The furniture was dated, the layout didn’t make the best use of the available space and, despite the staff’s ambitions, the area lacked the warmth and sense of purpose needed to encourage children to spend time there.

The school had a clear vision. They wanted somewhere that felt special – somewhere children would actively choose to visit, whether to lose themselves in a story, read with friends or simply enjoy a few quiet moments with a book.

Turning that vision into reality, however, required a design that could maximise every square metre without overwhelming the space.

The project formed part of our contribution to the National Year of Reading 2026, during which we selected Sacred Heart to receive a free bespoke reading space.

While the design and library furniture was provided as part of this initiative, the real focus was always on demonstrating how thoughtful design can transform children’s relationship with reading.

From the outset, collaboration was central to the project.

BookSpace worked closely with teacher, Mrs Jenkins, to understand their ideas about how they wanted the space to feel and function, whilst developing a design that reflected the school’s ethos, supported everyday teaching and celebrated its unique identity.

One feature was especially important.

Sacred Heart’s “bee” theme, linked to its Big Promises values, is embedded throughout school life, so it needed to become a natural part of the design. At the same time, the school wanted a space that was visually engaging without becoming overstimulating.

The result was a calm, welcoming environment that balanced creativity with practicality. Every element was designed with purpose, ensuring children could access books independently while creating cosy spaces that invited them to stop, settle down and read.

Although the corridor itself presented several design challenges, every available space was carefully utilised to create distinct reading zones that encourage both independent and shared reading experiences.

One of the standout features quickly became the beehive seating area. Reception pupil, Rowan, tells us “I like sitting with my friends in the bee hives to read our favourite books. I love it when we have story time in there together.”

Providing an enclosed, comfortable place where children can curl up with a book, the Honeycomb Hideyhole has become one of the most popular spots in the school to read. Other features include Toadstool Seats, Cubby Houses and tiered shelving with face-out display to ensure children of all ages can comfortably browse, discover and enjoy books throughout the day.

That initial enthusiasm hasn’t faded.

Today, the corridor is rarely empty. Throughout the school day it is filled with  children reading independently, sharing books with friends or taking part in guided reading sessions with teachers and teaching assistants.

Mrs Jenkins tells us “One of our favourite things as staff is walking through the corridor and seeing little heads popping out from the different reading nooks and spaces. It’s wonderful to see children so engaged in books and choosing to spend their time reading”.