Need a reading nook for kids corner on a budget? A cozy reading space or a fun book nook for kids can encourage your kids to read (and even encourages struggling readers!), but the reading corner is more than just fluffy pillows! Here are the best kids reading corner ideas for home, classroom decorations, homeschooling learning, and school at home and how to create a budget-friendly space for kids to read.
BEST READING NOOK FOR KIDS CORNER IDEAS
How To Create Cozy Reading Nook Ideas For Kids On A Budget! Wether you’re looking for how to create a cheap reading corner for kids, reading room ideas, classroom reading corners, homeschool reading nooks, want to put a reading nook in bedroom, need fun playroom ideas or want to create a small reading nook cozy corner in any space, there’s something here for you!
How To Make A Cozy Reading Space For Kids
Ever notice how kids migrate to a library reading space? That’s because their reading space design speaks to kids and even encourages children to read.
(You can even get some ideas for reading corner for your home if you pay close attention to the library children’s book!)
The great thing about book nooks or reading corners is that you can make them anywhere! (We have a under stair reading nook which makes one of our private reading nooks for small spaces that my daughter loves!)
You don’t need a full room or a playroom for a reading space. You can carve out room in a bedroom or a corner of the living room. Whether you’re wondering how to make a reading nook for toddler or teen or you just need reading corner ideas for small classroom, these tips will help!
Before we get to reading nook ideas for small spaces and reading corner decorating ideas, let’s answer some common questions you may have…
What is a reading nook?
A reading nook, also called a reading corner, is a quiet reading space for kids. A good reading corner is not only comfortable, but will also inspire children to relax and read books or study for prolonged periods of time. It can be a small reading space or even take up a large portion of a room.
What makes a good book corner?
The best designed reading nooks:
- Has plenty of different kinds of children’s books available.
- Provides comfortable cushions, reading chairs and blankets.
- Uses reading lights that can be turned bright or low, as needed.
- Organizes with bookshelves or book baskets.
- Uses personalized and inspiring decorations.
- Decorates in a way that allows quiet or solitary reading.
- Offers quiet learning tools or hands-on games.
- Makes kids want to read and learn! (If you’re wondering how to encourage a child to read, give them their own reading space!)
How do I make a reading nook for my kids?
To create a kids reading corner or cozy reading space:
- Pick the perfect spot in the classroom, living room, playroom, bedroom or other area.
- Ask the kids what they would like in their children’s reading corner.
- Decide on a theme or color scheme.
- Organize books and quiet games in easy-to-reach ways.
- Provide pillows, chairs, reading carpet squares or a reading chair and blankets to make it cozy and comfortable.
- Be sure to include adequate reading lights and book lights.
- Periodically change out books and solitary games to keep kids interested, curious, engaged and encouraged.
MORE HELPFUL READING TIPS: Struggling Reader Issues? Tips To Turn A Reluctant Reader Into A Bookworm!
How To Decorate a Reading Corner On A Budget
Making a reading corner for children doesn’t need to be expensive. In fact, you may have a lot of the reading nook supplies and items at home right now!
What to put in a reading corner:
- Books
- Pillows and cushions
- Great lighting
- Tents or canopy
- Twinkle lights
- Fun rug
- Bookshelves or book baskets
- Small toy characters from books
MORE RESOURCES FOR HOMESCHOOL ROOMS, CLASSROOMS & KIDS’ PLAYROOMS:
Homeschool Room Ideas | Ultimate Affordable Classroom Makeover [INCLUDING PICTURES and VIDEO TOUR]
10 Examples of How to Put a Homeschool Room Study Area in a Bedroom [WITH PICTURES]
35 AMAZING Homeschool Room Ideas for Small Spaces
Book Corner Rug: 37 Classroom Rugs To Rock Your Learning Space (Without Breaking the Bank)
What aspects are important in mind when designing a reading corner?
- Where will you locate your reading corner? Is it easily accessible for kids?
- How is the lighting? Do you need to add more lighting to the area? Is there enough natural light?
- Is the reading space in a quiet area or do you need to create an area of solitude and quiet with a canopy?
- How will you store the books for the reading nook?
- How will you make the reading corner cozy and comfortable?
- What decorations will you use to inspire reading and encourage learning?
How do you make a cozy reading space?
- Go for comfort first and cuteness second.
- Provide big floor pillows and even blankets for reading (and even napping!).
- Use draping material, tents, or even hanging pod chairs to create a cocoon-like reading space.
- Let your kids help decorate reading space and make it their own.
What can I put in an empty corner?
An empty corner in a house or classroom is perfect for an inspiring reading space for kids of any age!
Reading nooks can easily blend into the decor of the rest of the room or can be defined with a reading corner canopy, strategic lighting and shelves, or reading corner decorations.
How to Decorate Reading Corners With Cheap And Easy Reading Corner Decor Ideas
Here are reading corner decoration ideas you don’t want to miss.
And, they even work for toddler reading nook ideas!
Book Corner Reading Lights
Lighting is probably the most important part of a reading space nook. If your kids can’t see to read, then they will be discouraged and won’t hang out in the reading corner.
If your reading corner is near a window or on a window reading bench where they can get natural light, then great! But, you’ll still want to provide some kind of lighting so kids can hang out on rainy days or even at night.
Try book nook reading lights that offer overhead light. You may be tempted to go with the cute light (based on your theme), but the primary goal should be good overhead light.
You can also use bedside reading lights flexible bending clip-on type for tables, lap desks, or bookcases in your reading corner.
I love this one for kids that clips right on to their book so no matter if they move around in the book nook, they still have the same amount of light.
Also, try reading Christmas lights (twinkle lights) if your reading space is under a canopy or in a closet. We have battery operated twinkle lights in our book nook in the closet under the stairs (because there’s no outlet in there) and my daughter loves them.
Another great light for reading are these battery powered headlamps. These serve dual purpose for emergencies (my daughter has used them MANY times during power outages) and for your nook book corner!
Reading Nook Tent
A reading corner canopy is one of the coolest things you can put in your reading space. There’s just something about being able to crawl into a tent space and be away from everyone that kids love.
The purpose of using a reading tent or reading drape is to create a small space that feels private, comfortable, and secure for children.
And, a kids reading tent can be as small or large as your space allows.
Plus, you can do a reading tent DIY (with blankets or sheets) or buy a cool children’s reading tent — so it works for all budgets or needs!
Here are some of our favorite reading canopies / reading tents:
(I love the tents for a reading corner toddler bedroom idea!)
Pillows For Reading Corner
Big pillows for reading corner are a must!
(Or, at least smaller pillows for your reading corner.)
Pillows are great because all the kids to get comfortable, which means they’ll stay seated and reading longer!
You can scatter regular bed pillows around, smaller throw pillows, or check into floor pillows for kids reading nook like these:
Reading Carpet Squares
Reading squares or round carpet circles are small pieces of carpet that kids can move around to sit on. They work especially well in a classroom or if you have multiple kids.
Here are some ideas for sit spot squares:
► ALSO CHECK OUT MORE LEARNING SPACE IDEAS: Book Corner Rug Ideas
Reading Corner Decorations
OK!
Now that you have a reading tent and some reading cushions, what about decorations?
One of the things that we did one year that I really loved was create a reading tree.
We put a tree decal in our reading corner.
Each time my daughter read a book, she wrote the title and book author on a decal leaf and added it to our tree.
It was fun to her progressing with reading through the year and then how many leaves were on the tree at the end of the year.
Ideas ForReading Nook Furniture
What kind of furniture for reading nooks is best?
(And, do you even need furniture?)
Whether or not you need reading nook furniture will depend on your space and your goals.
Some people need a reading corner to serve as a study area and may need a desk.
Others may have a small space reading corner with some scattered cushions that works perfectly for their space.
You’ll need to assess your area and be clear on your goals before buying furniture for a reading area.
The best children’s reading corner furniture invites kids in and gets them to stay!
What is the best reading chair?
The number one goal of a reading corner chair is comfort.
You want your kids to snuggle down and stay comfortable for reading, so get their input on the kids reading chair.
Reading Space Desk or Children’s Table
If you need your reading area to do double duty as a homeschool classroom or homework table, add a small desk or table.
I love these for a versatile reading space desk:
Or, check this out. It goes from a reading lounge couch to seats with a desk!
If you have a little more room, you can add a kids’ table — bonus if it has storage like this one!
If you’re looking for small space solutions, go with a kid’s lap desk or pop-up tray tables that can be stored away in a closet or under a bed when not in use.
Reading Nook Bench
Reading nook benches are another great way to encourage “hanging out” in your learning space.
If you are short on book storage spaces or bookshelves, look for a reading nook bench with storage.
Reading Nook Bookshelves
Bookshelves are the last piece of your reading space.
If you’re using a freestanding bookshelf, be sure to anchor them to the wall so they aren’t a safety hazard for kids who may climb to get the books they want.
Or, try a low bookshelf, which are great for toddlers reading areas or preschoolers ideas.
And, don’t forget about good, old-fashioned book baskets or crates!
They’re great alternatives for a small reading space or if you don’t want to use book shelves.
Fun Reading Space Ideas For Kids
OK!
Now that we’ve talked about what goes in your reading corner, let’s talk about where you should carve out a reading space.
Don’t worry about how to create an appropriate reading space.
Focus more on a reading corner that will work best for your child’s needs and interests in your home.
The rest (their interest in reading) will come!
Need reading space inspiration and reading nook ideas to get you started?
Reading Nook Under Stairs
If you have a closet space under your stairs, then you definitely need to consider converting it to your reading space!
(We have an under stair reading nook that my daughter loves! Because it’s in the closet, she gets to decorate it how she wants and it’s her private space.)
The space under the stairs usually isn’t wide, but it’s deep. You can definitely fit some cool floor cushions or a pop-up chair. (We have one like this.)
The only problem with an under the stairs closet is that there usually isn’t access to an electrical outlet … which means no lights.
We get around that problem by using battery operated twinkle lights and lamps. (It’s surprisingly bright in there!)
We also used chalkboard contact paper on one wall to allow for some art and creative fun!
Reading Nook In Closet
If you don’t have an under stair closet, you can make a closet reading space in a walk in closet or even a small reading space in a regular closet. (For real. Check out people who put actual “classrooms” or learning spaces in super small closets!)
►TIP: If you remove the closet doors and use a cool curtain (like one with lights attached), you’ll get more space in your closet reading nook.
Empty Corner Reading Space
If you’re wondering how to fill empty corners in rooms, you can carve out a DIY reading corner from those empty spaces!
To make the perfect cozy reading nook, make a canopy reading corner using blankets, sheets or buy a canopy for reading corner.
Reading Space in Bedroom
If you need ideas for reading corner in bedroom, you first need to think about your goals for that space.
You may want your reading corner reading corner in bedroom to be just for reading. Or you may need a bedroom reading corner that also serves as a homework area or study space.
A children’s reading corner in the bedroom can be as simple as a cool rug and a bean bag chair or comfortable chair.
Hanging pod chairs are perfect for bedroom reading corners!
A small corner bench with storage is perfect for a bedroom reading corner.
Reading Nook Ideas Living Room
Ideas for reading corner decor for a living room or family room can be tricky.
The biggest challenge with a living room corner reading is that you probably want to stay with the same decor as the your living or family room.
You create a living room reading nook that stays with the current decorations/color schemes by:
- Using matching, small rugs to designate a reading corner
- Matching bookshelves to current furniture or decor
- Providing the same cushions or matching cushions for the corner or a cushy, comfortable reading corner chair
- Using baskets for books and toys
Outdoor Reading Nook DIY
When you’re creating a reading space, don’t forget about an outdoor reading nook on your porch, balcony, or backyard!
Use tents, outdoor chairs, or even hanging chairs or swings for your outdoor area.
ALSO CHECK OUT MORE FUN LEARNING SPACE IDEAS: Crazy Amazing Outdoor Class Room Ideas + Nature Learning Spaces
Have fun creating your Reading Nook for Kids!
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