Your Go-To List of 16 Upcycled Book Page Wall Art Ideas for Cozy Spaces

I’ve learned as a book lover that some books stay with you forever and other fall apart in your hands after years of love, or they arrive from a thrift shop already looking like they’ve survived a flood and a dog chew. 

But instead of feeling guilty about not keeping every single book intact, I’ve started looking at them as treasures waiting for a second life.

Recently, I’ve been falling down the rabbit hole of book page wall art. 

That is, using old, damaged, or unwanted pages to create art for my walls. 

Not only is it sustainable and creative, but it also gives your space a literary charm that feels personal. 

And it’s way more unique than buying generic prints from a store.

Here are 10 upcycled book page wall art ideas I’ve been daydreaming about and plan to try in the future. 

1. Book Page Silhouette Art

This is one of those ideas that are so clever. 

You take a book page as your background, then layer a silhouette cutout on top.

It could be a famous character, a tree, or even your own profile.

It’s personal and still keeps the words visible behind the silhouette. 

I’m already imagining doing a Jane Austen silhouette over pages from Pride and Prejudice or a dark castle outline over Dracula.

How to make it:

1. Pick your book pages: Choose ones with an interesting font or yellowed vintage feel.

2. Choose your silhouette: You can draw it yourself or print one as a stencil.

3. Cut it out carefully: Use a craft knife for neat edges.

4. Glue or mount: Attach the silhouette to the page with glue or double-sided tape.

5. Frame it: A simple black or wooden frame makes the words pop.

Items you’ll need:

1. Old book pages
2. Silhouette template (print or hand-drawn)
3. Craft knife & cutting mat
4. Glue or tape
5. Frame

If you’re nervous about cutting, start with simpler shapes. 

I once tried to cut an intricate rose design without practicing first and it ended up looking like a squashed cabbage.

2. Pressed Flower Book Page Collage

Combining book pages and pressed flowers is pure magic. 

You get the romance of the printed word with the delicate beauty of nature.

As someone who spends a lot of time outdoors in spring, I love the idea of literally preserving a piece of the season on my wall.

How to make it:

1. Press your flowers: Place them between heavy books for a week or use a flower press.

2. Choose your page background: Poems or nature descriptions work beautifully.

3. Arrange your flowers: Lay them out before gluing to see what feels balanced.

4. Glue gently:  Use clear-drying glue sparingly to avoid staining the paper.

5. Seal & frame: A glass frame works best to protect the flowers from dust.

Items you’ll need:

1. Old book pages
2. Pressed flowers
3. Clear-drying glue
4. Glass frame

I plan to use flowers from places that mean something to me – like the little yellow blooms from my favorite walking path. 

That way, the art becomes a memory keeper.

3. Watercolor Over Book Pages

This is art for people who feel like real painting is intimidating. 

You use a book page as your canvas, and instead of trying to be perfect, you paint simple shapes or abstract washes over the text.

I love how the text peeks through the paint. It’s messy in the most beautiful way and I really want to do this. 

How to make it:

1. Pick sturdy pages: Thin ones may wrinkle too much with water.

2. Choose your colors: Softer tones work best so the text still shows.

3. Paint in layers: Let each layer dry before adding another to avoid smudging.

4. Flatten the page: Press under books after it dries to remove curling.

Items you’ll need:

1. Old book pages
2. Watercolor paints & brush
3. Water & paper towel
4. Heavy books (for flattening)

I once saw someone paint little houses over a map in this style. 

I’m tempted to combine a book page with a hint of watercolor city skyline – maybe from a story set in Lagos.

4. Literary Quote Wall Hanging

This is all about taking a favorite quote from a book and making it the star.

I have a list of quotes I’ve loved for years – lines that stuck with me during tough times or made me smile unexpectedly. 

Having them as art would feel like surrounding myself with old friends.

How to make it:

1. Select your quote: Shorter quotes work better visually.

2. Pick your page: A blank or lightly printed page works well.

3. Letter it: You can hand-letter with calligraphy pens or print on a transparent sheet to overlay.

4. Mount it: Use a clipboard-style hanger, wooden dowels, or a classic frame.

Items you’ll need:

1. Old book pages
2. Calligraphy pen or fine-tip marker
3. Ruler (to keep lines straight)
4. Frame or hanging hardware

If you’re not confident in your handwriting, trace the quote lightly in pencil first.

I’ve learned the hard way that freehanding in ink can end with some very creatively spelled words.

5. Layered Paper Cut Scenes

This is where you stack cut-out pages to create depth.

Think shadow boxes, but made entirely from book pages.

I want to try this because it’s like building a diorama, but more delicate and literary. 

Imagine a forest scene where each layer is a separate page.

How to make it:

1. Plan your layers: Sketch the background, midground, and foreground separately.

2. Cut carefully: Use a craft knife for precision.

3. Space the layers: Use foam dots or thin cardboard strips between each page.

4. Frame in a shadow box: This protects the 3D effect.

Items you’ll need:

1. Old book pages
2. Craft knife & mat
3. Foam dots or spacers
4. Shadow box frame

I’m thinking of doing a scene from The Secret Garden, so maybe layers of vines, a gate, and then the garden inside.

6. Book Page Map Art

Overlaying a map outline (of a country, city, or fictional place) onto a book page creates such a travel-meets-literature vibe.

I’m fascinated by royalty and history, so I’m thinking of doing a silhouette of England over a Jane Austen page or Japan over a haiku collection.

How to make it:

1. Print or trace your map outline: Keep it simple for easy cutting.

2. Cut the map from your book page: Or cut the shape from plain paper and mount it on the page.

3. Add labels or markers: Tiny dots for special places.

4. Frame it: Neutral frames work best to keep the focus on the map.

Items you’ll need:

1. Old book pages
2. Map outline
3. Craft knife or scissors
4. Frame

This would also work beautifully with fictional maps – like the Shire from The Lord of the Rings or Hogwarts.

7. Stenciled Metallic Designs on Book Pages

Sometimes you want something bold – metallic paints over text really pop.

I’ve been itching to add a bit of gold to my walls without it feeling too flashy.

How to make it:

1. Choose your stencil: Geometric shapes, leaves, or stars work well.

2. Tape the stencil in place: This avoids slipping.

3. Apply metallic paint: Dab with a sponge for even coverage.

4. Let dry completely: Metallics can smudge if touched too soon.

Items you’ll need:

1. Old book pages
2. Stencil
3. Metallic acrylic paint & sponge brush
4. Tape

Try this on several pages and arrange them in a grid for a bigger statement piece.

8. Framed Book Spine & Page Combo

This mixes actual book spines with pages.

I’ve got a few books so damaged the spines have fallen off. 

Instead of throwing them away, I could give them a spotlight.

How to make it:

1. Cut out the spine carefully: Keep the title readable.

2. Mount it next to a favorite page: Either side-by-side or slightly overlapping.

3. Frame in a deep frame: To fit the thicker spine.

Items you’ll need:

1. Old book spines & pages
2. Craft knife
3. Deep frame

This could be a great way to honor a book that introduced you to a genre you now love – like my battered copy of Allegedly that reignited my thriller phase.

9. Literary Collage Wall Panel

Sometimes more is more. 

A big collage of book pages, illustrations, and maybe even bits of handwritten notes becomes a full wall statement.

I love the idea of a wall that feels like stepping into someone’s reading history.

How to make it:

1. Choose a base board or canvas: Decide on the size.

2. Tear or cut your pages: A mix of edges adds texture.

3. Arrange loosely first: Move pieces around until it feels balanced.

4. Glue down & seal: Use Mod Podge or a similar medium.

Items you’ll need:

1. Old book pages
2. Glue or Mod Podge & brush
3. Canvas or wood panel

I’d slip in personal touches – like the receipt from the first book I bought with my own money.

10. Seasonal Book Page Wreath

Yes, a wreath – but instead of flowers, the petals are folded book pages.

It’s a cozy way to rotate decor for different seasons without buying something new each time.

How to make it:

1. Roll or fold book pages: Into cones or petal shapes.

2. Glue around a wreath form: Overlap slightly for fullness.

3. Add seasonal accents: Small ornaments, dried leaves, or ribbon.

4. Hang proudly: On a door or wall.

Items you’ll need:

1. Old book pages
2. Wreath form (foam or wire)
3. Glue gun
4. Seasonal decorations

I love to make one for autumn using warm-toned ribbons and tiny pressed leaves.

I wrote a whole other post about the entire process, so check it out here. 

But, if my article is a little confusing, check out this YouTube video about how to make wreaths with directions that are super easy to follow. 

Upcycling book pages into wall art feels like a love letter to stories.

Instead of letting old, damaged, or unwanted books gather dust, you can turn them into something that still sparks joy every time you walk past.

When I do try these, I know each project will carry a bit of me in it – my favorite quotes, my favorite flowers, my favorite settings. 

And honestly? That’s what makes it art worth keeping.