Book Nook Tips: How to Create a Fun Environment for At-Home Readers
Mar 01, 2021
- Keep it cozy: You want your kids to love hanging out in this space. Make the reading nook cozy and relaxing by incorporating plenty of soft materials, like cute throw pillows and warm blankets.
- Don’t forget seating: For maximum comfort, skip the traditional wooden desk chair and add in a bean bag or a kid-sized armchair for your child to lounge and learn on. By adding in alternatives to a desk, you make the space feel more fun, leisurely and a little less like their school space.
- Add storage and organization: Give your kids easy access to the books they love by adding in some simple shelving. This helps keep the nook organized while adding a little décor to the walls. Also consider stashing a serving tray nearby for cups of tea, hot cocoa, popcorn or other snacks your child may want to have nearby as they read.
- Add personality: Be sure to make the reading nook bright and colorful! Bold colors and patterns can help your child feel like they’re truly in their own sanctuary that looks unlike any other area of the house. Look for wall décor or area rugs to help define the space. Also, invite your kids in on the decorating process. By giving them ownership into what they’ll want to see in their reading nook – maybe it’s a few stuffed animals or pictures they’ve painted that they are really proud of – they’ll be more likely to spend time reading there.
- Stock the shelves: The most important element of any reading nook is the books! Mix up the type of books your kids have access to, from educational books to others that are more fictional or imaginative. Did you know the books you buy can sometimes help kids in need, too? Zulily – the online retailer for moms – has partnered with Simon & Schuster for a series of special weekly sales. From March 2 through April 1, Simon & Schuster will donate a book to First Book on titles in specially marked buy one, give one events. Up to 50,000 books will be donated to kids in need.
