Skip to Content

These 20+ DIY Bookends Look Great in Your Home

Keep your book collection organized while adding some flare to your bookshelves with these 20+ unique DIY bookends.

DIY Bookends - Unique ways to hold up your books

If you are an avid reader, book collector, or even video gamer you probably could use at least one good set of bookends to organize your books or games.

If you shop at high end home stores, you can purchase bookends for as much as $7,000 (Yep, a seven with three zeros).

Why? Because bookends aren’t just purchased to hold your books upright; they can also serve as beautiful, quirky, or amusing “pieces of art” to encourage conversation. And home stores know this.

If you are reading this, you are definitely like me and don’t want to spend tons of money on something that holds up your books, whether it’s decor or not. Instead, you’d like to make it yourself.

With this in mind, I’ve collected over 20 DIY bookends that not only serve their purpose but also look amazing and make you smile. They’ll also make you wonder why you didn’t think of it first!

Scroll down and check out these projects to get inspired to make your own bookends and save money – and create unique decor at the same time. Let me know which of these ideas are your favorite in the comments!

1
DIY Gold Dipped Wooden Number Bookends
www.mycreativedays.com

Painted Numbers

Looking for fun DIY bookends that don't cost a ton of money? These number bookends are easy to make (they look dipped) and make a statement wherever you place them.
Get the Tutorial
2
Learn how to make these simple, custom pineapple DIY bookends in just a few steps! The supplies are also very budget friendly.

Pretty Pineapples

Learn how to make these simple, DIY pineapple bookends in just a few steps! The supplies are also very budget friendly.
Get the Tutorial
3
sadieseasongoods.com

Berry Baskets

These bookends are made out of actual berry baskets and cute berry fabric! Because they're baskets, it's very easy to weight them down. Great for a craft room and sewing room.
Get the Tutorial
4
DIY Acrylic and gold bookends
damasklove.com

Acrylic & Gold

Inspired by some giraffe bookends that cost $365, Amber made these adorable ones at a fraction of the cost. I like them better than the originals!
Get the Tutorial
5
guitar bookends using scrap wood
www.woodshopdiaries.com

Scrap Wood

Want a quick and easy scrap wood project to kill some time and relieve some stress? Grab the tutorial for these scrap wood bookends shaped like a guitar.
Get the Tutorial
6
DIY Plaster Quotation Mark Bookends
abeautifulmess.com

Quotation Marks

These DIY plaster quotation mark bookends really stand out on the dark bookshelves. They do the job and look great.
Get the Tutorial
7
DIY picture frame bookends
Landee Anderson

DIY Picture Frame Bookends

Learn how to make picture frame bookends that completely blend into your decor! Plus you can make the frames any color you like, and put any photos you like in them (even art).
Get the Tutorial
8
Faux Concrete DIY Book Ends

Faux Concrete Letters

Create DIY faux concrete bookends using FolkArt Painted Finishes, foam, and smooth finish. These are so unique, look great, and easy to make!
Get the Tutorial
9
DIY West Elm inspired striped bookends
prettyprovidence.com

Bold Striped

Sarah created these bold striped bookends after seeing something similar for over $50 at West Elm.
Get the Tutorial
10
DIY vinyl record bookends
Beckie Farrant

Vinyl Records

All you need is a few supplies and a heat gun to make these bookends for that hard-to-buy-for hipster brother of yours. And records are so cheap you can make a truckload of them! These take just a few minutes.
Get the Tutorial
11
DIY Toy Soldier Bookends
www.makefuncreating.com

Toy Soldier

Give G.I. Joe a new purpose – holding up books! Scott has some fun illustrations for this tutorial. You need to check them out.
Get the Tutorial
12
Vintage kitchen rolling pin bookends
David Cheaney

Vintage Rolling Pins

You can make DIY bookends out of almost anything, but this vintage rolling pin version is particularly charming. Looks great in a farmhouse kitchen!
Get the Tutorial
13
Easy DIY Coral Bookends for only $2
homemadebycarmona.com

Found Coral

Turn found pieces of coral and bookends from the dollar store into these high end looking DIY bookends!
Get the Tutorial
14
confessionsofaserialdiyer.com

Goodwill Revamp

Not all bookends need to be created from scratch. Head to the Goodwill and see what you can find – then learn how to paint some old, wood bookends in a farmhouse style to go with your decor.
Get the Tutorial
15
DIY Triangle Wood Bookends
makeandtell.com

Wood Triangles

These minimalist bookends are easy to put together with a miter saw, wood glue and black acrylic paint!
Get the Tutorial
16
easy diy mountain bookends
www.thehandcraftedhaven.com

Modern Mountains

A bit of stain and paint on triangle pieces of wood gives you the illusion of mountain peaks! These DIY mountain bookends are super easy.
Get the Tutorial
17
DIY dinosaur bookends
juliemeasures.com

Plastic Dinosaurs

These DIY dinosaur bookends are made using toys. Julie added the dinosaurs to beveled wood and painted all of it one color. I love the way they turned out!
Get the Tutorial
18
www.prettyhandygirl.com

Wood Owls

Use a few pieces of scrap wood to make these cute DIY owl bookends. They would be great in any kid's bedroom!
Get the Tutorial
19
DIY bookends with organizers
www.vikalpah.com

Organizer Bins

These bookends would be great on a desk or on shelves above a desk. Just put all of your office supplies in the little bins! (Check out our desk organizers too).
Get the Tutorial
20
diy neon letter bookends
thethingsshemakes.blogspot.com

Neon Letters

Add some glow to your décor in a subtle way with these DIY neon letter bookends. Yep, these actually light up!
Get the Tutorial
21
DIY Baseball Bookends
David Cheaney

Sports Fan

Looking for an original idea for the sports fan in your life? Hit a home run with these baseball bookends that use scrap wood and Mod Podge to personalize.
Get the Tutorial
22
madincrafts.com

Quirky Head

Attach a Styrofoam head cut in half to metal bookends. Who says two heads are better than one? These quirky head bookends will definitely get questions!
Get the Tutorial
23
DIY Invisible bookends made from discarded books
abeautifulmess.com

Invisible Books

I'm not trying to trick you – there are bookends in that photo. Can't you see them? Find out how to make bookends from old books.
Get the Tutorial
24
DIY gnome bookends

Woodland Gnomes

Learn to make these cute bookends using supplies found at the craft store! Isn’t the woodland and mushroom theme so fun? Perfect for kids’ rooms.
Get the Tutorial
25
Mannequin bookends for a sewing room
thesewingloftblog.com

Burlap Mannequin

Perfect for a sewing room, these DIY mannequin bookends would look great holding up sewing books and patterns.
Get the Tutorial
26
cactus & succulent planter bookend tutorial
lydioutloud.com

Cactus & Succulent Planters

Turn plain concrete planters into dual purpose decorations! These cactus and succulent planters double as bookends.
Get the Tutorial

Did you enjoy these DIY bookends? Then you should definitely check out these other popular book related posts here on DIY Candy:

DIY BookmarksDIY Globe ProjectsDIY Napkin HoldersHow to Display Succulents