Designing A Peaceful + Relaxing Reading Corner In Your Home
Do you find yourself impatiently waiting all day long for the very moment, when your phone stops ding-ing with notifications? When the hustle + bustle of everyday life comes to a screeching halt? When the house gets whisper-quiet and you can sit calmly, nestled into your deep hand-stitched sofa with down-wrapped cushions... and just be you?
Us too friend. In fact, that’s the visceral feeling we design + organize your home with.
These my friends, are the little moments, in life + in our home, that we must cherish. At times they’ll even feel a bit dreamy!
Home is all about taking the time to identify what is most important to you, what do you truly envision + then taking action to create it.
But the good news is, you don’t have to go it alone. We’re here to help!
Whether you read nightly or every once in a blue moon, there’s no shame here, friend.
There are, however, a handful of things to keep in mind when designing that cozy little reading corner of your home that will undoubtedly make your heart skip a beat + be a true oasis for self care.
PSA: if you’re a lover of a good book + already have a difficult time calling it quits — these design tips will make that book + reading corner nearly impossible to escape :)
Let’s dive into creating a peaceful + relaxing reading corner, shall we?
Choosing the Right Seating for Your Reading Nook
Having a functional place to sit + read is integral to a comfortable “reading corner” or nook :)
Ideas For Seating
Two chairs, a large sofa or sectional, your favorite oversized chair, a window seat, or a built-in bench—functionality comes in a lot of different forms for a reading nook.
The important thing to keep in mind here is that even if space is at a premium in your home, when it comes to creating a reading nook, there’s always a way to make things work.
Maybe you have plenty of space for a reading nook but you still kind of dream of grabbing a book with your special little someone + reading together — a side pouf, two chairs with ottomans, or even floor pillows might work.
Don’t put your joy on hold.
There is never a better time than right now to invest in creating a home that prioritizes deep, meaningful connections.
But friend, when it comes to making the best seat in your house a part of your reading corner, it doesn’t have to live in an actual “corner.”
For so many clients of ours, their reading nooks look vastly different. For some, we consider whether or not they prefer a quiet place to retreat to, like a bedroom.
Maybe your reading corner looks a lot like John + Sherri’s does, nestled into the cozy corner of your sectional, as they prefer to read in a social space where their family watches a movie or plays games.
And for others, a reading corner is all about those small spaces in transition areas.
Wherever it is, the perfect reading nook is a place you feel nestled into, where you can nourish your mind + your heart. P.S. more on ideal locations for your reading corner, below.
Perfect Lighting Solutions for Reading
Equally important for your reading corner as seating types + locations is lighting.
For obvious reasons, this can make or break the overall feeling of your reading space. Even if you’re using a tablet or phone to read a digital book, reading that steamy romance novel isn’t going to be much fun without good lighting.
Fortunately, there’s a couple different ways you can go about lighting your cozy little reading corner…
Table + Floor Lamps For Reading
First, we’ve written all about how an interior designer selects lighting for your home so be sure to check that out.
That said, a table lamp not only fills in the space aesthetically, but so long as you’re close to it, you’ll have plenty of lighting to read for hours.
Another great way to ensure you have an adequate source of light is by adding a floor lamp. When it comes to task lighting, both table and floor lamps are great options because not only are they versatile, but when the decorating bug bites + you start moving furniture around, so can your lighting.
Wall Sconces Or Ceiling Lights
Another way to add cozy lighting to your reading nook area, without straining your eyes, is to consider using a wall sconce or overhead ceiling light. While these tend to be a more permanent solution, they can be perfectly positioned, which makes them particularly appealing.
Especially if you like to read in bed or have a built-in bench area where lighting can be tricky, wall or ceiling lights can be particularly appealing. Some scones aren’t just beautiful but can swivel, pivot, and move in ways that’ll illuminate exactly where your book is resting.
Keep in mind that even if you’re in your reading corner mostly during the day and it feels like you have adequate natural lighting, remember that the sun sets *wink* And this means that if you plan on reading into the evening, we’d strongly encourage adding an additional source of light.
Essential Tables for Your Reading Space
Who reads without a tall refreshing glass of ice water, a warm tea or even a hot cup of coffee? Truthfully, reading a good book + having something yummy to drink in our honest opinion is a lot like salt + pepper. It’s like yin + yang. Both are essential + you can’t have one without the other –– or at least you shouldn’t :)
Thus leading us to explore side tables + why they play such an important role in a reading corner.
Side Tables + Accent Tables
A side table can be anything as minimal as a pedestal drink table placed next to a chair or as large as a standard end table that holds that head turning table lamp we just spoke about.
Depending on where your reading nook is, your accent or side table could really function as more of an accent “stool.”
One of the best parts about incorporating side tables, accent tables or even end tables into your reading corner is that these are great personality pieces.
Typically, in terms of size they’re on the smaller side, and though they’re not taking up a ton of space they can introduce a unique pattern, texture, or material to the space. We use these pieces to be fun + playful because they highlight your personality + truly “accent” your reading corner.
Enhancing Comfort with Design Elements and Accessories
When we think of designing + creating a cozy reading corner, we really want to appeal to a handful of the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch… taste).
While the latter (taste) largely depends on what guilty pleasure you’re snacking on while reading, the rest are fairly easy to indulge in from purely a design perspective.
Considering Your Senses For Your Reading Corner
When it comes to creating the perfect reading corner, what things make you feel warm, relaxed + calm?
Is it a large oversized chair you can curl up in?
A hand-woven throw blanket that can easily be tossed over your legs or around your shoulders?
The scent of heavenly goodness from a nearby floral arrangement?
Dear friend, whatever brings you comfort, these are the elements we want to consider bringing into your reading corner.
Decorative Accessories + Details
While comfort is king in this little corner of your home, we also want to consider layering in a few decorative accents like throw pillows or blankets that have different patterns + textures.
Certainly, these guys can be chocked full of color but they don’t have to be. We like to consider whether or not we’re contrasting colors (light chair / dark pillows) + patterns (small print on bench / large print on pillows) or utilizing tone-on-tone color + pattern to create depth + add character to the space.
If your head is spinning *wink*, that’s why we’re here. Just reach out. That said, remember, you can’t go wrong by simply introducing solids.
As you begin to fill out floating wall shelves, bookcases, or even a small accent table, keep in mind that the details are important. If you don’t have a lot of room, less is more anyway + the challenge with having a lot of space is knowing how to scale it all back.
Ideal Locations for Setting Up a Reading Corner
Maybe you’re struggling to pinpoint a place in your home that’s calm, quiet + has few distractions. A space that feels both relaxing and doesn’t lull you to sleep *wink* Truth be told, a nap never hurt anyone :)
If the perfect space doesn’t immediately come to mind, here are a couple locations you might consider for your reading corner.
Utilizing Corners for Reading Spots
Ok, in this section we’re talking literally, about the actual corner of a room. Creating a reading nook is a great way to fill an awkward corner of a bedroom, by pulling together a comfy chair, side table + your favorite floor lamp.
Window-Side Reading
Take a break from your book every once in a while, look up + enjoy gazing outside –– more often than not you’ll be amazed at all of the lovely feelings. Even if your home doesn’t have a big ol’ bow window, another bonus of reading by a window during the day is that you’ll have plenty of light to enjoy your latest page turner :)
Embracing the Outdoors For Reading
Yep, a great place to read (weather permitting, of course) is sitting beneath a tree, nestled into a secret little garden, or sprawled out on your outdoor patio furniture, And the best part? All the same design details from above work outdoors too.
Maximizing Transition Areas For Reading
Have a bump out area you don’t know what to do with?
While oftentimes we’ll find these areas in a hallway, along a catwalk or in another transition area of a home almost a bit random. But in actuality, these little bump out areas are an excellent spot to tuck a small reading chair or comfy bench with pillows.
Instantly this little change will transform those awkward spaces into a binge-worthy oasis. Not because you’re simply filling it with stuff, but because you’re making it functional.
In today’s world, our lives are moving so incredibly fast. And despite the messiness that traffic causes, our calendars are full. We need to be here, then there, doing this then that. Our obligations + responsibilities are often overwhelming, which is why coming home should be the most comfortable part of your day.
Creating a peaceful + relaxing reading corner for yourself (or with others) isn’t just about cracking open a book. It’s about taking a breath of fresh air. Remember to kick your feet up on an ottoman, ease into that plush come-hither pillow + don’t fret if you spill coffee on the upholstery. It’s about living more intentionally.
Home should be a reminder to slow down, to take a deep breath, to contemplate what is meaningful + to connect with those you love the most.
Now it’s your turn to spill the beans. Leave a comment below with your favorite place to read in your home :)
And don’t forget, if you’re in the preliminary planning stages of your next project, let’s chat.
P.S. If you loved this article then you’re going to really enjoy the 4 Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home.