Reading Nook

A while back, I shared a “project” that I did, that involved turning an extra kitchen cabinet I had into a little book nook for my kids. You can find it here: Kitchen Cabinet Turned Book Nook.

Although I loved the idea, I got tired of how unfinished it looked. Then, soon after doing my Ottoman Slipcover project, my kids as usual claimed that comfy thing as their own. Soon, the ottoman was sitting under the window and the cabinet was turned right side up to resemble a very shoddy looking bookshelf.

Over the weekend, I decided to spiffy up the shelf a little bit to make it something I could stand to have in my living room.

I started with this:

then did this:

(Yes, I *made* my 3 year old do this part. It wasn’t that he was having a total meltdown over wanting to help with the mod podge at all.)

and then we had this:

The top of the shelf got some beaded board and painted to look nice and fresh. The side facing the room got chalkboard paint. I’d love to say this is because I love to provide my kids with canvases upon which to draw all over their little world, but really it’s because they color on everything – walls, floors, cabinets, doors, and making it chalkboard would at least make it so I  don’t have to buy stock in Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and I don’t have to get mad when they draw on this.

So, here’s what we ended up with:

I have to admit, sitting on that comfy ottoman under the window with a shelf full of books to explore is pretty good

This project cost just over $2 for the scrapbook paper. I used chalkboard paint we already have and the beaded board was scrap left over from The Bathroom Makeover.

Just for fun, because we’re talking bookshelves full of books for kids, here are some of our favorites:

The Seven Silly Eaters

Someday

Make Way for Ducklings

Stranger in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy

Do you have any suggestions for fun books to add to our Children’s Bookshelf?