11 Clever Ways to Display and Store Children’s Books
Inspire a love of books in young readers by keeping their beloved stories easy to see and reach
Becky Harris
January 17, 2016
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
My mom tells me that as a little girl I would memorize children’s books and then recite them to my baby brother, pretending I was reading them. This is how I first developed my love of books and reading, and I remember all my favorites always being close at hand whenever I wanted them.
Reading to children creates lifelong memories. I still feel a wave of happy nostalgia when I see Blueberries for Sal, Babar and Are You My Mother? Keeping books easy to see and reach can ensure that you and your kids enjoy them more often. When little ones are in the crib, display books so the grown-ups can easily choose and grab one at story time. As your kids start walking around, you’ll want spots they can see and reach themselves.
Reading to children creates lifelong memories. I still feel a wave of happy nostalgia when I see Blueberries for Sal, Babar and Are You My Mother? Keeping books easy to see and reach can ensure that you and your kids enjoy them more often. When little ones are in the crib, display books so the grown-ups can easily choose and grab one at story time. As your kids start walking around, you’ll want spots they can see and reach themselves.
1. On kids’ shelves in the grown-up library. Talking about displaying books on Houzz can be a bit tricky, as bibliophiles tend to object to arranging books by color or using books just for decor. But children’s books are a big exception. Displaying them adds to the decor of a room, but, more important, makes them easy for little eyes to see and for little hands to grab at reading time. It’s all about function.
Here, display shelves to the floor are within the reach of toddlers in this family-friendly reading space. It’s a great way for all ages to feel included.
Here, display shelves to the floor are within the reach of toddlers in this family-friendly reading space. It’s a great way for all ages to feel included.
2. In a wagon. I love the idea of a toddler’s being able to pull his or her books around — it’s a mini-bookmobile for the house. This is also a great way to incorporate a cheery vintage Radio Flyer into the decor.
See the rest of this home
Rug: Pottery Barn Kids
See the rest of this home
Rug: Pottery Barn Kids
3. On picture rails. Children’s book covers are so colorful and artful that they can be a wonderful addition to the decor of a room. In this room, the books are propped up on picture rails gallery-style, and their bright colors add to the welcoming style of the nursery. They are easy to see and pull down for a cuddle and a read in the comfy chair next to the rails.
See the rest of this nursery
See the rest of this nursery
The cover art often includes happy primary colors. Here, the designers used a bold yellow wall paint behind the picture rails that highlights the book covers.
Wall paint (similar): Sunporch, Benjamin Moore; rocker: Monde; pillow: Jonathan Adler; shelves: custom
Wall paint (similar): Sunporch, Benjamin Moore; rocker: Monde; pillow: Jonathan Adler; shelves: custom
4. On repurposed shelves. Interior designer Jennifer Bishop painted wooden spice racks from Ikea orange and put them to creative use. They are deep enough for a few stuffed animal friends to join in the fun.
Shelves: Bekväm Spice Rack, Ikea
Shelves: Bekväm Spice Rack, Ikea
5. On a plate rack. Mounting a plate rack to the wall saves floor space, which is particularly useful in a nursery where space is tight. Vintage or new, plate racks are just the right size for children’s books, which tend to be slim.
Plate rack: Pottery Barn; bench seat: Land of Nod
Plate rack: Pottery Barn; bench seat: Land of Nod
This is a more contemporary and streamlined take on the plate-rack idea.
Bookshelves: custom
Bookshelves: custom
6. On whimsically designed shelves. The Bookworm bookshelf by Ron Arad can be configured in different ways. It gives the books a big sculpture to rest upon.
Bookworm bookshelf: The Conran Shop
Bookworm bookshelf: The Conran Shop
7. On bunk bed stairs. These clever steps up to the top bunk have plenty of room to stash lots of books within reach.
Stair shelves: custom; wall paint: Whitestone, Benjamin Moore; pendant light: The Barn Light Electric Co.; Ultra loft bed: Maxtrix, customized by the designer; small sleeper sofa: CB2
Stair shelves: custom; wall paint: Whitestone, Benjamin Moore; pendant light: The Barn Light Electric Co.; Ultra loft bed: Maxtrix, customized by the designer; small sleeper sofa: CB2
8. In a boat. This boat-shaped storage unit keeps books neat, organized and within easy reach.
9. In a fireplace. This one sounds like an idea for a book burner, but I promise it’s not. This out-of-commission fireplace, painted and tiled, with a little reader included in the photo, is clearly a smart spot for storing books.
What to Do With That Fireplace You’re Not Using
What to Do With That Fireplace You’re Not Using
10. Under a window seat. A cozy cushioned seat under the window makes for a wonderful reading nook. All of the reading material is close at hand in the storage area below.
Wall paint: Moonlight White, Benjamin Moore; custom bedspread fabric: Kobe; light: Trianon: rug: Dominion Rug; curtain fabric: Genevieve, Pierre Frey
Wall paint: Moonlight White, Benjamin Moore; custom bedspread fabric: Kobe; light: Trianon: rug: Dominion Rug; curtain fabric: Genevieve, Pierre Frey
11. In a secret fort. This grown-up library contains a secret …
… there’s a hidden door to a secret fort behind the shelves, where the kids can stash their favorite titles.
More: Learn more about hiding a secret door within bookshelves
More: Learn more about hiding a secret door within bookshelves
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I think the plate rack idea sounds brilliant for magazines, and even a lot of cookbooks (which can also be slim).
But was there a mistake at the start of section 1? Didn't you mean 'talking about books on Houzz can be tricky, because designers and decorators see books simply as items with which to decorate, and object to organising them in ways which makes them easy to find, use and love'? Glad to see that all of the ways illustrated in this article follow a bibliophile's tendency - making books easy to appreciate in themselves - rather than as background to an aesthetic vision . . .
I love those bunk bed stairs! great use of space
Another popular book rail idea I saw on a homeschooling site is to install lengths of vinyl guttering on the walls of kids' rooms. There are so many ways to display books, but the basic idea is to arrange them with the covers visible because kids are more likely to be interested in them and choose them to read that way, as opposed to having to pull them off traditional bookshelves where only the spines are showing.
For the past 16 years our family's literature-based homeschooling lifestyle has been centered around reading good books together. I still read aloud to my now-17-year-old daughter. If I don't, she misses the snuggling on the couch and the joy of sharing a good book together. Reading together has been a huge part of the precious relationship we've shared since she was little. We will both graduate this year from homeschooling in June, but her love of good literature (including the critical skills to discern good from not-so-good literature!) is a foundation stone in her life. She writes poetry and novels of her own now, and journals every single day -- hasn't missed a day in something like 6 years, she tells me.
I can't stress enough how important it is that parents read to their children! A child who grows up with poor reading skills is pretty helpless as an adult in this world.
Thank you Becky for these ideas. Your story about memorizing your favorite books reminded me of my oldest, who will be 30 in March. He pretty much taught himself to read when he was 3. It started with recognizing store logos and exit signs, then one day he sat down with a book and was just determined to learn to read it. By the time he was 4, he could read just about anything. Spooked out one of his preschool teachers, who had never dealt with a young child who could read like he could. I'll never forget standing in the checkout line at the grocery store with him at age 4 and realizing the "National Enquirer" was right at his eye level. On the cover was a doctored-up photo and the caption read, "Woman Gives Birth to Amazing Fish Boy!" All I could think was, "How will I EVER explain this to him?!" LOL!