If you and your kids have built beautiful memories around books such as Julia Donaldson’s The Gruffalo, David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny, or Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile, chances are, the sight of their covers brings you back to these special moments. Over the past few decades, children’s books have not only been among the fastest sellers but also among the most colorful, creative, and stunningly illustrated. And if they give you a buzz that you’d like to share with others, turning your favorite covers into wall art is one of the most dynamic ways to celebrate your love of great literature with friends, family, and kids of all ages.
The Beauty of Book Covers
If you are keen to experience the beauty of children’s book covers, check out works by artists such as Robert Sabuda, Maurice Sendak, or Eric Carle. Sendak, for instance, is the creator of the timeless illustrations on the cover and within the pages of Where the Wild Things Are, which capture children’s emotions and convey the unique characteristics of wildlife, plants, and trees. Robert Sabuda, meanwhile, is a master of pop-up art. With his profound knowledge of math and physics, he makes enormous structures (such as castles, superhero scenes, or dinosaurs) that jump out at readers as they open each page. He is considered one of the finest pop-up artists of all time, and some of his most famous works are Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Peter Pan. Impressively, he has taken home the top award for paper engineering (the Meggendorfer Prize) three times and has sold millions of books.
Creative Presentations
If you are considering incorporating children’s books into your decor scheme, you can choose from various ways to display them. Let the books’ colors, themes, and sizes determine where they best fit. For instance, if you have a narrow shelf, position some of your most beautiful books facing outward, so children can access them and so they can serve as artwork when they are not in use. Book collections, meanwhile, look fantastic on floating shelves and can be grouped together by theme or hue. For favorite or vintage covers that are no longer read regularly, framing covers or simply photographing them and creating a custom picture mount is an excellent way to pay homage to them. Your most artistic covers can also be displayed beneath a glass coffee table with a support. If you have a stunning, intricately designed pop-up book, meanwhile, use it as a statement piece, displaying different pages (or works of art) depending on the day, week, or season. If you wish for your books to take center stage, consider setting up wall-mounted book racks, placing your most beautiful book covers in front so they immediately capture your visitors’ attention.
Adding Decorative Elements
Your book covers need not stand alone. Instead, they can be part of an artistic set-up that includes similar colors, themes, or works by the same author. For instance, if you have a floating shelf with a couple of works for early readers, surrounding them with elements such as soft toys, wooden letters, or framed prints can make them more attractive to younger children. While negative space helps to create a clean and curated appearance, a couple of additional decorative elements can highlight the artistic beauty and thematic subject of yoru chosen works. Plants, too, make for a beautiful backdrop to books centered on nature. Just one or two indoor potted plants lend a playful, biophilic feel to your interiors, adding a sense of calm while children read their favorite books.
Taking a Cue from Social Media
If you’re curious about how book lovers from across the globe are decorating their homes with book covers, check out hashtags such as #BookTok or #Bookstagram. There, you will find everything from color-coordinated bookshelves (think all-green, pink, or yellow book spines together on a floating shelf) to large posters featuring covers of classic books—everything from Nancy Drew to Dr. Seuss. Today, a book’s cover is a strong determinant of how well it sells—not only because of its ability to resonate with an audience, but also because it can form part of its reader’s art collection.
Books are a perfect addition to a home’s decor scheme, with many illustrators now well-loved and well-known worldwide. To make the most of your most beautiful covers, consider placing them in various settings, including frames, on coffee tables, and as posters. Grouping books by color or theme adds style and flair to your home, while also providing hours of reading for children of all ages.
