Reading corners aren’t just found in classrooms. Despite how much effort you put into your reading corner, there are times when you need to make a trip to the school library.
Learning in the library is a fun and essential part of school life. Kids will learn how to use the library to find information and help them complete research projects. They will also practice important skills in awareness of their environment and manners, making sure everyone can use the space without being bothered. It’s also an excellent way to jump-start activities if you need a change of scenery.
Here, we cover seven ideas for decorating your library reading corner to get kids excited about visiting the school library.
The walls of your library are valuable spaces where you can put up visually stimulating material to help kids stay engaged with learning and activities. Here are some articles where we help teachers and librarians come up with new and exciting displays
- Ideas for Your Classroom Reading Corner Display
- 25 Reading Corner Display Quotes
- Resources for Classroom Reading Corner Quotes
- Reading Corner Display Printables: What You Need and Where to Find Them
- Make a Winning Reading Corner Display Banner
- The Best Places to Find Printable Reading Corner Display Posters
- Our Top 7 Reading Corner Display Lettering Sets
- Make or Download a Printable Reading Corner Display Banner
- Reading Corner Display Ideas: KS2 Decorating Activities
1. Use books as part of your display
No matter how large your school library we can guarantee you’ll always find yourself without space. Schools have a way of filling up with books, projects, old work, display materials, and all kinds of other things. Save on vital space while also using your books as part of your library wall display.
You can do this by using particular types of bookshelves that sit flat against the wall. Each unit comprises several shelves, and books are stacked front-facing along each shelf. This means you can safely store books and keep their covers on show.
Displaying your books allows you to make full use of the imaginative cover art. Your students might even be curious enough to pick up a book they otherwise would have missed. We have lots of options for flat bookshelves, including:
- A Horizontal Wall-Mounted Book Rack that can be screwed into the wall and kept well out of the way.
- A Floor-Standing Book Rack for when it’s not possible or practical to fix one to the wall.
- A Face-on Display Shelf that is freestanding and can be wheeled around.
2. Section off cosy reading spaces
In your library, it’s important to section off different spaces for different activities and make these clear, so there’s no confusion when following the rules. Sectioning off special cosy reading spaces helps direct children where to go when they want to settle down and read a book.
Reading corner furniture units are excellent if you want a ‘drag-and-drop’ option to create reading spaces dotted about your library. We like the Reading Corner Seat with Big Book Box and Kinderbox unit because it comes with two comfy, cushioned seats and ample book storage.
If you want more flexibility with creating reading spots in the library, modular seating is a fun way to do this. Modular seating comprises lots of smaller seating units that fit together, allowing you to create seating in whatever size or shape you need. Here are just some modular seating units we sell:
3. Create ‘reading corner pods’
Consider making special' reading corner pods for the more extensive libraries or those who may get even more creative with reading spots in the room. Small, enclosed structures allow children to get comfy and cosy, helping them get engrossed in a book.
Creating your own reading corner pods is easy using sheets, screens, or stiff cardboard—get creative with what you have available. We also offer pre-designed reading corner structures that fit nicely into classrooms and libraries. Each design is built with comfort and concentration in mind and allows children to sit or lay down to read quietly. Our top ten are:
We’ve got lots of creative ideas to help you furnish your reading corner or library in our blog
- DIY Reading Corner Ideas
- Reading Corner Display Ideas for EYFS, KS1, and KS2
- Springboard Supplies’ Guide to Reading Corner Furniture
- Reading Corner Canopy Ideas
- 10 Reading Corner Rugs Teachers Love
- 7 Reading Corner Classroom Library Decorating Ideas
- Tips for Making a Cosy Reading Corner
- Reading Corner Phonics Books from the Teaching Supplies Experts
4. Use colour to create sections
Building on our idea of creating individual sections to help students navigate the library, we find the use of colour can be a powerful way to define areas and guide people around a space. Our modular seating units come in different colours: rainbow (apple green, sunflower yellow, cornflower blue, and poppy red) and pastel (spring green, sky blue, banana yellow, and lilac). Mix and match colours to define specific seating areas.
Using subtle colour accents, such as different coloured filing boxes, in different parts of the library will also help everyone remember the rules in certain areas. For example, the blue area is for completely silent reading, whereas the red zone is for quiet work in pairs. Help with wayfinding in the library by taping coloured paper border roll to the floor to direct people to the right places.
5. Build a cosy den
Is there a section of the reading corner dedicated to storytime or circle time? Make this into an extra-cosy reading corner den to help everyone calm down and get comfy enough to concentrate on a story. It’s important to start with a comfortable base to ensure no one’s sitting on a cold or hard floor. We cover our top ten reading corner rugs in our blog.
Some oversized cushions and bean bags wouldn’t go amiss. We offer a few different two or even three-seater bean bags that kids can snuggle up on. Here are some good options:
- Round Sagbag Giant Floor Cushion: large and flat, made of soft-touch vinyl.
- Bean Bags: extra easy to grab and move around. We love this summer meadow print.
- Floor Bean Bag Cushion: realistic autumn leaf design cushion with enough space to nap on.
We also stock den making supplies that make it easy to create a soft and secluded feel. Pin up different sheets of fabric or drape them from the ceiling to lower the height of the storytime space. All our den making packs, like the Autumn Den Making Pack, come with various complementing fabrics in varying colours and textures. Or you could opt for some camouflage netting.
6. Keep a stack of grab-cushions handy
No matter how you plan out your library space, it’s essential to make sure there are cushions at the ready for students to grab and set up in a quiet corner of their choosing. There are lots of different options for cushions in your library space. Choose some that can be easily stacked or stored out of the way if needed.
Cushions should be light and small, so it’s easy even for young children to move them around. Here are four good options:
- Back to Nature Story Cushions
- Tree Stump Stool Pack
- Nature Grab-and-Go Cushions
- Multi Carry Cushions
7. Create a book recommendations display
Making up a group activity for visits to the library helps students to feel involved and engaged with the space. This could be as simple as a monthly book vote, getting kids excited about putting their vote forward for the best book they’ve read recently.
Create a ballot box and voting slips and have the kids who visit the library vote for which book should be number one that month out of a selection. You could incorporate this into their reading activities throughout the month and have the kids read the books on a rota, choosing their favourite at the end.
Use a stand like our Desktop Book Rack to display the books at the entrance to the library, and announce the winner at the end of the month.
Never be without your next idea for your reading corner. We take the guesswork out of making a reading corner that kids can’t wait to get into.
