How to Create a DIY Remote Control Storage Book

worstontheblockApril 27, 2021

Tired of all those ugly remote controls laying around on your beautiful coffee table? Losing the remote between couch cushions? This easy, inexpensive and gorgeous DIY is the answer you have been looking for.

I guess I have a thing with electronics. Anything with buttons or wires, I would much prefer to have hidden away. Check out the post on how we hid the TV wires inside our mantle!

Between the TV, cable box, apple TV and DVD player (yes, we still have one of those), that’s FOUR remote controls that were either hanging out looking hideous on our coffee table OR disappearing into the blue.

They mocked me and I hated it. That is, until we found this amazing and inexpensive DIY solution.

It looks like it’s just a beautiful vintage coffee table book (and what’s better than a big, old book on a coffee table?!), but it’s also incredibly functional, housing those ugly remotes.

Keep in mind that this storage book does not have to just be for remote controls. While it works REALLY WELL for remotes, it can also be used to house other items that perhaps you want to hide away.

Maybe game controllers. Or keep your little trinkets that you don’t know what to do with in there. You could even make a cell phone charging station out of it.

In addition to our remotes, we keep those random items that you want in reach but out of sight (for us, pens and guitar picks).

You could also hide items inside it and place the book on an actual bookshelf, and no one would ever know that it’s not really a book.

Because it is a book. 😉

What you’ll need:

Measuring tape
remote controls
book (see below)
box cutter
glue that dries CLEAR
paint brush

1. Measure your remotes

Like any other DIY, the first step is always to measure. You need to know the dimensions you’re working with so you can find a book that will actually fit your remote controls.

It’s easiest if you place your remotes in a position that you think they would go into the book. (For example, our apple remote is very tiny and slender and lives on top of another remote.)

Be sure to measure:

Then add at least an inch to the total size. This will account for the outside edges of the pages that will not be cut into so that it still looks like a book when it’s closed.

This will be the minimum size book to find.

2. Find a book

There are some really cool old books out there. Find a hardcover that you love and that will fit in with your décor.

In my opinion old encyclopedias are awesome for this purpose. They have great thick, sturdy covers and are nice and large.

You really don’t have to purchase your book as people are trying to get rid of books all the time. There are lots of places to find cool and FREE books.

Check out what you have in your own home first. You may be surprised with what you have lying around (I always am).

Then try friends and family.

If you don’t know anyone with books for you, there’s still free options:

Check out your library. My library often has a stack of free books that they’re trying to get rid of. Just make sure they’re up for the taking before you walk away with them!

Try your local thrift stores. One of our nearby thrifts has a whole bookshelf of free books (which is where I found mine)

Facebook Marketplace or your local “neighbor’s” page. Another great place to find free books is facebook marketplace. You could also write a post on your local “neighbor’s” page saying that you’re in search of a book—be sure to include the dimensions. I often see people on there trying to get rid of books.

If can’t find anything that will work for free, you should be able to find one to purchase for SUPER cheap at a thrift or garage sale. You shouldn’t have to spend more than a few bucks.

So now once you’ve found the book you love that will fit your measured dimensions for your remotes, it’s time to cut!

3. Cut into your book

Cut a rectangle shape out of the center of the pages for your remote controls to sit down in. Remember that you’re going to leave the outer 1” (at least) of the pages intact.

You can use an exacto knife or box cutter for this. A scissor might work as well.

TAKE ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS! NEVER CUT TOWARDS YOUR HAND OR BODY. ALWAYS WORK MOVING THE BLADE AWAY FROM YOU.

This is extremely important. Please do not stab yourself or lose a finger just to hide your remote controls.

NOT worth it!!!

Holding the book in place with one hand and the box cutter in the other, cut into the book a few pages at a time (always moving the blade in a direction away from your body and other hand).

Move around the book until all sides of your rectangle are cut and the center of the pages comes out of the book. Make sure you go deep enough so the depth of the remotes fit and the cover can close easily.

This may take some patience, but it is a super simple task.

4. Glue

You’ll want to secure the cut pages with glue to ensure they don’t rip with any typical wear and tear.

This is very simple. All you need is some glue and an old paint brush. (Or you could even use a paper towel for this.

Make sure your glue dries clear. If this is the case, it should say it on the container of glue. MAKE SURE IT SAYS “DRIES CLEAR”.

Otherwise you’ll have a bunch of white paste on the edges of your book. It will look less like a beautiful coffee table book and more like a kids craft project.

Put the glue on or in some kind of a container like an old Tupperware container or a paper cup or plate. This will make it easier to apply.

You’ll also want to put your book on a surface that you don’t mind getting glue on, like a work table, drop cloth, or even a paper bag would do.

Glue is sticky and makes a mess. Don’t live in regret.

Pour out some glue into your container and pick it up with your paint brush (or paper towel).

Prop the cover of the book open and straight up against something supportive (like a wall or large container) so that the glue won’t stick to it, but not all the way open so the pages fan out.

This will ensure the pages will be straight so it looks like a normal book when it’s sitting on your coffee table.

With the cover of the book propped open, brush or wipe the glue around all three sides of your book on the pages and allow to dry completely.

The glue ensures the cut pages of your book stays strong. If the pages move around, the corners will rip and makes it look sloppy. The glue keeps it in place.

5. Store & Enjoy

Now for the fun part!

Move your completed coffee table storage book to it’s forever home and place your remotes (and whatever else you’d like to store) inside the book.

Now you have an awesome space to keep those ugly electronics that looks beautiful and cost next to nothing.

To review the simple process:

Measure remotes & find a book
Cut out the center pages
Glue the sides
Allow to dry

It can’t get much easier than that! And with supplies that most people have around their home.

“In my book” (😆) nothing is better than a free project that will boost the beauty of your space.

We’ve been hiding our remotes in the same coffee table storage book for YEARS. It’s almost 8 years later and it’s still in great shape, is beautiful and functional and definitely one of my favorite DIY’s.