I was just minding my business walking around Daiso when I came upon these bookends. And I thought, I love the shape of these but the color is drab and the word ‘Nature’ on it is just plain dumb. So I was like. I can paint these! Enter the Daiso DIY bookends, a cute little fall home decor DIY.
Before we jump into it. I will say, yes, it is easy. But it does take time. You know, paint, waiting, painting, waiting. We’ve got three different colors that overlap so that’ll happen. And if you’re into the design and colors. Why not paint a tray too?! Here’s my DIY fall color block tray. I obviously have a type.
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But Sara, how much were the bookends? They were $1.50 each, so that’s $3. Sign me up y’all. I did end up buying three new paints for $2.49, $2.49 and .99 cents each. That’s a total of $8.97. Pretty good for some custom bookends! Here they are bare.
I was very inspired by Modern Eid’s new Luna product. So I took that idea when painting the bookends and worked up a very fancy mock up. I’m so good at drawing!
Let’s get into it. Sand the bookends lightly, 220 grit, no need to go crazy here. Just make sure it’s smooth and maybe to get a little bit of that silly ‘Nature’ name off. After that, wipe it clean with water.
Next up, put down one layer of the white color. Just one. To coat the bookends, we’ll finish the white part later.
Next up, let’s do the maroon layer. You’re going to take your blue painter’s tape and place it at an angle about half way on the bookends. It’s kind of up to you on how much of a slant you’d like. For one bookend you start high up on the left and angle downward. And if you’re doing two of them you’re going to start high up on the right and angle downward.
Once you’ve placed the blue tape, paint the maroon below the blue tape. Let that dry. Paint the second coat. Dry. And a third coat, then dry.
Take the blue tape off – slowly. And now it’s time to finish the white paint. So place the blue tape on top of the maroon paint edge. Paint one layer of white. Let it dry. Then one last layer of of white and let it dry.
This one is a freehand draw. Which, quite frankly, I’m horrible at. So on one bookend, you’ll start about one-third of the way up on the right of the bookend, curve down to the left, drawing a semi circle and ending about an inch from the bottom. Honestly, it’s better to look at the video. And if you’re doing the other bookend, you’ll start that semi circle on the left side of the bookend.
So let the first coat dry. Then apply a second coat. Dry. Then a third coat, dry. Do you notice the word ‘Nature’ now? Not really huh? And when you back up from the bookends, you absolutely cannot see the word.
Listen. If these Daiso DIY bookends took you a week to do – join the club. Between the drying, kids and life, that’s fine. You did it and it looks freaking awesome. Good job!
So if you put the bookends together, here’s what they’ll look like. Now listen. My intention is not to keep them together so it doesn’t perfectly align but it’s pretty well matched. And they almost look like a heart from far away.
Honestly, I love the them apart. I just think they look so cool. I’m happy. I think you’ll be happy too.
Daiso DIY bookends
Supplies
- Two Daiso bookends
- Foam paint brush
- White acrylic paint – Martha Stewart, satin, summer linen
- Orange acrylic paint – Martha Stewart, satin, jack-o-lantern
- Maroon acrylic paint – Craft Smart, satin, french wine
- Sand paper – 220 grit
- Blue painters tape
Instructions
- Lightly sand the bookends.
- Wipe down with a wet cloth. Let dry.
- Paint both bookends white, just a rough layer. Let dry fully.
- Take your blue painter’s tape and place it at an angle, going downward, about half way on the bookends. For one bookend you start high up on the left and angle downward. And if you’re doing two of them you’re going to start high up on the right and angle downward.
- Paint maroon below the tape. Let dry fully.
- Apply a second coat of maroon paint. Let dry fully.
- Apply third coat of maroon paint. Let dry fully.
- Take blue tape off.
- Place the blue tape on top of the maroon paint edge.
- Paint one layer of white. Let it dry.
- Apply one last layer of of white and let it dry.
- Take the blue tape off.
- Free hand draw the orange semi circle. Start about one-third of the way up on the right of the bookend, curve down to the left, drawing a semi circle and ending about an inch from the bottom. And if you’re doing the other bookend, you’ll start that semi circle on the left side of the bookend. Let dry fully.
- Apply a second coat of orange paint. Let dry fully.
- Apply third coat of orange paint. Let dry fully.
- Now go decorate your home!
