The Book Nook: How to Design a Reading Room That Will Foster Your Child's Interest in Literature
Posted on: 14 February 2019
Most parents agree that learning to read well is vital to a child's success in life; however, reading often gets pushed aside by the lure of television and electronic devices. Fortunately, there is a lot a parent can do to encourage a love of reading in their children, and designing a book nook is a great way to start.
Book nook basics
Start by painting the room in a soft color to promote a relaxing atmosphere. Subtle shades of blue and green work well. Neutral shades such as off-white, gray, and beige are also great choices. Avoid harsh or bright colors.
Carpet is a great choice for flooring, as it provides natural noise reduction and is warm and inviting. Again, choose a neutral or subtle color that isn't distracting. If you prefer a hard-surface flooring, you can add a large rug to provide a cozy touch.
Select one wall of the room to dedicate to book storage. Install floor-to-ceiling shelving with a movable ladder to allow plenty of room for your library to expand and grow with your child's interests. You can organize the books alphabetically or choose to arrange them according to genre or author by using shelf clip label holders.
Comfortable seating is a must. Small sofas, child-sized chairs or recliners, and bean-bag chairs are popular with younger children. Throw pillows in different sizes can be used on chairs or on the floor.
Decorate it with framed literature-themed pictures and prints
Purchase prints or posters of classic children's book covers or other literature-themed art and have them professionally framed to create a unique gallery wall for your book nook. Snap a few photos of your book nook to show to your framing specialist, and they will help you select the best custom picture frames to match your decorating style.
You may wish to have one large poster framed to use with a floor easel to add a unique touch to the room. Use your framed prints as an incentive to read the classics together with your child. These prints can also be useful for teaching your child about famous authors and studying interesting facts about the authors.
Building your book collection
Look for books at things like yard sales and flea markets. You can often purchase boxes of books at local garage sales for a small fee. Used-book stores and consignment shops are other good places to find books. You may also wish to encourage family members to purchase books for holiday and birthday gifts for your child.
Encouraging your child to develop a love of reading is important to their success in school. Designing a cozy and inviting book nook is a great way to get your child started on a lifelong journey into the wonderful world of literature.
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