10 of the Best Designed Reading Zones for Kids

Create a cosy spot where your mini bookworm can get lost in fairy tales, sci-fi stories and more by borrowing ideas from these reading zones

Natasha Saroca 6 March 2017

Houzz Australia Contributor. Natasha is a freelance journalist who began her career working across a number of home design and lifestyle magazines, including BuildHOME and Kitchens & Bathrooms Quarterly. She enjoys writing about design and colour trends, decorating ideas (particularly how to transform rooms with colour and patterns), organisation tips, entertaining ideas and easy updates for the home. When she’s not creating Ideabooks for Houzz, Natasha can be found writing about all things fashion for Missy Confidential, working on her soon-to-be-launched website – www.asmartsequin.com – or shopping online for new quilt covers, cushions and fashion illustrations (her three current obsessions).

Houzz Australia Contributor. Natasha is a freelance journalist who began her career... More

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Is your little one an avid reader or a reluctant one? One way to nurture your youngster’s love of reading or to get them hooked on the pastime, is by creating a cosy and enticing reading spot that appeals to their imagination and gets them excited about the activity, so they don’t view it as a chore. If you’re toying with the idea of setting up a reading nook in your budding bookworm’s bedroom or another area of your home, this article is for you. Get inspired by the fun, fabulous and oh-so comfy book nook ideas below, which are bound to get your kids amped up for story time and (hopefully) become book lovers for life.

The Sky is the Limit Design

1. Happy place
Fun and funky decor? Check. Snuggle-worthy seating? Check. Good lighting, plenty of books and a playful vibe? Check, check and check. I bet most youngsters would happily spend hours getting lost in books about hungry caterpillars, green eggs and ham, or pint-sized wizards in this enticing play and reading zone.

Austin Maynard Architects

2. Suspended reality
I think it’s safe to say that an ultra-cool floating book nook like the one in this Melbourne home would be a hit with readers of all ages, be it mini to more mature bookworms. If you don’t have the budget or the ceiling height to create a suspended hangout zone into your home, a hammock is a more affordable and achievable option. Hang it indoors from a ceiling beam, or string up your swinging seat between two leafy trees to create a relaxing reading retreat outside.

Room of the Day: Where Imagination Rules

3. Storybook setting
Isn’t this whimsical woodland-themed reading nook absolutely darling? Dreamed up by an interior designer for her three children, the enchanting set-up boasts of all important book nook ingredients: Sink-in seating in the form of inflatable log stools and toadstool benches, good lighting to prevent little eyes from squinting and shelves to stash books. The imaginative reading alcove provides the perfect spot for youngsters to curl up in and lose themselves to the classic reads like The Magic Faraway Tree, Alice in Wonderland and Snugglepot and Cuddlepie.

See more of this whimsical reading nook

Steven Dona Architecture

4. Novel idea
Draw inspiration from classic kids’ books or your little miss or mister’s favourite reads. My favourite book-themed reading zone on Houzz is without a doubt this enchanting Narnia-themed secret den, which is – you guessed it – hidden behind a beautiful, oversized armoire.

If you don’t have a spare room that you can transform into a magical hideaway inspired by the classic kids’ fantasy novel, convert an unused closet into a secluded reading sanctuary instead. Furnish it with floor cushions or a built-in cushioned bench, good lighting and a snuggle-worthy throw and voila! Your book nook is complete!

Design by Numbers / Rebecca Zajac LLC

5. Teepee time
If you’re living in a rental property or don’t want to commit to a built-in book nook, getting your DIY on and making a teepee (or buying one if you’re not handy with a sewing machine) is a great alternative. The portable tents make the perfect reading nooks as they’re cosy, playful and will make story time feel like an adventure, so even the most reluctant of pint-sized readers are sure to fight for a spot inside.

When setting up your teepee, position it over a super-soft rug (sheepskin or shag rugs are ideal options) and fill it with plush cushions and throws so your little one can read away in cosy comfort. You might like to wind fairy lights around the tops of the wooden rods to illuminate and add a magical vibe to the enchanting reading zone.

10 irresistible tented havens for kids

Holly Marder

6. Hangout zone
Install a hanging chair in your little one’s book nook and you can guarantee that they’ll swing by a few times a day to sneak in a reading session. If you have more than one child, outfit the area with extra seating so your youngsters have somewhere to perch and flip through a book while they (not-so) patiently await their turn. A built-in bench like the one in this cosy corner is a great option as it delivers additional seating, as well as extra storage for your children’s growing book collection.

Merzbau Design Collective

7. Nice niche
Now, here’s a book nook that takes things to the next level. Rather than positioning your child’s dedicated reading area on floor level, take design cues from this cool kids’ zone and carve out a reading loft instead. Your budding bookworms are sure to get a kick out of the elevated hideout, not only because it affords them privacy but because they’ll feel like the king or queen of their castle, too.

If I were to make one small tweak to this book nook though, it would be to add recessed shelving to the alcove. This would save youngsters from climbing up and down the ladder every time they finish a book to fetch a new one.

Roselind Wilson Design

If you have smaller kids and aren’t too keen on creating a book nook that’s sky high, take things down a notch and opt for a built-in alcove that sits at a more child-friendly height. Stick with a run-of-the-mill boxy or rectangular recess, or have a bit of fun and carve out a circular nook instead. Here, lively red suede-like fabric highlights the quirky shape of the niche, while the scalloped padding dials up the comfort and playful vibe of the space.

Home Interior Warehouse

8. Adventure land
This outdoorsy-themed bunk and book nook is sure to delight any pint-sized explorer who loves to read. String lights and a heavy-duty torch add to the area’s campsite-like vibe, while a cushy pillow provides a spot for youngsters to rest their head or prop up a book as they read. If you’re keen to create a similar set-up at home for your mini bookworm, fill their library with tales that match the theme. I’m thinking Curious George Goes Camping, A Week in the Woods or Where the Wild Things Are.

Kids’ bedrooms you secretly wish you could have

Learn'ique: Design-to-Learn

9. Grey matter
While many parents would skip grey when choosing a colour scheme for their little one’s reading zone, the moody hue is actually an ideal choice as it’s calming and creates a cosy, cocoon-like atmosphere. The neutral hue not only sets the scene for a relaxing and leisurely reading session but also helps youngsters concentrate during story time, unlike livelier tones which may prove too stimulating and distracting. Add flashes of cheerful colour to pep up the space – brightly toned book spines, toys and letter magnets do the job nicely here.

Sarah Greenman

10. Treetop hideaway
This peaceful pocket is nestled in the gabled roof of a tree house, which ramps up its fun factor and overall appeal. While this intimate niche can only accommodate one youngster, there’s another book nook located in a recess along the adjacent wall, which is sure to prevent squabbles among siblings come story time.

TASARIM PERDE VE DEKORASYON SAN. TIC. LTD. STI

Read more:
Out-Of-The-Box Shelves for Your Kids
Zany Bunk Beds Your Kids Will Love

Tell us:
Have you created a novel book nook for your budding reader? We’d love to hear about it, so share your design secrets (and photos of the space!) in the Comments below.