£300ish budget to spend on turning a (big) cupboard into a library HELP

[AngelsLieToKeepControl]

I have a massive cupboard, its about 6ft x 4ft and is currently full of crap, which will be going into the attic.

My lovely brother has just given me some money for Christmas to get the kids something but they have loads of toys (and pigeons, for anyone who remembers my pigeon dilemma) already so I have come up with this probably stupid idea of converting the cupboard into a mini library, I have a cheap offcut of carpet and I'm going to paint the walls in a woodland theme (unless anyone has a better idea/theme).

There will be a double plug socket in there and there is already a light in there.

Can you please help me find some bits to make the place look fantastic for my daughters (9, 5 and 3) I need something to put the books in/on and maybe something comfy for them to sit on, although they will probably only be in there one at a time, if I can afford it I would also like to get them some new books too, any other great ideas?

Thank you.

[HidingUnderMyDuvet]

That's the best idea ever! I would love a mini library.
Can i recommend some beanbags for seating? I got some great stackable ones off eBay which would be good for space saving.

[AngelsLieToKeepControl]

Stackable beanbags? Why have I never heard of this before now? Thank you I'm going to have a mooch round ebay for some now.

DH thinks it's a stupid idea because he thinks it's too small so I am determined to prove him wrong

[iheartdusty]

a CD player/MP3 player for audio books?

I would hunt out bookcases on Gumtree/local facebook/ ebay myself, but appreciate you may want to do it all fairly quickly.

the 3 y/o may like a book box that shows the front covers, and you could renew the selection every week.

[AngelsLieToKeepControl]

That's a great idea, I actually have a little CD player that is still unused in a box somewhere, probably in that cupboard actually, so I'll go and have a look for some audio books too.

A book box is a good idea too, I might get a shelf for 9yo dd and boxes for my younger dds and then I can stack them too.

I have an Ikea about 10 miles away that I have never ventured into yet, would that be the best place to get book shelves? Although I am tempted to turn it into my bedroom if you think it's big enough

[TreaterAnita]

I look at a lot of US interior design type sites, and creating a 'book nook' for kids is a big thing there, so if you google that you'll probably get some good inspiration. The main thing is to have somewhere comfy to snuggle with a book, and the books should obviously be stored at child height. If it's a normal height room, you could build in some storage higher up, maybe for toys they don't play with so much, or things that you'd like to have control over, eg art stuff, play dough etc. it's a really lovely idea, I'm sure your kids will love it.

[Luggage16]

wow that would be my daughters ideal xmas present!! We run out of bookshelf space in our house and she constantly has several books on the go!

def some comfy cushions, some nice wall art - I would go for a quote about books, maybe “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” Dr Seuss

and lots and lots of books :D

[AngelsLieToKeepControl]

That was really helpful. thank you, I didn't know it had a name, I just googled it and got a few ideas, I'm going to get some material and drape it from the ceiling to make it look more cosy in there, maybe put a bench in the back of the cupboard with lots of throws and cushions and with boxes of books underneath and some of those ikea shelves, and a couple of beanbags, some fairy lights. I'm excited now it's going to look amazing.

I didn't think of art, I paint murals so I was going to do that, but I think it might be a bit much with everything else so I could do some canvas paintings instead, or just do plain walls and paint the words on.

Such great ideas than you all

[ItLooksLikeRainDear]

The ikea expedit range is very versatile. We use it for books and toys. You can buy drawers and doors for it also. Not too expensive either.

[raisah]

The Book People have got good deals on boxed book sets to fill your bookshelves with.

Drape some fairy lights on the walls.

Wall stickers

paint a wall with blackboard paint or put some black/drawing boards up.

Can you sell some of your junk on ebay instead of putting it in the loft to add extra funds to your library project?

[Luggage16]

what about some kind of magnetic board with magnetic alphabet and magnetic words so the kids can play with these as well as reading?

[Luggage16]

repurposed scrabble pieces work really well for this!

[AngelsLieToKeepControl]

Thank you, I'm going to Ikea next week to have a look at those shelves so I'll have a look at that too, I just had a quick look online and they look ideal, although I will have to buy heaps more books to fill them with.

Blackboard paint is a good idea too, I have some kicking about somewhere (probably in that cupboard as well)

If I'm honest at least 3 or 4 of the boxes in there are shoes that I never ever wear, but selling them just seems so wrong, I keep telling my girls they are family heirlooms another few of the boxes in there haven't been opened since we moved a couple of years ago so I might be harsh and just get rid of the stuff on ebay, I'm quite bad for hoarding though, but when my cupboard gets turned into a book nook (new favourite word) I won't have the room to hoard stuff I suppose.

[AngelsLieToKeepControl]

Magnetic board is a great idea too, my younger dds would love that, I have scrabble that we don't play any more since we got junior scrabble so I could use that, and I'm sure I have an old magnetic easle thing somewhere too, I could just take the plastic casing off and frame it.

Brilliant ideas, thank you

[AntoinetteCosway]

That is an awesome idea.

[raisah]

www.google.com/search?q=book+nook&client=ms-android-hms-vf-gb&hl=en-GB&source=android-browser-type&v=133247963&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Lk2JUojlBMbE0QXf04DQCg&ved=0CEIQsAQ

I am not sure if this will work but if you google book nook & scroll down thevsearch page there will be some
lovely pics of book nooks.

[morethanpotatoprints]

Hello OP

"The range" is also good for this type of stuff too. Just thinking if you are buying quite a bit of stuff the £300 will soon be gone.
I know you'll probably want new but some charity shops have books that look new and "The Works" is also reasonable too.

[raisah]

The link works op & once you see those pics you will be tempted to sell those shoes to raise the extra cash to achieve your goal. Good luck!

[AngelsLieToKeepControl]

I love the photo in the second row, about 4th in with the tree in it, I wish I could do something like that. I don't think my cupboard will be big enough though sadly. There are some great ideas there, fairy lights are a must, and different textures of fabrics and cushions too.

I didn't think of The Works so I'll have a mooch round there, I'm off to The Range tomorrow anyway for my Christmas tree so I'll have a look about and see what bargains I can get there.

I usually buy all my books second hand anyway unless there is a particular one I want so I'll have a look about, its always a bit harder to get anything at this time of year, but my dds have loads of books they haven't read yet anyway, any extra books I can manage to get will just be a bonus.

Thanks again, I am disproportionally excited about this now, DH still thinks it's not going to work.

[TreaterAnita]

If you can paint then definitely do a mural, it will look amazing and so individual. (Am jealous, I'm the most artistic person in our family, for which read I can make a cake look semi alright, can't paint for shit.)

Magnetic blackboard paint is a great idea too.

[GlitteredPinecones]

What am amazing idea. I'm going to have to pinch it I need a book nook.

[GlitteredPinecones]

*an

[DisneyAddict88]

I would love a book nook for my 2!! my dds have a bookcase 2 storage boxes and the bottom shelf of our bookcase full (and around 70 ive collected through the year for bday and xmas!!)

but vertbaudet had some lovely bookcases and there's normally money off vouchers floating around

amazon do mini versions of the fatboy beanbags for kids they're around £26 and got great reviews thinking if getting one for my eldest

[JollySeriousGiant]

www.argos.co.uk/m/static/Product/partNumber/6109534.htm

These are excellent for the price. We've had 4 over the years and tthey've lasted really well. Had to sell two though as we didn't have room for them all plus children :(

[Nix01]

Have a look on Pinterest, there are loads of ideas for converting cupboards to reading area's.

But what I love most is the "gutter" type things across the book area to display the books face forward. Must also work out a lot cheaper than shelving?