Q: I've been falling in love with all the reading nooks on Ohdeedoh and elsewhere on the internet. I would love to set one up in my son's room, but am having a hard time figuring out how to do it. First of all, we live in a rental, so no major construction can go on. Second, I'm on a very tight budget. There is a corner in my son's room that he loves to hang out, but it has these ugly (and maybe a little dangerous) baseboard heaters. Can anyone think of a way to make this nook cosy and useable?
Sent by Erica
Editor: I wonder if you could make a smaller version of this corner book nook? It would be elevated above the heaters. Readers, what ideas do you have?
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I would cut a square piece of plywood diagonally in half, sandwich it using wood glue for strength, then mount on some 1x2 cleats that are screwed into the wall. Add foam/upholstery if you want, or just sand, paint, and add an assortment of pillows. Books can be stowed underneath in totes.
I love that version of the book nook, but it might be difficult if you don't have access to power tools - saws and sanders and blah blah blah.
I really wanted to make one of those but since I don't have any tools, I don't know if I can.
Ikea has some nice benches you could maybe fit in that spot so he would be elevated...then I would just put one good strong hook in the ceiling(if allowed) and hang some sort of circular canopy either bought or made, so it gave the illusion of a separate space.
Good memories...I remember putting a pillow and blanket against my parent's baseboard heaters and then snuggling up against them with a book when the weather was cold. My mom is a 65 degree thermostat type of person:) I'm glad that I never caused a fire...
leilalu is right on it. given that it is a rental i would not drill into wall, etc. I would go with a bench, preferably one large enough to also accommodate you, so your DS understands its purpose. Put in a cushion, a few pillows - hang some wall decals right around it - maybe a tree, so he has the sense of being under a tree reading a book.
I would hit up Ikea for cheap options and put it on casters (we had to do this in our son's room with a long bookcase because of the heating vent).
Not knowing how large the space is, this is some outdoor seating from Ikea:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00147714
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50208229
You could also buy some kind of corner table-top (desk or dine) and put shorter legs on it, or casters. Pile pillows on top.
I made a reading nook for my kids that was totally removable. Building a bench should help with the foot boards. Here's the one I did. http://yvette-keeping-it-real.blogspot.com/2011/05/closet-turned-reading-nook.html
Grab yourself a nice cheap Ikea Lack side table and cut down in hieght until you are comfortable that is far enough away fro the heaters and low enough to climb up onto. Make or get a few pillows or recover the top into a bench (depending on how sewing ambitious you are). Add some floating shelves, or those lovely book displays that Yvette has in her adorable little book nook above, and viola. Less than a hundred bucks later you've got something that is easy to customize and will grow that little reader.
Thanks so much for all the wonderful suggestions, everyone!
swing plus shelves equals a comfy reading nook
What about a hanging chair like: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/00065497 I know it would involve drilling a hole in the ceiling (assuming you even have a access to a beam at that spot) but it's just one hole and I'm betting you could patch it pretty easily.