Space is limited in my apartment, so design and functionality have to be one and the same. That can create some aesthetic challenges, but it also creates some interesting opportunities. Enter: books as art. I love the idea of optical illusion shelving and some of the more visually creative storage ideas, but the stone walls of my Chicago apartment–circa 1928–make those ideas kind of difficult to realize at the moment. So until we reunite with drywall, I’ll dream of these fun ways to turn my books into wall art and my wall art into useful shelving.

Falling Books

This one would take up a lot of wall space, but how fun is it? You just have to switch out the titles/dust jackets to complete change the visuals of the shelves and keep things continually fresh.

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Floating Books

I like this one for the clean lines the shelves make. How fun would it be to have one of these above your nightstand–like your own little library shelf within arms distance of your bed.

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Inverted Books

I mean this one is just weird, which means that you know I’m going to love it. I have no idea how it actually works, but I don’t care. I want it.

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Palette Books

Now this is one that I do know how it’s made and I enjoy the simplicity of it. I like the idea of a floor to ceiling palette shelf for children’s books because the covers for kid’s books are always creative and they deserve to be seen.

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Rainbow Books

This one isn’t as ‘wall art’-y as the others, but it’s still a fun motif. And one that I can actually accomplish given my stone wall situation. I’ve had my own bookshelves organized by color for a few years now and it never gets old.

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