How To Paint Book Covers

Not sure what to do with your old mismatched books? Paint them! I’m going to show you how to paint book covers the easy way and mix them into your home decor. 

How To Paint Book Covers

Painting book covers is not a new concept, but I wanted to try it with the chalk type paint that I recently used on my DIY kitchen table makeover. I’m convinced that you really can paint almost anything and with success I might add.

Supplies

• hard back books
• craft paint
• paint brush
• light antiquing wax
• cotton cloth

Instructions How To Paint Book Covers

The easiest way to paint a book is to open it in the middle, then flip it over with the cover and spine facing up. I picked two neutral colors an off white and a medium gray but you can pick the colors that best suit your decor.

Paint the front, back and spine with two coats of craft paint allowing it to dry between coats.

I wanted my books to have finished edges as well, that way the original color wouldn’t show when the books are stacked in different directions.

Once the book covers were completely dry, I used a dime size amount of the light antiquing wax on a lint free cloth and went over the outside covers. I allowed the wax to dry for about 30 minutes then buffed it to a soft glow. The covers now have a soft matte finish and the books look beautiful grouped together or by themselves.

Paint Tips

You can use a sponge brush or craft brush for this project. Be sure to clean your brushes and they should last a long time.

I have a few more books lined up for paint but I’m trying to decide if I want to continue the same color scheme or go with blue and white.  Maybe I’ll go with a soft gray or light blue.

Be sure to follow Thistle Key Lane on Pinterest where the inspiration is updated daily!

I have so many ideas for projects coming up and I can’t wait to share them with you. Somehow I’ll get it all done. If you have any questions about how to paint book covers, leave a comment for me. I love hearing from you!

Cheers!

©2018 How To Paint Book Covers first appeared on Thistle Key Lane.