You found a dusty frame in the thrift bin. It’s missing its glass, the edges are a little chipped, to which you say, “Perfect.” Such thrifted frames can help express your bibliophilic side with minimal effort and maximum charm. By laying the frame flat atop a book stack, you transform a pile of novels into a display that feels curated and intentional. It’s a reuse trick that bridges reading, thrifting, and interior design.

The frame functions like a crown or halo for your favorites. It pulls focus and adds structure without a single nail or Command strip. And if the original finish doesn’t match your space, that’s part of the fun: paint it matte black for drama, robin’s egg blue for whimsy, or sand it down to a ghosted woodgrain for a cozy cottagecore look.

Once the frame’s in place, top the display with something small that reflects your taste: a bud vase, a thrifted trinket, or a unique candle. This is where book lovers get to be stylists. And the best part? It’s all reused. You’re giving forgotten frames a second life, just like you might with other ways to repurpose old books into fresh decor.

Once you’ve tried the base-layer frame trick @candy_thrifts demonstrates above on TikTok, the next step is to treat your display like a tiny theater set. Each genre becomes a scene, each trinket a character. For example, take mystery: pair your stack with a vintage key, a flickering faux candle, and a magnifying glass (or any favorite piece from the Clue game). Choose spines in dark tones, and the whole thing reads like a Sherlockian still life.

For fantasy, try a velvet scrap beneath the frame, then add a tiny dragon figurine. Gilded titles and fairy lights or just a metal ring can provide a Middle Earth vibe. Romance lovers might opt for a floral-painted frame and a dried rose tucked inside a heart-shaped box. A bit of lace under the frame adds softness that fits right in with a Bridgerton binge. Sci-fi readers can lean into the cosmic: a metallic-painted frame, a toy robot or astronaut, and a splash of silver wrapping paper gets the mood across.

Not only does this hack align with the vintage thrift flip idea aesthetic, but it makes your bookcase even more personal. Along with restyling your shelf, you get to tell a story about the stories you love.

Not all frames need to lie flat. A frame propped behind your books adds dimension and anchors the scene like a backdrop on a stage. Add a sheet of patterned paper, a vintage book page, or even botanical prints to the inner space. The result? A stylish vignette that quietly commands attention.

If you’re working with narrow wall shelves or tight corners, flip the frame itself to turn it into a shallow shelf. Just add a thin ledge inside the bottom edge to keep thin paperbacks or journals upright. This is especially clever for framing a “book of the month” or spotlighting a recent read like art in a gallery. The thrift store’s battered frame now has both narrative and aesthetic functions.

Want to go bolder? Surround your display with layered thrifted frames to create a mini floating book frame display. Or peruse broader DIY bookshelf ideas if you’re ready for a book display refresh. Whether you lean maximalist or minimalist, these hacks make your book display expressive, reflective, and even a little magical.