Books can add a pop of color, add a lot of character, and are a really simple way to improve any room. There are so many different ways to use them for decoration and another plus, they will never go out of style. You most likely have them lying around in your home, so follow these tips to find out how to use them!

• Look for books with appealing covers. The colors can warm up your space while also adding a pop of color.
• Pile up two or three books with different patterns on your coffee table.
• Use a stack of books to add height to your tables or mantels.
• Use books that are meaningful to you and your family. This will really make your space special and personal.
• Cut out a rectangle section in a large book and use it as a pot for plants or flowers.
• Use a stack of large, sturdy books to create a small side table or nightstand.
• Invest in a tall, wide bookshelf to create an accent wall with your collection of books.
• Cut your books into block letters to use as monograms to place on your shelf or dresser.

How to Decorate With Books [Ebay]
21 Chic Ways to Decorate Your Apartment With Books [Style Caster]
5 Ways to Decorate with Books [The Everygirl]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Luci Correia

Bold style and colors can transform your home to make it feel more fun and happy. If you’re looking to liven up your home and really make your space more exciting, follow these tips for some inspiration.

• Use a large, oversized reflective object, such as a light fixture, to assert dominance on everything else in the room.
• Experiment with design objects and put them out of their element. Something like placing a rug on the wall can really make a statement.
• A patterned piece of furniture can be a great addition to your space. Something like a floral pattern on a sofa or polka dots on a chair can make an impact.
• Turn one wall into a modern piece of art. Even using a simple splash of color on one of your walls can make a huge difference.
• Use a patterned light switch plate instead of the plain old white ones for a fun little pop of color.
• Instead of filling a vase with flowers, use a large leaf with a unique shape.

12 Bold Color Tricks to Try in Every Room [HGTV]
22 Ways to Be (a Little) More Daring With Your Decorating [HGTV]
Daring Decor Additions: Take Your Design Up A Notch With These 5 Striking Style Ideas [Apartment Therapy]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr brianna.lehman

Something as small as adjusting your curtain rods can quickly change the look of your home. Follow these tips to create a better look for your window and the rest of your space!

• Always hang your curtains up high to the ceiling. It makes your ceilings look higher and your space look larger and will enhance the overall atmosphere of your room.
• If your curtains aren’t wide enough it will block light and make the window look smaller, therefore making your whole room appear smaller. When the curtains are pushed open, you want to see almost all of the window.
• The most common mistake in hanging curtains is hanging them too short making it look awkward. Make sure the bottom of the curtains just kiss the floor.
• You can also make the curtains puddle on the floor to give your room a romantic, feminine, and European vibe.

Quick & Affordable Home Makeover Task: Adjust Your Curtain Rods [Apartment Therapy]
Hanging Curtains All Wrong [Emily Henderson]
It’s Curtains, Hang Em High [Home Goods]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Henry Söderlund

One of the simplest and most inexpensive ways to decorate your home is with natural elements. Use natural materials from the outdoors and colors inspired by nature to decorate for any season. If your space could use s breath of fresh air, follow these tips and get this organic look in your home.

• Use unique pitchers or containers to keep flowers in to give any bouquet a fresh look.
• Add three-dimensional antlers or any kind of faux taxidermy to your wall to break up some of your framed pictures on your wall.
• Gather some branches in your backyard to put in a vase to make a centerpiece for your table. You can also use a piece of driftwood for a centerpiece as well.
• Use a large twisted branch to hang on the wall to add some modern dimension to a room.
• Use clear glass lamps and fill them up with pinecones, seashells and sand, moss, or anything else you can find.
• You can also use bowls or trays to fill up with the pinecones or shells.
• Hang artwork with an earthy theme to hang on your neutral colored walls.
• Place a collection of small green houseplants in different sized pots on your wooden table to add some natural character to your dining room.

15 Ways to Decorate with Natural Elements [Ebay]
Decorating with Natural Elements [Better Homes]
12 Easy Decorating Ideas Inspired by Nature [Houzz]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Christopher.Michel

These days, mobile maps can definitely be more useful for traveling than a paper map. However, paper maps are beautiful to look at! So why not use them in your home decor? Here are three creative ways you can decorate with a map.

• Use a map to revamp your lampshade and give it a warm, vintage feel. All you need to do is find an atlas with pictures of beautiful maps inside, a lamp with a shade, and a few craft items. Make a template for your shade and test it out to make sure it fits perfectly. Then, just lay out your template on top of your map pages and make the pages match the size of the template. Finally, use some rubber cement to glue your map on and you're finished!
• Cover the drawers of your plain-looking dresser with a map. You're pretty much going to use the same process you did for the lamp. Make sure to measure everything out perfectly and remember to cut out tiny circles for the knobs.
• Give your living room a unique, vintage feel by covering the top of your glass coffee table with a map. If you have a large enough coffee table, you may even be able to see the whole map.

Vintage Map Lampshade [Pretty Handy Girl]
10 Ways to Decorate Your Home with Maps [Babble]
7 Ways to Decorate with Maps and Globes [Conde Nast]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Jonathan Rolande

Plain, bare walls are blank canvases just waiting to be filled with accessories or décor. Hang almost anything on your wall and your space will instantly feel homey and more personal. Follow these tips to bring some life to your bare walls.

• Use a variety of different patterns or colors of washi tape to create a custom design on your wall. This is great because you can easily switch it up if you get bored of the same design and want to switch it out for something new.
• Add an oversized photograph or piece of art that is almost as big as your whole wall.
• Hang or lean a large mirror with a detailed frame to your wall. They make a really strong statement and can make your room feel larger.
• Frame a large chalkboard to write messages on, display photos, or to write recipes. You can even use unique frames or frames to match the rest of your framed photos on your wall to bring the whole look together.
• Give your wall an elegant touch by hanging a large, oversized clock.
• Add character to your wall by hanging modular shelves. Not only do the shelves look great, they also provide space for more decor. Use them to display your photos, vases, candles, books, or more.

​25 Ways to Dress Up Blank Walls [HGTV]
http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/how-to/g451/blank-wall-solution/?How To Decorate A Large, Blank Wall [Elle Decor]
Wall Decor: How To Fill Your Blank Walls [Style At Home]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Emily May

Curious about color? Even adding the smallest amount of color to your decor can make a huge difference. Here are some tips to help you add a splash of color to your home—without having to pick up a paint brush!

• Start out with a generous amount of neutrals. These colors will act as your canvas or blank slate that you can add to.
• Don’t use too much of one color, or it can become a big blur. You want to stick to a formula of using 60 percent of the dominant color and 30 and 10 percent of two other different colors to balance everything out.
• Blending masculine colors with feminine colors can really bring a room together.
• Consider using black when decorating. It will add some visual depth to a space. You could also use white to make a room feel more modern and fresh.
• Use something with a pattern, like a throw pillow or piece of artwork, to pull colors from.
• Work with a color palette to help transition the colors from room to room. This helps bring everything together and makes the rooms feel cohesive.

These 6 Lessons in Color Will Change the Way You Decorate [One Kings Lane]
Ideas for Decorating with Color & Pattern [About]
The 12 Rules of Decorating with Color [Pure Wow]

CC-BY-2.0/ProFlowers