Vintage painted metallic books

Happy New Year, friends! It’s Angela from Number Fifty-Three and I’m so happy to be back with you all sharing little bits of my crafting adventures making vintage painted metallic books .

I love, love, love decorating with vintage books in my home. One of my very favorite projects ever was when I painted a grouping with chalkboard paint and aged them with chalk. (You can get the tutorial for those here.)

This year, I wanted to do a new take on the vintage painted book and bring in a modern element to unify my love of old with new.

Books on a shelf with vintage painted metallic covers, accompanied by a black pen holder and scattered dried orange slices on a checkered cloth.

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own Vintage Painted Metallic Books: vintage books from the thrift store (I don’t use priceless or really special books for projects like this, but I do look for interesting sizes and cover materials), metallic craft paint, artist brush.

Four bottles of "Brushed Metal" paint sit elegantly on a flat surface beside three hardcover books—each adorned with vintage metallic hues in orange, blue, and gray.

Simply paint the covers of the books with several coats of paint. I tend to gravitate towards gold in my décor so I stuck with the color palettes of gold and bronze.

Paint books with metallic paint for give them new life

Now, this is the tutorial for the basic painted book. I was just loving the classic, yet modern vibe of leaving the books painted in the solid colors. But, there are more options…

You could: layer metallic paints, distress the book to show age using a fine grit sandpaper or rub on black wax and buff to deepen the finish. The possibilities are endless.

I love the black/white/metallic color combo in my home. It’s something that is so versatile and I never tire of it. Here I have the books paired with buffalo check flannel fabric and black feathers in a piece of white pottery.

I always love the addition of natural elements in décor. I recently made this dried orange slice garland and, while time consuming, I think it adds the prettiest pop of color and orange and golds are just perfection together. (You can get the garland instructions here.)

Close-up of vintage metallic books standing upright with dried orange slices attached to their spines. A checkered cloth is partially visible nearby.

Thank you all for checking out my latest tutorial! Wishing you all health and happiness in the new year!

Text reads "All the Best, Angela" in script font, with gold antlers gracefully arching above, reminiscent of vintage painted metallic books.

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Books arranged vertically, including vintage painted metallic editions, sit alongside a decorative cow skull and a white pumpkin in a bowl on the shelf. A stack of papers and a green plant in a vase complete this eclectic display.

Modern Wood and Metallic Book Ends