How to Create the Perfect Reading Nook

Select your space

Perhaps you have a neglected little corner of the home that never gets used or you have an unused window area offering a great view. You won’t need a huge amount of space and a reading nook is, as the name implies, a little cosy area suitable for one person. Calm, quiet and relaxed should be the qualities that this area exudes and a space away from the busy traffic areas in your house will be ideal. A window spot will be perfect and you’ll benefit from natural light as well as a touch of fresh air when required.

Image via: Glenn Gissler Design

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Keep furniture to a minimum

A comfortable arm chair is of course a prerequisite although a window seat or a small sofa with cushions will do just as well. You’ll also need someplace to rest your mug of coffee, books and magazines, so start looking at the wide range of coffee tables available. You can easily find a table to suit your space and decor but ensure that it doesn’t take up too much room – clutter-free is conducive towards relaxation. A shelving unit or bookcase is another good idea if you have the space but this isn’t essential if you already have a table in place.

Image via: Flickr – Islxndis

Light and airy decor

Your choice of wall colour will definitely make a difference to the atmosphere of your little oasis and neutral shades such as beige, ivory or khaki will create a relaxing atmosphere. If you’re looking for a more intimate ambience then darken the shade down a notch or two. Lighter colours will also help to make a small space appear slightly larger as well as giving off a welcoming atmosphere. If this is a space just for yourself then you might want to consider personalising the wall décor in order to separate it from the rest of the home.

Those little accessories

All you really need is a good book and a great cup of coffee but a few little touches won’t hurt. Consider scented candles or a small vase with flowers or even one of your favourite art prints hung on the wall. A reading lamp will be necessary and you can place a floor lamp behind your chair to give additional light when required. Keep it comfy with some additional cushions or a warm throw kept close at hand.

Everyone needs a little time to simply relax and escape from daily life and your little reading corner will provide just that. Individualise your space and make it a place you’ll look forward to spending some time in each day.

For more reading nook ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Regardless of how minimalist the design of a home is, it should be enriched by at least one bookcase. People normally read in bed before going to sleep. Sometimes, they also like to read outside while relaxing on a cozy park bench. However, nothing can be compared to a reading nook conveniently integrated into your own crib.

Image via: LTaC studios, architects

Find a Suitable Spot

Any empty space in your home can be transformed into a comforting and beckoning reading spot. It can be an awkward corner or a place overlooking a window, but you can set up a reading spot in just about any room. Even a corner of your kitchen or a small spot next to the fireplace will do the job. Just make sure that the place is away from disturbing and loud noise like that coming from kids’ playroom or from a TV.

Seating Arrangements

The seating in your reading room can be of different forms – built-in benches, window seats, a sofa, floor cushions, or a cozy chair. It depends on your choice, how much space you have, and how you like to read. If you like to use a chair, do not forget to have something to rest your feet. An ottoman or a cube will do this job.

Lighting Fixtures

Every reading corner needs plenty of light. It will be better to choose the spot adjacent to a natural source of light. However, you have to arrange for artificial lighting too so that you can flip pages well after the sunset. Floor lamps are always a great option to light a small spot. Choose one at a height that will cast light over your shoulder without creating glare on your page or shadows on your book. In case of built-in window seats, you can use recessed lights on the ceiling or sidewalls.

Image via: Catalano Architects

Create a Cozy Feel

You can create a cozy and comfortable feel in your reading nook by a couple of ways. Make the nook more relaxing by overflowing it with cozy elements like cushions, throws, and pillows. Having ample textiles around will also enhance the sense of luxury. You can also add details to create a homey feel in the space. Create a personalized air by hanging personal photos or a letter monogram on the adjacent walls.

Add Accessories

Besides adding light, you will need a few other accessories to complete making the nook feel comfortable. You will need a small shelf or a storage basket to keep the books and magazines. A side table or tool will be good to rest the coffee cup. In addition, add some fresh flowers or a houseplant to create a soothing ambience.

Image via: Apartment Therapy

Reading corners can be made comfortable and chic by making interesting floor arrangements, improvising on the windowsill, or adding stylish armchairs. It is a good place to pass your time with a good book in a lazy summer noon or a chilly evening.

For more home interiors ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

The reading nook is a joyfully indulgent installation to add to a home. Transport yourself to the fictionalised world of your favourite literature. Create an atmosphere and ambience in-fitting with the tone of your favourite novels and genres. A reading nook can complete the joyous experience of becoming lost in a book.

Image via: Robert Benson

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The Horror Fan

Sometimes it can be hard to be affected by the terrifying ordeal within a horror title if you are reading it on a sunny day, sat under an apple tree with the family dog looking doe-eyed at you. Create an atmospheric and slightly claustrophobic reading nook to increase the fear-ridden sensation. Darkened woods and rich shades can create an old-fashioned appearance for the reading nook. A chesterfield chair sat aside an old wooden reading table will recreate the impression of Edgar Allen Poe scribing his dark fiction. A creepy reading nook may leave you too terrified to open the curtains.

Chick-Lit Chic

The sense of escapism that is created by the chick-lit genre relies on the aspirational nature of its readership. Allow these aspirations to blossom with a glitzy and glamorous reading nook. A beautiful chaise-long topped with extravagant throws and cushions will create decadent appearance fitting for many of the famed titular chic-lit heroines. Light, pastel colours create the sense of freedom that is so often a theme in the genre.

Science Fiction Fans

For those who like their science fiction to have one foot in realism; dystopian novels often offer a realistic and sometimes terrifying insight into the future. Novels such as 1984 and Brave New World are still as relevant today as the day that they were written and still make up the libraries of millions of people. Create the popular dystopian look with minimalistic furnishings and fittings. High gloss furniture lends itself perfectly to the minimalistic effect due to the modern sheen and clinical exterior. A modern art canvas will set the nook off perfectly.

Image via: Sam Gray

Children’s Reading Zone

If you are creating the reading nook as a means to encourage your child to read or nurture their passion for literature; it is important to make it an enjoyable environment. A child will not feel comfortable in a room that they consider to be contemptuous to their abilities. Decorate the children’s reading nook around literature they will read in the coming year. If the room is decorated in the style of literature they have already read, they will soon out-grow it and consider it condescending and an ill-representation of their abilities. This will help inspire children to tackle more mature and rewarding pieces of fiction as well.

For more small home ideas on Stagetecture, click here.