I’ve been lowkey on the hunt for some cute bookends (that are affordable) for a couple of different type of shelving situations I have going on in our apartment. It hasn’t been on the urgent end of my “things to buy” list but I’ve been actively searching and I think I’m ready to purchase a couple sets of functional yet decorative bookends so that I can stop holding my books up with random things.
In my search for nice ones I’ve come across some unusual bookends, some uber expensive ones I want but cannot afford in this lifetime and some really affordable and cute & stylish bookends.
I’m just sharing the bookends that are in my personal budget but oh man would it be fun sometime to share some of those unusual ones, very specific interest-related and also some aspirational ones that I’ll never be able to afford…because, hey, sometimes it’s fun to pretend you can afford $1,000 bookends.
Anyways here are 19 functional & decorative bookends that would look great on any book lover’s shelves.
This post was first written in 2018 and has been updated for 2020.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more info.
19 Cute Bookends For Book Lovers
Once Upon A Time bookends: I adore these pretty bookends! They are the perfect bookends for book lovers! This shop also has this fabulous set of Ruth Bader Ginsburg bookends and this “so many books, so little time” book ends.
Quotation mark bookends: While I love these bright bold yellow bookends, this shop has them in ANY color you could want!
I am OBSESSED with these planter bookends. They are exquisite. The shop has them in other colors, too!
Listen — you might think I’m weird for choosing skull bookends in a post about cute bookends but I LOVE THESE. Definitely perfect if you want some unique bookends!
If you are looking for inexpensive and cute bookends on Amazon, these cactus ones are one of my faves! I also really like these simple mental cactus bookends too.
These pineapple bookends from Target are one of my fave pairs of decorative bookends! Sturdy, polished and just super adorable!
If you are into upcycled things, add this cool bookend to your list. This cute bicycle bookend is made from upcycled bike chains!
I can’t get enough of these little house bookends — perfect if you are looking for wooden, minimalist bookends! Kinda gives me some Scandinavian vibes?
If you are looking for cute yet cheap bookends — these cute bookends from Amazon are a good choice!
Other similar cute metal bookends:
Looking for something functional, sturdy with a cute modern look? These are a great minimalist bookend!
Where are all my Anglophiles at? Love that iconic phonebooth? These unique bookends are super cute! If you dig the red phonebooth look check out these.
Now these are unique bookends for book lovers! Custom concrete animal head planter bookends. I love!
Adorable mountain peak ones here!!! These would be perfect for a nursery or for anyone who just loves the outdoors! Such cute bookends!
These Nordic-inspired flower bookends are just ADORABLE!
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These custom map letters as bookends? SO cute!!
These aesthetic bookends are also functional? BIG FAN especially being sturdy concrete. Be aware they aren’t a pair though — they are sold separately.
Looking for truly literary bookends? These unique bookends for book lovers are so great! The shop has many books used on these wooden bookends — not just The Great Gatsby!
Love these cute marble bookends for a simple and polished look though these sturdy bookends are probably on the more expensive end of this post — but still under $50 so a win!
Sorry not sorry if your wallet is screaming right now with these Do you own any? If you have ones that you love, let me know where to find them! Where do you use them in your home? Decorative or functional?
P.S. Need a book to fill your bookshelf? Check out these new book releases you might like! Or check out these awesome gifts for book lovers that aren’t books!
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Laura @BlueEyeBooks says
Oh my goodness these are all so gorgeous!! I have some owl ones that look like the ones you have pictured that my mom gave to me FOREVER ago but recently, I’ve had to stop using them because my bookshelf is getting too full and I don’t need them to hold up books anymore. And you know what that means: time to get another bookshelf!! I’m totally eyeing up those Hogwarts and ‘Once upon a time’ bookends 🙂 Etsy is my kryptonite.
Laura @BlueEyeBooks
Jamie says
Right?? It’s so hard to choose! HAHA bookworm probs!! So I have this shelf Will built that spans the length of the couch and I have books on there and I’ve just been using random stuff to hold up the books so I need them there. And then I have a couple of shorter bookshelves that used to be in the bedroom but we moved to the living room to make way for Riley’s stuff but there were book jsut STACKED on them and now it looks so crappy in the living room like that (we didn’t care in the bedroom) so I need to clean it up and line books on top of them and I figured cute bookends would throw it all together and look nice!
Laura @BlueEyeBooks says
Oh my goodness it sounds like you have a book overload problem (honestly, is it really that big of a problem though? lol). Cute bookends are honestly the magical solution to nearly every problem. Too many books? Bookends. Too much fruit? Bookends. Need hot chocolate? Bookends. (admittedly that last one defies the laws of physics but sometimes you just have to roll with it) Something I’ve always wanted to do is to have shelves along all the walls (like those hanging shelves you can install on a wall that usually display nicknacks) so there would just be books everywhere as decoration and potential emergency reading material 🙂
Danielle | Along for Adventure says
I just bought the all gold pineapple ones you have listed and I love them! I was torn between those ones or the white/gold ones from Target, but I’m glad i went with the gold.
Jamie says
YES I can’t choose between either of them! The white and gold ones are so cute but I feel like I’m leaning towards the all gold ones too!
Kristin (SuperSpaceChick) says
JAMIE YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW HELPFUL THIS POST IS! i currently have 3 sets of bookends in my Amazon cart, I’ve been going crazy trying to find the perfect ones and I love so many that you listed here! Especially the faux plant ones omg! Thank you!!!
Jamie says
YAY I’m so glad I’m not the only one searching for some and this was actually useful haha! I looked on Amazon bc I feel like normally I can find ALL THE THINGS on there but I wasn’t IN LOVE with many of the bookends I saw. I want so many of these but I have to be strategic about the color scheme I pick because the shelves I’m really needing them for are all in the same room (we have this shelf that spans the length of our couch that is right behind the couch and then these small bookshelves we moved out here to the liviing room to make room for Riley’s crib) so they have to SORT of match or at least go. I feel like if I get the planter ones and a set of white ones it will look cute?!?
Kristin (SuperSpaceChick) says
I found a cute set of bicycle ones and rabbit ones on Amazon that I like but I know what you mean! I thought I was going to find a lot more. I really want to redo my shelves and try to part with a lot of what I have to make space for new books and just keep the favorites that are closest to my heart<3 It's such a painful process but I know I'll be happy once I finish and I love the idea of being able to use bookends (whereas now everything is totally crammed and I have zero space!).
Nicole @ Sorry, I'm Booked says
Ooh I’m so glad you posted this! For so long now I’ve been dying to find bookends that I absolutely love! Thanks for this 🙂
Nicole @ Nicole's Novel Reads says
I love the Hogwarts ones! I hope to get some bookends or possibly have my fiancé make me some when we move and get a bookshelf. Thanks for the wonderful book ends post.
Nickimags says
These are lovely!
Lily says
These bookends are so cute!! I’ve never had any, and all my books are currently in boxes cuz I’ve been trying to redecorate and I got rid of my old bookcase, this makes me want to get a move on! I’m loving the bicycle ones.
Jordan Rose says
Ooh, I love these! That Hogwarts one is a must-have, and the typewriter is super cute also! This is actually perfect because Mother’s Day is coming up and I know my mom could use some, and I also know she loves elephants, so… potential gift here! Those mountain peaks are also perfect. 🙂 I recently got some samples of some from Target’s new Magnolia line–they’re little goats and they are so adorable. I love a cute book end, I just wish I needed them more!
Cassie says
I’ve been looking for book ends and those bicycle ones are so cute, I need!
Annemieke says
I love book ends but my shelves are too full and I don’t have a lot of other situations where I can put them where I am not already using my old ones from childhood. (And I cannot get rid of those)
Erica Robyn says
Oh my gosh! I love the little cloud bookends!!
Janet says
These are all so freakin’ cute!!
Sara | mshealthesteem.com says
These are flipping adorable. I love the “once upon a time” one and need to get the Hogwarts one for my hubby! Thanks for the ideas ^^
Nicole says
These are adorable, what a cute way to spruce up the decor! I am digging the pineapples, definitely in gold for this girl. At least where I am thinking they would go in my house. Too cute!
Hilary says
I love ALL of these and want to add more “bookshelves” throughout my home just to use these! They’re all gorgeous!