My easy coffee table decor using old books in a vintage basket adds color, texture, and personality to my living room.

My “Basket o’ Books” Coffee Table Decor

Earlier this week I posted a few pictures on Instagram which featured the coffee table/ottoman in the living room bathed in glorious fall light.

Of course many people loved the golden glow. (What’s not to love?!)

But I was also surprised by the number of comments on the book-filled basket I use as part of my coffee table display.

After all, it has held a prominent place there since late February.

I first introduced it in my post Transition From Winter to Spring With Fresh Decor and Soft Colors.

Since the basket o’ books garnered so much recent attention, though, I decided it merited a short blog post all it’s own.

So here are some tips, tricks, and inspiration for styling books in a basket to add color, texture, and personality to your coffee table all year round!

Using Baskets as Storage

First of all, let me state the obvious: baskets are great for storage!

I think pretty much everything looks better in a basket!

Food in the pantry.

Towels in the bathroom.

Fruits and veggies on the kitchen counter.

Bed linens in the closet.

And the list goes on…

So let me add to it — books on the coffee table!

Texture and Color

How many times have I talked on this blog about adding texture and color to your home?

(Oh, if I had a nickel….)

Well, here I go again.

Baskets are an easy way to add texture to a room!

They are a neutral element in a space that has a lot of pattern.

And they warm up a room full of whites, grays, or cool blues.

Books can act as a pop of accent color, a neutral, or continue a color theme you already have going in a room.

I like to use old books, whose worn covers add even more texture to a grouping.

Bonus: Many coffee table books these days come with fun patterned covers for a touch of whimsy!

PRO TIP: Unless a book has a paper jacket with great graphics (like my Monhegan book), I remove it. I prefer the graphic punch of a solid color and the texture of the cloth covers.

Choosing a Basket

Get creative and have some fun when choosing a basket!

The only caveat I would note, is that a rectangular shape obviously works better with books than a round. Otherwise, go for something that expresses your personal style!

Look for them at thrift, antique, or vintage stores.

Or, for a more modern aesthetic, check out the selection at HomeGoods, Target, or Amazon.

Don’t like the color of a basket? No problem! Just slap a coat of paint on it!

Decide whether you want a handle or no handle.

For my coffee table, I went with a small-ish antique basket with a handle and plenty of wear (or “patina” as I like to call it…).

Choosing the Books

The really fun part is selecting books to display in your basket!

I personally have a thing for old books.

I love the decorative covers.

The wear resulting from years of being handled and read.

The often whimsical titles.

And I delight in finding a heartfelt hand-written inscription on the title page.

I am always on the lookout for books when perusing an antiques or thrift store. It might be the title, cover graphics, or just the color that catches my eye. (Remember to peek under the paper jacket!)

At just a few dollars a piece, I would say that is good decorating bang for the buck!

As always, I encourage you to choose books that speak to you in some way, whether they are old or new.

Maybe it is a collection of well-read novels.

Or books about your favorite hobby or the place you live.

And there is certainly no shame in choosing books just for their color or decorative covers.

The key is to choose a variety of books that tell some kind of story about you or your home. That is what adds the personality to a space!

Pulling It All Together

Now it is time to pull your display together.

This is really the easiest part!

For me, an “unstyled” look is best.

But of course I do carefully style it…

Start by placing the books with your favorite covers on each end so they can be seen.

Then fill in with other books, placing some upright and some sideways, and facing the book spines in different directions.

If you have a book with a pretty cover you want visible, place it next to a smaller book, or one that is on it’s side. This way you get a peek of it.

Don’t line the books up perfectly — you want them to look like you just tossed them in the basket. That is the “unstyled” part!

And remember — this does not need to be a static display! You can add to it seasonally or when you bring home a new find.

For the holidays, maybe I will add in some green books to match my blue and green seasonal decor! And a velvet bow would be festive on the handle…

And on that topic, I have left my basket o’ books on the coffee table ottoman for winter, spring, summer, and now into fall. I just change out a few elements that I display with it. I love easy decor!

Other Book-Filled Baskets Around My Home

In fact, I love a book-filled basket so much, I have several around the house.

I had this big basket filled with larger books on the coffee table for a while, but finally decided it was making too much of a statement. So now I have it in another spot in the living room. I really went with a jumbled look for this basket. The wicker top hat (from an antiques show years ago) is a whimsical detail, casually tossed on top.

On the dining area hutch I have a basket filled with favorite cook books. If you don’t like the covers, make a paper jacket from wrapping paper or simple craft paper.

The books don’t have to be fancy! A painted basket full of novels (some even paperbacks!) is a fun pop of color and pattern in the bedroom.

Cozy reading nook with a book-filled faux fireplace.

For more on how I decorate with books, check out my blog post A Cozy Faux Fireplace Bedroom Reading Nook

Last Week

I had a busy week with my family visiting last week. That is why you didn’t see a blog post on Saturday.

I had such a great time with my two sisters, my dad, and his friend.

We recreated the day in Bristol from my blog post Lunch, a Lighthouse, Antiques, and Art | A Day in Bristol, Maine! Except instead of the antiques stores, we visited a couple galleries and a local crafts store.

We spent a day shopping in Rockland.

And popped by to see the artist-decorated bowls being auctioned off to benefit the local food pantry I am affiliated with. You can read all about the third annual Art Feeds auction “Artists in Action Against Food Insecurity”, view the bowls, and place a bid as part of the silent auction on the AIO website. Bidding is open now, but ends this Saturday at 5 pm. The first two Art Feeds Auctions raised a combined $56,000 to support our programs. I have a my eye on a couple of the bowls this year. They are really all so beautiful!

We enjoyed dinner out at Long Grain in Camden one night.

And of course no stay with me would be complete without a visit to McLoon’s Lobster Shack. You can read all about McLoon’s in my blog post The Best Little Lobster Shack in Maine.

On Saturday we went to a small antiques show in a nearby town.

Friday my sisters and I spent the day at the Common Ground Fair. I will be sharing all the details in this Saturday’s blog post. It is such a unique Maine event!

We also cooked some yummy meals at home, including a recipe for Just-Keeps-Getting-Better Lentil (and Kale) Salad, which Zoë shared in her newsletter In Zoe’s Kitchen last week. It was delicious! And yes, I am still enjoying the leftovers, and it just keeps getting better!

Time for me to head up to the AIO pantry. The Weekend Meals Program I volunteer with has started up again for the school year!

I will see you in just a few days!

Until then, be well!

Molly

Highlighting coastal decor and lifestyle, Maddie and Cisco, and the way life should be...

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