling images would really help! Such a smart cookie you are. I might add the book section to my next thrift trip just to see what I spy! Thanks, as always, for the inspiration. Let’s have a lovely Wednesday, shall we?!💜
Hello, hello! I love learning about your book thrifting in the kids section. That’s something I have yet to do, but I feel like that would make an excellent gift for the littles in our life! Such a great idea, Peggi. I remember you talking about your thrifted dessert table- which sounds absolutely incredible. If I ever feel like I’m striking out at the thrift store, the book section always redeems the trip. Happy Wednesday to you, let’s definitely make it a great day. xox
I’m not mad about talking books back to back! I could chat books all day. Combine a love of reading with a love of thrifting and you have yourself a winning combination. I recently thriftedqueen a leather bound set of books on ancient alien philosophy-have you seen the show? Jeff is a huge fan and I’ll never let him live it down, but when I saw the set, (beautifully bound, gorgeous photography, perfect condition), I knew I had to bring it home. For $3 it was a steal. I also found a signed first edition of Colson Whitehead’s “The Underground Railroad” on the same trip.
I love your criteria-specifically looking for linen bound, gold foil typography and embossing. I would have never thought to look for that. There’s a female owned second hand bookstore in town-she has an entire wall of shelves organized by color; floor to ceiling! It’s a genius move on her part. I always find myself browsing the titles in a specific color section. What I’d love to know is how you organize your books? Alphabetically? By size? Topic? Genre? I love knowing how people organize their books! I may even have to stop into her shop and see what’s new. I hope you have a lovely Wednesday!
Me too, Lauren! Reading and thrifting is definitely a winning combination. Your leather-bound books sound amazing (and for $3?!), but I’ll admit- I haven’t heard of ancient alien philosophy. Now I’m intrigued! I have yet to find a first edition, but I have found some fun notes, flight tickets, and florals inside of books. Your local secondhand book store sounds incredible… that’s what dreams are made of. We have a pretty cool rare book shop here, but the prices can be pretty high. It’s great if you’re looking for a few really cool books, but for filling an entire built-in- it’s pricey. I don’t really have an organization process for my books at home. There are only a few books I read more than one, and the rest go on the shelf once I finish them. Somehow I know where every book is and what quadrant of the shelf it lives on (without an alphabetical or genre system). Emmett thinks I have memory super powers, but I think I’ve just stayed and dusted them enough to know. Haha! I mostly just stick them on the shelf wherever I think the make sense from an aesthetic perspective. I hope you also have a wonderful day! xo
*thrifted* not sure what my predictive text and spellcheck are thinking this morning. Haha!
My husband and I used to thrift books all the time when we were on a student budget. I don’t know why we stopped! I love all your tips – I’ve only ever looked for books to read, but will definitely put your tips to use next time I look for books to both read and to style!
I really enjoy it, Stephanie! Finding the big coffee table books for styling always feels like a big win. Happy hunting :)
OMG that’s genius 🤓 I never knew you could purchase books in bulk by color. Love it! Our real estate agent mentioned how she covered all her books in white paper to create a clean collage of books which I thought was interesting but thrifting books by color is brilliant and a very neat idea. I never knew Pottery Barn sold books this way. Huh! Very intriguing indeed.
You are a wealth of knowledge Sarah ☺️ Lots of awesome tips for thrifting, thank you 🙏
Wishing you a beautiful day!
Isn’t that cool? It’s much less expensive when you thrift them yourself, but it does take oodles of time- so having that resource and option is really nice. I’ve been seeing more brands add this type of product to their site. West Elm is also going it… but I guess that makes sense since Pottery Barn is their sister company. I’ve also heard of people wrapping their books in paper for a consistent color. How fun that your agent styled hers in that way! I hope you also have a beautiful day, Colleen! xox
For someone who isn’t an avid book reader, I love old beautiful libraries; rooms with styled books, etc.. So calming. Maybe it is the smell or comfortable seating. I give a lot of credit to my husband for collecting them for me to gain more of an appreciation for them. Once we took all the book jackets off his books, I liked them styled on the shelves more. My husband organizes his books by author and genre. Trust me when I say, he notices if I have removed a book to style. Ha! Speaking of unique finds, he has had more luck with finding money inside them. I believe the most is $20. I have heard a lot of older people would hide money in books in case of emergency. His grandmother would do this. His favorite place is Half Price Books. We sometimes go after eating dinner if there is one nearby. I always tell him he needs to open a bookstore & coffee shop when he retires.
Sounds like you & Emmett had good luck at your last book outing! Hope you are feeling well! Happy Thursday!
Me too, Danna! There is nothing more beautiful than shelving filled with books or a stuffed library. I love it! I’m going for that look in my home office. So cozy! Your husband’s system seems amazing… I’m not as organized. Ha! I’ve never found money in a book, but now I’m definitely going to start looking. What a fun surprise! A book treasure hunt. Funny story about grandparents hiding money… my grandma was a nurse (before retiring), and she always gave us money to keep in our vehicle in case of emergency (super sweet), but it was always a ten dollar billed rolled up in a medical urine collection cup. HAH! That always made me laugh. I’ll have to ask her if she still has those cups floating around her house. If your husband ever opens that bookstore and coffee shop, be sure to let us know- because I’m going to make a special trip to Texas to visit! How fun would that be?! I’m still resting & recovering, but am hoping to be back to work soon. Happy Tuesday! xox
Good morning! These tips are a great reminder for when I’m hunting. We have a few places in town for exactly this! My favorite is the used bookstore: jam packed aisles, shelves covering almost every inch of square footage, and the special shelf at the front with stacks of the “uniques”- it’s a wonderful place to get lost in. We also have a home store that has collections of books by color, sold in groups. That one isn’t quite as fun, but it’s a great place to go when you have a specific palette in mind. I love your cleaning tips- immensely helpful! I have quite the collection at this point, and no plans to stop looking, ha! I’m astonished that you find books for fifty cents!! California could never, lol. Ours range from $3-$5. You have me wanting to take a trip, lol. Me and books = Peggi and lamps. 🤣😂 I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday; I can’t wait to see what you do with the last bedroom in the house. Cheers to fun and exciting projects!
Yess- the used bookstore is always a hit. We like to visit those when traveling, too (then come home with a suitcase stuffed with books and overweight, ha). Ok, I can’t believe your California prices! $3-$5?! Highway robbery. Ha.