Have you ever had one of those moments when you thought, “My mom would totally laugh at me for this”? I had one recently. Growing up I was quirky — sketching first-day-of-school outfits, rearranging my room on a whim, and insisting the food on my plate not touch. Those little odd habits stuck with me, and they come out in home projects, too.
We’ve started a home office makeover, and one of my biggest pet peeves was how cluttered our bookcases looked. Between thrift-store finds, yard-sale treasures, books from my teaching days, Robert’s college textbooks, and our countless visits to bookshops, the shelf mix was a chaotic jumble. Stacks of books even ended up on the floor.
To simplify the shelves and give the room a cleaner, more styled look, I painted our book covers white — inspired by the elegant Restoration Hardware “French mute books.” Those official bundles were priced at $125 for five blank covers, which I admired but didn’t want to buy. Instead, I DIYed a similar look in one afternoon for a fraction of the cost. The result is a calm, cohesive library aesthetic that looks intentionally curated.
This project is straightforward and gives shelves a designer look without spending a lot. Below I explain the supplies I used and the simple steps to create your own French-inspired mute books, also called couverture muette.
Supplies used:
- Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Old White
- Annie Sloan Clear Soft Wax
- A few brown paper lunch bags (for labels)
- Scissors
- Mod Podge (matte)
- Ultra fine-tip black permanent marker
- Two craft brushes
- Clean, dry lint-free rag
- A stack of books — hardbacks and paperbacks
I cleared a workspace on the kitchen table and arranged the books face down. For hardcover books I painted a single coat of chalk paint over the covers — one coat was enough for a smooth, opaque finish, though you can add a second if desired. Be sure to paint the edges and creases of the covers so the transformation looks seamless from every angle.
After the paint dried, I sealed the covers with a coat of clear soft wax to protect the finish. If you prefer a more aged or antique look, you can add a layer of dark wax after the clear wax, but I left mine bright and clean to mimic the Restoration Hardware style.
For paperback books I removed the covers entirely so only the book block showed, and then wrapped the spines with custom labels. I cut rectangles from brown paper lunch bags, hand-wrote the titles with the fine-tip marker, and adhered the labels to the spines with a light coat of Mod Podge. The slightly imperfect handwriting actually adds authenticity to the vintage French mute-book aesthetic.
Once finished, the painted books immediately made the office shelves feel more organized and intentionally styled. I even found a small concrete finial at a thrift store that fits perfectly as an accent piece among the mute books.
For now the books are grouped loosely, and yes — William Shakespeare and Nicholas Sparks end up side by side. Eventually I’ll sort everything by genre, but at least the shelves look like purposeful décor while the office makeover continues.
If you enjoy styling books and want a quick way to refresh your shelves, painting book covers is an inexpensive and high-impact solution. As long as the books remain readable, I’m happy. Have any favorite summer reads to recommend? I might start stocking up now in hopes warmer weather arrives soon.
UPDATE: I’ve shared other projects from this office makeover — below are the project titles so you can look for them on the blog: Office Before Shots and Makeover Mood Board; DIY RH Inspired French Mute Books; DIY Vintage Pull-Down Map; Industrial Shelving; Faux Zinc Safe Makeover; Easy Office Sign.
More inspiration: I teamed up with a few friends for a Trash to Treasure series featuring thrifted before-and-afters; check out their blogs for creative, budget-friendly transformations and extra ideas for styling books and accessories.
Clockwise from top left: Confessions of a Serial DIYer | Artsy Chicks Rule | Girl in the Garage | Prodigal Pieces
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