Gaming consoles, although fun, can often clash with your home decor aesthetic. Wires snake across surfaces, blinking LEDs disrupt ambiance, and accessories dominate space. Normal solutions like media cabinets are helpful, but they don’t fully conceal the problem. However, this clever DIY hack is an easy way to camouflage your gaming station while adding a little bookish charm to your space.

Turning old books into hidden storage isn’t a new concept, but this disguise works by repurposing old hardcover books into a secret compartment. When glued together from the sides and hollowed out from the back, the books’ spines and edges create a hidden space for your consoles, controllers, and cords. The spines face outward, blending seamlessly with other books on your shelf, and depending on the size of books you can find, the hollowed interior can even accommodate bulky consoles like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, as long as you lay them horizontally on their side. Unlike a media cabinet or a storage bin, this DIY keeps the console easily accessible by simply sliding the book unit away from the console when you want to play.

Start by grabbing four to six large hardcover books with sturdy spines. Thrift stores are perfect for cheap finds, but don’t skip the most important step before bringing thrifted books into your home, and make sure they’re clean. Arrange them in a row up against your console and leave a few extra inches on each side. Once you’ve measured, use wood glue along the covers, page edges, and backs of the books to bond them into a single block. Use clamps if you have them, and let it sit overnight for a secure hold. Once set, measure the height of your console, and mark a cutting area on the page-side of your book block, leaving a 1 or 2 inch border on the top and sides to maintain structural integrity.

You might be able to get away with using a utility knife if using thinner books, but for deeper cuts and getting through the covers, you’ll want an oscillating saw. Make sure you use eye and hand protection and a mask when cutting the books. Start hollowing out the pages, checking the fit occasionally. For a nicer finish, you can line the interior cutout with felt to prevent any scratches on your console. Finally, fit the book block over your console, and add some actual books on either side to complete the illusion. Now you have added a cultured look to your television space. Just make sure you remove the book unit when playing the console to avoid any overheating issues. If you end up with some leftover volumes, there are plenty of other ways to repurpose books around your house.