13. Elegant Arch-Shaped Bookends
Arches are a staple of modern interior design, bringing a sense of architectural structure and classic elegance to any space. These heavy, arch-shaped bookends are both highly functional and incredibly stylish. To ensure your bookends have enough weight to hold up heavy novels, you will want to construct them with a thick, solid core. Roll out a very thick slab of clay—about one to two inches thick. Use an arch-shaped template cut from cardboard to guide your knife as you cut out two identical arches.
To prevent the thick clay from cracking as it dries, allow it to cure very slowly by covering it loosely with a plastic sheet for the first twenty-four hours. Once completely dry, sand the arches until the surfaces are perfectly flat and the corners are crisp. To achieve a high-end, stone-like look, paint the arches with a textured granite or limestone spray paint, or apply a plaster-textured paste over the clay before painting. Add a layer of heavy-duty felt to the bottom of each arch to prevent them from sliding on your bookshelves, creating a sophisticated, library-worthy display.