The Most Popular DIY Book Nook Kit Themes

Book nook kits are more than a puzzle. They start out as a flat-pack kit, but once assembled, they become an aesthetic addition to a bookshelf. That’s where the term bookshelf insert comes from. Between the books is a miniature scene, better known as a diorama. Only, with these, they’re the shape and size of a book.

Here’s the thing though… For bookshelf inserts to have the most dramatic impact on the aesthetics of a bookshelf, the theme should match the genres of the book titles surrounding it. That’s why these are such a personal gift. The designs form part of someone’s favorite book genre.

Discover the Most Popular Themes of Book Nook Kits

1. Fantasy and Magic

There’s no shortage of fantasy-themed DIY book nook kits. In fact, that’s where the real gems are. The fact that they are fantasy, means that anything goes. It’s not like taking a photo and replicating it with a miniature scale of 1:24, 1:48 or whatever size would fit. It’s about drawing from the imagination. Bringing to life the scenes that could only be imagined and putting them into a diorama to be appreciated by anyone. Bringing the subject to life.

As examples, Digaon Alley for Harry Potter fans, an underwater design featuring a mermaid and Prince Charming, or a Hobbit Hole book nook kit reminiscent of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. Reading the paperbacks, scenes can only be imagined. For people seeing the books on a shelf with no clue what genres the books are about, it’s made obvious when the scenes are depicted in miniature form right between the books on display. It’s the personal touch that brings a series of books to life.

2. Literary

Within the literary category are miniature library kits, and cozy reading nooks. These are like miniature sanctuaries of knowledge. Not just from the towering rows of books on bookshelves, but all the quirky extras that symbolize studying, exploring new chapters and learning new things... Miniature globes, ancient scrolls, antiquated maps in frames on the walls, and tiny magnifying glasses perched on wooden reading tables.

Library themed kits are great gifts for bibliophiles, unless they already have plenty, in which case, the extra special gift will be the scent of old books. Books have a distinct smell that’s directly related to the chemical composition. That’s why old books smell different to new books. For a scented gift for an old bookstore smell, vanilla and almond are close. 

3. Nature and landscapes

Nature and landscape designs can be appreciated by people who love the outdoors, or enjoy exploring the world as they can be memorabilia pieces. As examples, underwater book nook kits could be perfect for international travelers keen on scuba diving, whereas honeymooners traveling to Europe may appreciate Rolife’s Romantic Venice design better. Different designs can mean different things to different people.

4. Seasonal and Holiday

For the hobbyist, seasonal book nook kits let readers regularly spruce up the decor of their bookshelves throughout the seasons. Cherry blossoms (sakura) in a Japanese kit, or pastel colors and Easter designs in spring, to the likes of Rolife’s Sunshine Town for a burst of vibrant summer colors.

As the darker nights roll around, decor can be changed to reflect that with darker scenes approaching Halloween, and finally ending the year on a bright note with a Christmas bookshelf insert. With such a variety of designs available, book nook kits can be rotated as easily as the book titles.

5. Famous Locations

Numerous book nook kits are inspired by famous locations throughout the world. These are the types of kits that stimulate conversations. Perfect little icebreakers to have on display when you’re expecting guests. The difficult part is finding the designs because the clues aren’t always obvious by the name of the kit.

For example, if you’re unfamiliar with ‘Phantom of the Opera’, you may not know that the book nook kit with the same name is based on the Palais Garnier Opera House in Paris, France. Likewise, the ‘Egypt Pyramid” book nook kit is inspired by the Pyramids of Giza. For movie buffs with collections of DVDs on display instead of books, any kit based on the Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria is the same castle that’s featured in multiple movies including The Great Escape, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and in the Disney films, it’s the setting for the Cinderella castle and the castle from the story of Snow White.

It’s also possible to use book nook kits as travel memorabilia as there are World Town designs similar to our Tokyo Alley book nook kit such as the Bruges Town  kit for Belgium, and for France, the Colmar Town kit.

6. Space and Cosmic Designs

Even those who dream of inter-dimensional travel, or simply love nothing more than to peer through the lens of a telescope at night star-gazing, there’s thematic book nook kits to match the space-explorer titles on bookshelves.

Some of these include:

• The Astronomy Museum book nook kit 
• The Interstellar book nook kit 
• The Alien Hub book nook kit 

7. Fairy tales and Folklore

While some readers appreciate the whimsical scenes of woodlands and forest trails, others prefer the designs to have a magical touch. For these, a popular theme is a woodlands settings with characters like fairies, gnomes, elves, and possibly a structure such as a door to mimic the entrance to a hidden cottage, or a tree house.

8. Educational Toys

While some kits are fantasy based, others can be educational toys such as the Forest World book nook kit featuring dinosaurs where kids could be encouraged to learn more about fossils, while older teens may find it more interesting to learn about how photos were developed in dark rooms with the “Film Darkroom” book nook kit, which features display shelves of different cameras, an enlarger, and signs showing the length of time and temperatures needed for films to be developed.

In conclusion

While the above are among the most popular book nook kit themes, it’s important to remember that the enjoyment is from assembling these kits, and not based on the popularity alone or solely on user reviews. It’s based on individual interests, which is why the designs vary so vividly.

Someone interested in learning photography will appreciate a Film Darkroom bookshelf insert better than a miniature forest diorama. The designs look better when paired with the same genre of books surrounding them. That’s how you can truly personalize bookshelves.