You don’t have to spend a fortune or redesign an entire room when you want to create a cozy reading nook inside your home.
With some clever choice, you can make even a small corner feel comfortable, practical and inviting enough to become part of your everyday routine.
Choose The Best Spot In Your Home
Where in your home do you find yourself naturally drifting to, whenever you want a quiet moment?
Think about where in your home you already feel calm, like a sunny corner of your living room, the end of a hallway or even a spare bedroom. Make sure it is an area with decent natural light, but not too much that it ends up glaring on your page, so a window or glass door often work well.
Choose somewhere with a quiet atmosphere away from busy walkways and loud appliances, to let you concentrate on your reading.
Find a location which nearby power outlets, so you can plug in a cozy lamp, e-reader or heated blanket, without having lots of cords running across the space.
Set A Realistic Budget Before You Start
Decide on a budget for your reading nook before you start buying anything.
Once you know your budget, you can break that amount down into the categories you want to include, like the lighting, surfaces, storage and decor – it will all add up quickly, and you could end up spending more if you don’t budget properly.
Make a list of items you truly need for the nook, rather than the nice to have items, making sure you’re prioritizing the essential tools first, that will make your reading nook more usable, like good lighting and a small side table.
Check your local thrift stores for secondhand pieces before you buy anything new, as you’re more likely to get better quality for less, and you can always upcycle items so they match your tastes.
If you have a more minimal budget, go for a minimalist approach with fewer items, but all items you really love and know you’ll use.
Start With Comfortable Seating
The most important factor when designing a reading nook, is comfortable seating that you’ll want to use for more than a few minutes at a time.
Think about how you like to sit. If you like to curl up when reading, look for a deep reading chair with soft arms, but also a supportive back.
If you prefer sitting low to the ground, you could always decide to to go for large floor cushions that you can stack, or choose to spread them out.
Bean bags work well too for reading nooks, especially if you want flexible seating that you can move around easily.
Add Storage For Books And Essentials
When you’ve decided on the perfect location for your reading nook, you’ll need to think about where you’re going to stash your books, blanket and mug without causing lots of clutter.
You can start by looking on Pinterest for some simple DIY shelving ideas, where you could use a couple of basic brackets and painted board to create a slim bookshelf but for only a few dollars.
Focus on vertical storage ideas as that’ll keep the space feeling airy but organized, without feeling crowded or cluttered.
Look at multi-functional furniture pieces like an ottoman or a bench with hidden storage, so they can hold extra pillows, throws or your books. Use containers, baskets, tins, wooden crates or repurposed boxes to store your accessories like bookmarks, pens, chargers and snacks.
Again, check your local thrift store, as you’ll be able to find small side tables, magazine racks or shelves that might only need a light sanding or coat of paint.
Ensure you arrange your storage items within arm’s reach of your seat, so you keep everything easily accessible but super organized too.