Are you a sucker for quiet time and great stories? Having a comfortable reading nook is the perfect way to escape from the chaos of daily life and immerse yourself in a good book. With the right design and ambiance, you can create a relaxing and cozy space that will transport you to a world of imagination and tranquility. Let’s talk about some of the best ways to create the perfect cozy reading nook and how to decorate your literary oasis.
How to create a stunning reading nook
As you plan out this area, first determine who this awesome space will be for. If you intend for the entire family to enjoy the reading nook, pick a central location in the home. Further, determine how you’re going to store everyone’s favorite tales, whether bookshelves or something else, and decide where they will go. Remember that all the shelves will need to be lowered to the ground for young readers.
Alternatively, if you want the reading nook to be your own dedicated space, place the nook in your bedroom or tucked away in a small corner where there’s only room for one.
Where to put your reading nook in your home
Try a spare closet
If the closet space is large enough, place a cozy chair or ottoman in a corner and construct some built-in storage. Closets are a cozy retreat, and if decorated well, they can be a personal pod separate from the rest of the home.
Put it under the stairs
Alternatively, placing your reading nook under the stairs can be a fun way to maximize your home’s square footage. These spaces are notoriously small, so it’s a better fit for the younger ones of the family. Plus, children will adore the magical cave where they can let their imaginations run wild.
Situate it by a window
To take advantage of natural lighting, set up your reading nook by a window, preferably one with a nice view. Pull up a chair and a small bookcase next to a large window and soak up the beautiful rays while you read.
How to decorate your reading nook
As you decorate, do your best to incorporate your personality and style into the design, showcasing your favorite books, colors, patterns, and trinkets.
Choose a style of seating
Proper seating is crucial to creating a cozy nook where you can relax for hours without walking away with a sore back or strained neck. Armchairs, egg chairs, and hanging seats are trendy choices for your reading nook, but you can also keep it classic with ottomans or adult bean bag chairs. Adding in long benches also adds a lot of versatility to the nook. They are especially adorable near windows as well, especially if you add an oversize plant on either side.
Add textiles to your design
Above all else, this reading nook should be cozy, so don’t hold back when it comes to adding pillows, blankets, rugs, and furniture s. To add some variety to the space, be sure to mix and match different materials, including wool, cotton, knitted fabrics, and faux fur. Doing so will create a fun and eclectic space with plenty of options for snuggling up with a good book.
Plan for storage
There are a ton of items that will live in your reading nook that may need to be stored away occasionally. This includes blankets and pillows, but it may even include additions, like portable reading lights or even small tray tables for your tea cups and snacks. To ensure you’re able to hide these items away, add a storage ottoman or opt for a bench seat that can lift up and provide storage underneath.
Experiment with pops of color
Whether the vibe of your space is dramatic and moody or light and whimsical, adding vibrant accent colors and statement pieces will keep the space from feeling bland or lifeless. Even if your palette is monochromatic or neutral, you can still add more muted colors, like a faded sage green or a light blush. For kids’ spaces, we encourage you to have fun with the colors, incorporating several of their favorite shades.
Add some life to the space
Indoor plants and flowers are great in any indoor space. Particularly if your reading nook will get good natural light, a little life is a great addition since plants lift the spirits and even purify the air in your space — an especially good feature if it gets dusty. Some plants offer aromatic benefits as well, such as eucalyptus, which is known for its ability to increase mental focus, or fragrant flowering plants like gardenia.
Choose the perfect lighting
As we mentioned above, sufficient lighting is vital for your reading nook. If you place your nook by a window, you’ll have plenty of light during the daytime to illuminate your reading selection. For the evening, however, choose a small lamp or wall sconce with warm lighting to create a gentle luminescence in your space. For closets or under-the-stairs nooks, pair a few different options together to ensure it doesn’t feel too dark or dingy. So, if the space has a large overhead light, consider including fairy lights or a lamp for when you want some softer light.
Set the space apart with privacy measures
You want to be able to escape from the grind and get a little privacy as you pour over your favorite stories. That’s why having privacy measures in your reading nook is crucial. This can be as simple as setting up a gorgeous sheer curtain, or it can even involve privacy screens for optimum solitude.
Taking your reading nook to the next level
While the above ideas will certainly offer you the perfect cozy space to sit back and crack open a good book, you may be craving a more unique solution to your space. Here are a few clever ideas to spruce up your reading nook and take it to the next level.
Invest in good cord organization
Chances are, you’ll have a lot of cords in your reading space. From a phone charger to a lamp cord or two, investing in a cord organization solution can be a good idea. Use a wire basket to tuck cords under a reading bench. You might also consider adding hooks to your reading station to trail cords up the wall and prevent them from falling down.
Add a snack tray
A snack tray can make your reading nook more enjoyable, particularly if you prefer to unwind in the evening. Add a folding tray table that you can pull out to add bowls of treats on hand. Or, consider a bed tray that can rest over you comfortably while you enjoy a favorite snack. Some trays also come with a slot to hold up your book so you can sit back without worrying about wrist pain.
Go for the mini fridge
Aside from a snack tray, having a mini-fridge nearby can prevent unnecessary trips to the kitchen. The last thing you need is to rush to the kitchen for a drink when you’re already snuggled up in your reading nook. Having a mini fridge within arm’s reach can help with any cravings.
Make it e-reader friendly
Make your space e-reader friendly by investing in a mechanical arm that can hold up your e-reader for you. Some e-readers even come with programmable remotes, making turning the page much more accessible. You’ll also want to keep a charger nearby if you are a binge reader.
Creating a cozy reading nook in your home gives you a personalized, plush place to escape to. Everyone needs to unplug now and again, so treat yourself to a little enclave where you can truly relax. As you decorate, don’t be afraid to experiment with lighting, color, patterns, and artwork until you have with a warm and inviting environment fit for endless reading.
