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I have a lot of books. You can find a bookcase in many rooms in my house. But how many books are just sitting there, month after month waiting for some little hands to snatch them up? I know there are books my kids don’t even know we own. That’s when I realized I needed to find creative ways to display books so kids will want to read them.
Kids are visual. Marketers know this and use it to their advantage. As parents, we can use this knowledge for our benefit too. We can find creative ways to display books so kids will want to read them!
Think about the last time you visited a book store or library. What book did you pick up first? The one jammed in the shelf with only the spine showing? Or the one with its cover facing out and at eye level? How books are displayed plays a huge role in attracting our attention.
How to Use Creative Ways to Display Books so Kids Will Want to Read Them
1. Make a list of the rooms you would like to have books available.
Don’t keep all your books in one place. To encourage your kids to read any time and anywhere, put books all over your house. Here’s my list of rooms.
- Kitchen
- Dining Room
- Living Room
- Bedroom
- Bathroom
2. Decide the quantity of books for each room.
For example, in your living room you may have space for a large bookshelf, whereas in your bathroom you may want just a small book basket. The size of your room, its function, and how much time your kids spend there will help you determine how many books you’ll want to add to the space.
3. Find the right type of storage solution for each room.
Some types of book storage are portable, while other types are attached to the wall. Book storage comes in different sizes, too, like large traditional bookshelves or small baskets. Think about whether you want permanent fixtures or the ability to change up your decor.
List of Creative Ways to Display Books so Kids Will Want to Read Them
The creative ways to display books listed below take advantage of our children’s visual nature and display book covers facing out.
DIY Book Bin
I love this book bin idea. It’s the perfect solution for a child’s bedroom. It holds plenty of books, and the book covers face out, making it easy for a child to browse. You can tailor the look with wallpaper and paint to match your style and adjust the height of the bin to your child’s needs.
Book Caddy
This wooden book caddy has plenty of space for books. What is nice about its design is how it cradles the books so the spines face upward toward the viewer. There’s also a shelf below to stack books.
Book Sling
You can purchase book slings which are essentially fabric bookcases that showcase book covers, but you can also make your own single sling version to attach to a wall. A single book sling would be ideal for the top bunk when a nightstand is out of the question.
Baskets
Perhaps the simplest and most inexpensive way to display books so your kids will read them is with baskets. You can choose from fabric, metal, wooden, plastic, and woven (affiliate links). Baskets make it easy to tote books around. A child can grab a basket and find a quiet spot to read. They are great for small spaces, like the bathroom, too. Tuck them in a corner, next to the couch, beside a beanbag, or even in the car.
Wire Wall Basket
This tall wire wall basket has sufficient space for books and magazines. It would look great in a kitchen. Add some children’s cookbooks and the latest chapter book you’re reading to your kids, and you’ll be all set.
DIY Wall mounted bookshelves
I love the clean lines of these wooden book ledges. If you’re handy with a hammer and nails, these shelves would make a nice addition to any room in your home where you want to display a small collection of books.
Key Points to Remember
#1 Make books accessible all over your house.
Books belong in all rooms of your home. Don’t confine them to the home library. Be strategic in planting books in spaces where you and your kids will be tempted to pick them up and read.
For example, I like to leave the chapter book I’m reading on the end table next to the couch. Any time I want to connect with my son to help him wind down, I can grab it and start reading to him.
Key #2 Don’t just stick books on a shelf and expect your kids to read them.
If your whole library consists of a wall of shelves, chances are your kids will be overwhelmed and the bookshelf may become just another piece of furniture. By providing books in smaller doses and placing them in strategic locations, you increase the chance your kids will grab a book and read.
Here are some other helpful hints:
- Rotate books regularly
- Occasionally move baskets around the room to different locations
- Let your kids see you reading the books
- Invite your child to sit with you and read a book
- Invite your kids to help you decide which books to include, especially those in their bedrooms
- Narrow down your entire book collection to include only the most attractive, high quality books
Conclusion
It’s important to have books all around your home if you want to help your child develop a love of reading. But, in addition to your book collection, you want to be intentional in how you display your books. Don’t cram them all onto one large, standard bookshelf and expect your child to spend hours perusing the books. You need to entice them. Use a variety of clever book storage solutions that display covers facing out, so that your kids can see the bold colorful illustrations and titles.
Your Turn
Are your children being enticed to read the books in your home? How do you like to display books so your kids will want to read them?
