Create a Unique Magazine Holder from an Old Book Cover

Repurpose attractive hardcover books into stylish wall-mounted magazine holders. This DIY project transforms decorative but underutilized books into functional home decor.

Materials Needed

• An old hardcover book
• Thick wrapping paper (or fabric)
• Utility knife, pen, and ruler
• Glue or hot glue gun
• Cordless drill, wall plugs, and screws (or large self-adhesive picture hangers)

Crafting the Magazine Holder

Step 1: Remove Book Pages

Carefully cut out the inner pages of the book using a utility knife or carpet knife. For bound books, detach the pages from the front, then turn the book over and detach the back pages. This allows the bound pages to be removed as a single block.

Step 2: Measure Book Width

Measure the width of the book cover. This measurement will be used to determine the length of the side panels (trapezoids).

Step 3: Design and Cut Trapezoids

Create two identical trapezoid shapes from thick wrapping paper, felt, or fabric. These will serve as the side walls of the magazine holder.

• Top Edge (Opening): The top edge of the trapezoid represents the opening for magazines and should be between 12 to 16 cm wide. A wider opening may lead to pages tearing if the holder is overloaded.
• Bottom Edge: The bottom edge should match the width of the book’s spine (e.g., 4 cm).
• Side Edges: Draw the side edges of the trapezoid, approximately 25 cm long, at an angle of 100 to 105 degrees. Add about 4 cm on each side as tabs for gluing into the book cover. Using a template can simplify this process.

Step 4: Glue the Trapezoids

Attach the trapezoids to the inside of the hardcover book using glue or a hot glue gun. First, adhere both trapezoids to one inner cover and allow them to dry. Then, fold over the other book cover and glue the remaining sides of the trapezoids in place.

Step 5: Wall Mounting

For mounting, large self-adhesive picture hangers can be attached to the back of the book cover. For a more secure fit, drill holes through the back cover and into the wall, then fasten the holder with wall plugs and screws.