With World Book Day fast approaching, schools across the UK are preparing to celebrate books, authors and the joy of reading. But while the costumes and book tokens generate excitement, building a sustainable reading culture requires more than a one-day event.
According to the National Literacy Trust, just 1 in 3 (32.7%) children and young people aged 8 to 18 reported that they enjoyed reading in 2025 – the lowest level recorded since the question was first asked two decades ago. So, how can your school promote literacy and foster a lifelong love of reading that extends beyond World Book Day?
Schools can support reading culture by:
- Creating welcoming, reading-rich environments using school wall displays and murals
- Making books easily accessible through face-out shelving and clear signage
- Showcasing a diverse range of authors and genres across all reading levels
- Leveraging student and teacher recommendations
- Using vocabulary and key literacy concept wall art to support in-class learning
- Celebrating student reading achievements and milestones
- Designing comfortable and engaging library spaces that encourage independent reading
At Design for Education, we create fully bespoke, high-quality educational wall art, including library and literacy-themed wall art, designed to encourage a lifelong love of reading. Speak to our team to explore how bespoke wall art can help transform your school’s reading environment.
Jump to section:
- The Importance of the Learning Environment in Building Reading Habits
- How Library Wall Art Supports Reading Engagement and Strong Literacy Skills
- Designing Libraries That Encourage Independent Reading
- Types of Library Wall Art That Promote Reading Culture
- Real Results: How Schools Benefit From Library Wall Art
- Why Reading Culture Matters for Schools
The Importance of the Learning Environment in Building Reading Habits
The learning environment, both at home and at school, is key to nurturing lifelong reading habits. A ‘reading-rich’ environment ensures books are visible, accessible and valued.
The Positive Impact of a Reading-Rich Environment
When books, authors and quotes are prominently displayed, they signal value to students. Students are more likely to develop strong reading habits when literacy is fully integrated into the school curriculum and environment.
A reading-rich environment:
- Encourages autonomy – when students have the freedom to choose their own books, they take ownership of their reading habits.
- Improves engagement – visually interesting book-centred displays capture students’ attention and spark curiosity.
- Increases motivation – celebrating students’ reading achievements and visibly tracking reading progress helps foster a sense of achievement and accomplishment.
- Reinforces the importance of reading and writing – embedding vocabulary and literacy concepts into the physical environment helps reinforce the notion that literacy underpins all other aspects of learning.
- Supports immersion – colourful wall murals and thoughtfully designed reading spaces help students to feel fully immersed in the books that they’re reading.
By intentionally designing environments that prioritise reading, schools can move beyond simply teaching literacy skills and foster a culture where reading is both visible and celebrated.
How Library Wall Art Supports Reading Engagement and Strong Literacy Skills
Reading-themed wall art helps transform classrooms, libraries and corridors into immersive, literacy-rich environments that motivate students to develop a lifelong love of reading and support in-class learning.
How Library Wall Art Supports Reading Engagement
Library and literacy wall art:
- Creates an inviting atmosphere – colourful, professionally designed literacy displays help make library spaces feel welcoming and safe, reducing anxiety around reading.
- Supports reading confidence – visualising characters and scenes supports students’ understanding and comprehension, making reading accessible to all students. The National Literacy Trust highlights that children who enjoy reading are more likely to read frequently and develop confidence in their reading skills.
- Sparks students’ imaginations – character, plot and theme-based illustrations help encourage curiosity and creative thinking. The Arts Council England recognises that engagement with the arts, including visual storytelling, supports creativity, empathy and personal development.
- Encourages voluntary reading behaviour – embedding reading in the physical learning environment means students are more likely to choose to read in their free time.
How Library Wall Art Supports Strong Literacy Skills
Library and literacy wall art:
- Reinforces comprehension and understanding of taught literacy concepts – displaying key vocabulary, literary themes and grammar rules helps solidify in-class learning.
- Encourages more diverse reading habits – reading wall displays showcase a diverse collection of books, helping students discover new authors and genres. Research from the National Literacy Trust shows that children who engage with a wider variety of reading materials are more likely to read frequently and enjoy reading.
- Supports long-term memory retention – literacy wall displays in high-traffic areas, such as corridors, ensures repeated exposure to key concepts, helping students consolidate learning over time. The Educational Endowment Foundation notes that repetition and retrieval practice are important mechanisms for strengthening memory and learning retention.
Designing Libraries That Encourage Independent Reading
Designing a school library that encourages independent reading requires a shift away from thinking of a library solely as a quiet, organised space – it needs to be welcoming, flexible and above all, student-centred. A space that encourages students to want to read and feel comfortable doing so.
According to research from the National Literacy Trust, well-designed libraries and reading spaces are linked with increased reading engagement and more positive attitudes toward reading
Types of Library Wall Art That Promote Reading Culture
Different kinds of wall art can play different roles in promoting a strong reading culture in your school. The aim of literacy displays should be to support student engagement, comprehension and curiosity, helping to foster sustainable reading habits that last long beyond World Book Day.
Here are the key types of literacy and reading-themed wall art you should consider:
Vocabulary and Literacy Concept Walls
Display:
- Word definitions
- Grammar rules
- Literary techniques
- Synonyms
[Image/s] Star Academies/Eden macbeth English wall (Pic to follow)
Immersive Murals
Show:
- Character scenes
- Book-inspired artwork
- Narrative landscapes
- Fantasy, adventure or story world environments
Book Recommendation Displays
Highlight:
- Student book reviews
- Teacher reading recommendations
- Popular or trending books
- New library arrivals
- Books with recent film or media adaptations
- Diverse authors and genres across reading levels
Author Spotlights
Include:
- Author biographies
- Famous works and series
- Writing tips or inspiration from authors
- Cultural and historical context of literature
- Diverse and representative authors
Famous Literary or Motivational Quotes
Feature:
- Motivational reading quotes
- Famous quotes from core texts
- Storytelling inspiration
- Growth and mindset messages
Reading Challenges and Student Achievements
Showcase:
- Reading progress trackers
- Milestone celebrations
- Star charts or reading ladders
- Reading or writing competition winner
- Student and school alumni achievements
At Design for Education, we design, manufacture and install bespoke educational wall art for english classroom and school libraries.
Real Results: How Schools Benefit From Library Wall Art
The Design for Education team has transformed schools across the UK with inspirational library wall art that makes a real difference to students’ reading habits.
Neale-Wade Academy Dickenson English Corridor Mural
At Neale-Wade Academy in March, Cambridgeshire, a previously plain corridor was transformed into an immersive Dickensian English mural that brings key GCSE literature texts to life. The dramatic corridor design, inspired by A Christmas Carol, Macbeth, An Inspector Calls and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, turns an everyday space into a visual learning environment that reinforces classroom teaching.
Designed in collaboration with the Head of English, the installation uses atmospheric Victorian street imagery, key quotations and a high-quality and durable finish to make English literature visible and engaging beyond the classroom.
Fir Vale Secondary School Fantasy Library Mural
At Fir Vale Secondary School in Sheffield, an ordinary stairwell was transformed into an immersive fantasy library mural that celebrates reading and sparks imagination.
Working closely with the school, the Design for Education team craetd bold, narrative mural that wraps around the stairwell, creating a visual journey from the underworld at ground level up through enchanted forests and mythic battles, and finally into outer space. Each stair riser also features printed book spines tied to the characters and scenes depicted, turning every climb into a walk through literature.
South Hylton Primary School Library Mural
At South Hylton Primary Academy, a vibrant library mural was created to transform a plain learning space into an inspiring reading environment. The mural incorporates colourful characters and book-related themes designed to draw children into the joy of reading and make the library a place they look forward to visiting. The installation enhances the school’s literacy culture by visually celebrating stories and encouraging young learners to explore books with enthusiasm and curiosity.
Rivington and Blackrod Library Wall Art Case Study
At Rivington & Blackrod High School, bespoke library wall art was installed to encourage students to explore literature through vivid imagery and visual storytelling. The result is a calm, immersive space where students can fully engage with books and feel inspired to read.
The displays celebrate a diverse range of authors, genres and voices, helping students discover new perspectives and broaden their reading horizons. By visually showcasing varied texts and themes, the space actively encourages pupils to read more widely and develop richer, more inclusive reading habits.
Why Reading Culture Matters for Schools
Fostering a strong reading culture in your school helps to promote strong literacy skills, student engagement and academic success.
Reading for pleasure is strongly linked to wider educational success. Evidence submitted to the UK Parliament Committees by Tania Findlay MBE, Headteacher of Newquay Junior Academy (NJA) and Literacy Specialist, states that:
“In primary-aged children, reading for pleasure is strongly linked to improved academic attainment across all subjects.”
When schools encourage and promote a love of reading through literacy-focused wall displays, flexible reading environments and a diverse range of books that are accessible to all students, they help pupils build the confidence, knowledge and skills that contribute to academic progress and long-term success.
Creating a learning environment that celebrates reading helps schools translate literacy engagement into measurable academic and attainment benefits – and bespoke educational wall art can help achieve this.
High-Quality Bespoke Library Wall Art by Design for Education
At Design for Education, we create high-quality bespoke library and English wall displays that help foster a lifelong love of reading among students. Whether you’re looking for an inspirational library mural or a vocabulary wall display, our designs are always tailored to your school’s values, curriculum and learning goals.
Every wall display includes our industry-leading 5-year guarantee and professional installation by our expert team.
It all starts with a free site survey – our team will discuss your space, needs and available budget to make sure we get it right. We’ll provide you with a quote estimate based on your requirements, which includes design, manufacturing and expert installation.