Transform an Old Bookshelf with a Mondrian Design

Transform your dull, brown bookshelf into a Mondrian-inspired design piece. If you have any old bookshelves in your home and want to update their looks, consider the art of modern artist Mondrian. Mondrian's signature art technique can be easily translated to a bookshelf, no artistic skill required.

Mondrian Style

Mondrian's art consists of solid black lines creating uneven grid spaces on a canvas. The lines are typically black and some of the shapes created by the lines are filled in with colors. Primary colors, especially red were popular with Mondrian.

Translating Mondrian's Style

You do not have to use primary colors, or even red paint to convey a modern Mondrian-like design effect. The key elements to the Mondrian design are straight black lines, converging to create rectangles and squares of different sizes.

Prepare the Bookshelf for the Mondrian Design

Supplies

Old bookshelf
Paint stripper (optional)
Sandpaper
Primer
Brush
Wood putty

Preparation Work

Strip the coatings off an old bookshelf if it is in need of repair or has layers of paint. Use wood putty to fill in any visible holes or cracks. Reinforce loose shelves or the footing with short nails.

Sand the entire bookshelf. Use a white primer on the bookshelf and let it dry. Consider adding a second coat if you scan see through the primer.

Tip: It's better to add a second coat than to add one super thick layer of primer.

Transform an Old Bookshelf with a Mondrian Design

Supplies

Ruler
Pencil
Knife or X-acto blade
Foam core from the arts and crafts section of Walmart
Black paint
White paint
Two to five more paint colors

Add the Foam Core Lines

Measure the vertical distance between two shelves. Cut a piece of foam core and slide it in between the shelves. Use a pencil to mark the location where the foam core sticks out beyond the bookshelf. Cut the piece again. Cut six to 12 pieces of foam core in the same size.

Paint them all black. Once dry, start placing the foam core pieces randomly on different shelves. To make longer looking lines in the design, line up the foam core with one on top of the other.

When you are satisfied with the random grid shape, use a pencil to mark the inside of the bookshelf, where the lines will go. These will be your guides for painting the color blocks.

Paint most of the blocks white, with a couple of random blocks painted in the colors you selected. Paint each color in at least two blocks.

Option: Forgo the white background and paint each block a different color. You can repeat the colors, but avoid discernible color patterns.

Finish up by painting exterior of the bookshelf all white or all black.