What to Do With Book Jackets
What to do with book jackets–keep or toss?
When it’s time to spruce up my house, I always seem to get a “new” post idea, like this one today.
If you have books on display throughout your house, do you keep the dust jackets on, or do you remove them?
I cleaned and dusted a table in the corner of my living room, adding my “no-kill” Christmas cactus plant so it would have plenty of light. By the way, I call it “no-kill” because I’m not very good at keeping indoor plants alive, and I’ve been told that if your Christmas cactus is given proper care and is placed in the right location, it’s not unusual for it to flower several times throughout the year. Yeah!
I also added a NEW, fresh cilantro-smelling Pier 1 candle, and brought a few of my favorite books to the table …
But they looked … dingy, ragged. Dust covers torn, squashed, bent.
Once decorative, the book jackets were just in the way.
What originally drew me in to buying the books in the first place (a beautiful, colorful paper cover), now I removed and tossed into the garbage (recycle bin).
Ahhh, freshness!
And actually quite colorful!
How do you deal with book jackets?
Do you save them or toss?
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
Lol, questo era un centro unico nel suo genere! Un grande letto – hanno votato e interessante!
I agree about the covers becoming so ratty sometimes, but if I am not mistaken, I keep haring on the Antiques Roadshow that having the covers can double the value of a book. Just a thought…
I leave the jackets on if they make the book look better. Sometimes the book without the jacket is bland looking and not very appealing. My stack of flower books looks better with flowers on the cover than the brown, green, gray, and blue cloth covers alone.
The covers make the book interesting before you open it.
I have also seen rooms with white or tan all alike covers used. It can be stunning.
rick
I take them off and usually find some way of arting or crafting with them, especially if it’s a favourite book. I suppose you could turn favourite book covers into framed wall prints, if you’re that way inclined (I’m not).
I prefer paperbacks :)
I usually keep my book jackets, on the books. I haven’t figured out another use for them yet. My fahter, He cuts up the book jackets and actually glues them to the hardcover of the book..EEEk, not my style. However, his money, his books…He can do what he wants :) :) I’m wondering if there’s a way to turn them into something cool, like funky /whimsical bookmarks? Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather :)
Oh, dear. I struggled with this one. Several years ago, I decided I liked our books shelved without the dust jackets, so I stripped those babies right down to their birthday covers. But, but, but…I couldn’t bear the idea of tossing the covers away, so I have them neatly stacked in a waterproof bin in the basement. How sad is that? That’s Virgo sad, that’s what it is. :-D
As for the covers, my husband hates them and wants them off of his books right away. I prefer to keep them.
As for the Christmas Cactus, I water mine once a week, and include a drop or two of African Violet fertilizer in the water. I’ve had many blooms from mine. Enjoy!
I tend to keep mine but I always take them off and stick them aside while I’m actually reading/using the book. But if they’re all worn out and funky, I’m all for restoring the luster of the book by tossing them. I thought you were going to show us some terribly clever idea to use book jackets :) Now I’m curious as to what cool thing one could do with them…
I usually toss mine as I find my kids usually pull the dust jackets off and I end up picking them up off the floor. I do feel guilty when the dust jackets hit the bin though – it seems likes such a waste. But I much prefer books without the covers.
I am happy to read this post. Mainly because it gives me the freedom to get rid of the covers. No guilt when I chunk them now! :) But I have a question about another type of cover. Or I should say case. On DVD’s or CD’s. I’m trying to organize them. I currently keep them in a book but will be changing that soon. Regardless, I have all the covers left over. They are cluttering up my car and my closet or drawers. I’ve had a hard time giving myself permission to chunk these. I’ve thought about keeping the paper cover and using it in file where I’m keeping the CD/DVD. but the hard cover…what do you guys do with those? Give me freedom to toss them!!! :) lol!
Since my books are shelved for the most part, I leave the covers on. It protects the spine from fading. I like the idea of “decorating” with books but don’t really do it. If there is a book out somewhere in our house it is because someone is reading it.
Darla
I have taken many off but I’ve saved them in a drawer. Ironically, I just replaced the book jackets on a big stack of coffee table books.
I usually toss mine, but I like the laminating idea someone posted above! What kind of care/sun light do you give your christmas cactus? I have one that has not bloomed in several years :(
I typically keep them on, but some books are just so beautiful underneath the jackets!
I used to keep them on, then when we had shelves built for our library and I started putting all the books back, something just didn’t look right…it was all those glossy covers staring at me. I removed them all, kept them for a bit (just in case), but eventually pitched them. Now I remove the jackets as soon as the books are placed on the shelf (I do keep them on while reading them to protect the cover since I tend to tote them all over).
Love the new arrangement. I am ready to add some more greenery to our home too. Am thinking of trying my hand at succulents as they are so low maintenance!
Love the plant!! I usually get rid of mine as well!
Most of the time, they are tossed. It seems such a waster, but they look so ratty after a while.
Great post! Love the fresh green Christmas cactus, and I bet that cilantro candle really changed the atmosphere of your room. Sounds lovely. As for book jackets, I do that a lot too. I rarely keep them on in the first place. LOL Saw a cool idea somewhere to display books with the spines hidden for a less colorful or less cluttered look. It’s kinda cool once you get past the feeling that something is not feng shui in the room. LOL Have a great day Sandy!
In the past, I have laminated some so they’d stay nice. Most of the time, they’re tossed.
Ha I did exactly the same thing today. I was looking at a pile of books and the dust covers all looked ratty and faded. I never normally take them off but I just thought they made the books look so dowdy. I think I’ll do that more often now, they looked so much better, once the covers were off.