Reading nook for kids: how to set one up in 6 steps

A reading nook for kids needs three things: a soft, low place to sit or lie down, good light and books within the child's reach. A spot by a wall or under a window is enough. Many children like to read in a place that feels a little tucked away, like a tent or a blanket den, and that they can climb into on their own. A play sofa works twice over here: day to day it's a low sofa for reading, and with the seat modules your child can build a tent to curl up in with a book.

Below you'll find 6 steps, ideas for a reading corner in a small room and answers to the questions parents often ask us.

Where should you set up a reading nook for kids?

A reading nook doesn't need a room of its own. The best spot is somewhere your child already spends time, but a little quieter. Three places work well:

• Under a window. It gets the most daylight.
• In a corner of the room. Two walls make it feel sheltered, and the nook stays out of the way of play in the middle of the room.
• In the living room, near you. Younger children often prefer to read when a grown-up is close by. A nook in the living room is also a place to read together.

Avoid the spot next to the TV and the path everyone walks through the room.

How do you set up a reading nook in 6 steps?

1. Start with somewhere to sit. It should be soft and low, so your child can climb on and off without help. The seat of our 160 cm Play Sofa is 25 cm high, and the seat of the Play Sofa Mini is 20 cm high. If you'd rather have an armchair, take a look at the soft Kumo Chair.
2. Leave room to lie down. Lots of children read on their tummy or on their back. The 160 cm Play Sofa opens out flat to 160 × 172.5 cm, and the Futon Bean Bag is a bean bag that opens into a 160 × 80 cm mattress.
3. Build some shelter. A tent made from the play sofa, a blanket den or a canopy over a mattress. Many children like to read most in a hideaway like this.
4. Get the light right. In the daytime, light from a window is best. In the evening, a lamp with warm light helps, placed so it doesn't shine in your child's eyes.
5. Put books face out. A low shelf at your child's height is enough. Young children find a favourite book more easily by its cover than by its spine.
6. Add something soft. A blanket, a cushion, a favourite cuddly toy. Our Check Cushion measures 40 × 40 cm, and the reversible Snuggle Blanket is 140 × 200 cm.

Why does a play sofa work well in a reading nook?

• It's low. Your child sits down and gets up on their own.
• It changes with the game. One day it's a sofa for reading, the next a tent, the next a flat mat to lie on with a book.
• It fits a child and a grown-up. On the 160 cm Play Sofa you can sit side by side with one book.
• It's easy to keep clean. Every cover has a zip, so you can take it off and wash it in the machine at 30 °C. Our guide on how to wash play sofa covers has the details.

Wondering whether a regular kids' sofa would be enough? Read our comparison play sofa or kids' sofa.

How do you build a reading tent from a play sofa?

1. Open one seat module flat on the floor. This is the floor of the tent.
2. Open the second seat module into an upside-down V on top of it, like a book standing on its pages. This is the roof.
3. Set a triangular backrest against each side of the V, so it can't slide apart.
4. Put a round cushion inside as a pillow, plus a few books and a torch.

A tent is a hideaway, not a climbing frame. Nobody climbs on the roof or pushes the walls out from inside, because the tent will fold. Build on a rug or a play mat, and always with a grown-up nearby. For more quiet builds, see our 12 easy play sofa builds.

How do you make a reading corner in a small room?

In a small room, a reading corner should leave space to play. A few ways to do it:

• Choose a smaller piece. The Play Sofa Mini measures 120 × 60 × 45 cm and covers 0.72 m² of floor. The Lumi Chair measures 62 × 45 cm, so it takes up even less room.
• Use the wall. Put books on narrow wall shelves instead of a bookcase.
• Combine the nook with the play area. The same play sofa is a sofa for a bedtime story and a building set after nursery.

For help with sizes, read our guide on how to choose a play sofa.

Looking for a reading spot for your child?

See our play sofas in both sizes and every fabric. 60,000 families have chosen Shappy, and parents have left more than 700 reviews across our shops. Delivery is free within the EU, the foam and fabric have a 3-year warranty, and you have 30 days from delivery to return it.

See the play sofas

What else do parents ask about reading nooks?

How much space do you need for a kids' reading nook?

Not much. A low seat and a shelf for books are enough. The Play Sofa Mini covers 0.72 m² of floor and the 160 cm Play Sofa 1.28 m². The Lumi Chair measures 62 × 45 cm.

From what age is a reading nook worth setting up?

From the moment your child starts reaching for books on their own. What matters is that they can climb on and off the seat without help, so keep the nook low.

Can a reading nook be in the living room?

Yes. In the living room it's easier to read together, and a play sofa in a calm colour looks like any other piece of furniture there.

How do you encourage your child to read in the nook?

Let your child set up the nook with you and choose the books for the shelf. Swap the books now and then, and read there together, for example before bed.