Children's room with a book shelf shaped like a tree

World of Little Interiors

5 Clever Book Storage Ideas for Kids' Rooms

Raising a kid who loves to read is a top priority for many parents. But children’s books have a way of multiplying… and taking over every room in the house. Corral the clutter—and instead proudly and neatly display your child’s collection—with these inventive kids book storage ideas.

Written By: Marnie Schwartz

Put book storage on wheels

Draw inspiration from the library and use a rolling shelving unit or utility cart to hold your child’s books. (You could even affix wheels to a regular old storage crate.) Fill your mobile library with their favorite titles, and then wheel it from your child’s room to the playroom to the living room so there’s always a book handy (without having piles of them all over the house).

Kids room with lucite bookshelf on wheels

Choose storage that’s within little ones’ reach

It’s tempting to put your child’s books on a high shelf, so they can’t throw them all around the room. But to keep kids excited about and engaged with books, they need to be able to access them themselves. Low built-ins (like below a window seat) or a low shelving unit work perfectly. Or, use bins and baskets around their room to corral books and make them easy to flip through. You could also use crates on their sides, and stack them taller as your child grows. If you don’t want your little one to be able to reach all of their books, stock a sling shelf with their favorite titles facing forward, and rotate them regularly.

Little girl and dog next to a dollhouse bookshelf

Repurpose toys and other items

Furniture and toys that your child has outgrown can take on a second life as kids room book storage. A wagon, doll stroller, or other pull toy filled with books looks perfectly at home in a corner of a playroom or bedroom. You could also try filling the shelves and cabinets of a no-longer-used doll house or toy kitchen. (Take off the cabinet doors for easier access.) And once your baby is past the diaper stage, you can fill the lower shelves of a changing table with books.

Little girl sitting next to a dollhouse filled with books

Use vertical space

Storage that’s mounted to the wall (for books and other items as well) is a great way to save space in small rooms. You can add wall-mounted crates to hold large amounts of books, or shallow shelves, picture ledges, or even spice racks to display attractive books with their covers facing forward. Magazine holders that are hung on the wall also work well, since many picture books are a similar size and shape to magazines. Just don’t install them too high if you want your child to be able to access the books independently.

Build a cozy reading nook

Create an inviting space for getting lost in books by turning a corner of a bedroom or playroom into a book nook. A tent or canopy makes it feel special and private, and floor pillows and blankets up the comfort factor. Place baskets inside to store the books themselves. Or, try a set of shelves with a built-in spots for curling up with a story.