6 Tips to Create the Perfect Cozy Reading Nook

With our hectic lives, an afternoon without responsibilities can feel amazing. Even five minutes alone can seem like a luxury.

Dedicating a space at home for peaceful activities, like reading, meditating or applying a face mask, can work wonders on our mental health. It’s an ever-present reminder to take time for self-care and slow down in our chaotic schedules.

Designing the ideal reading nook is a great way to achieve this. A lush throw pillow, an ottoman and a soft chair can constitute a space where you sit and just breathe. You can either dedicate a corner to your needs or an entire room. The trick to creating the perfect nook lies in thinking of things that cheer and relax you.

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By following the tips in this post, you can make your little paradise reflect your personality.

How to Create a Comfortable and Intimate Reading Nook at Home

1. Find the Ideal Place

Carefully think about the spot in your house where you feel most at ease; where you can lounge and unwind with a magazine. This could be your bedroom, living room, or home office, where there are no interruptions to break your concentration while you read. Once you find the ideal place, claim it and create a reading nook to devour novels on cloudy days and rainy weekends.

2. Personalize It

To create an inviting and appealing reading nook, personalize it. You can incorporate photos into your decor or hang wall art if space allows. Use elements like favourite themes, motifs and colours to create a space you’ll want to spend most of your free time in.

3. Add Comfortable Seating

Now, think about seating. You could install chairs or couches, but if you’re looking to truly personalize the space, think of building a window seat, if space allows. Throw in some fluffy pillows or layer the space with warm blankets. The more comfortable you make the spot, the more inviting it will be to spend time in. If this isn’t an option, consider pairing an ottoman with an armchair to make it easier to put up your feet and relax.

4. Consider Functional Lighting

Lighting is one of the most important factors when creating a comfortable nook. If your reading corner is located on a window seat or close to a window, you will enjoy ample natural light. However, if the light is too bright, you may strain your eyes.

To counteract this, add window treatments such as sheer shades or sun shades with light filtering properties to reduce glare. This will come in handy if you prefer reading on Kindles or iPads. Alternatively, you could install shutters for a sophisticated and stylish addition that offers privacy without sacrificing light. After the sun sets, use a wall sconce or good reading lamp that offers ambient and focused lighting without taking up floor space.

5. Include a Bookshelf

Someday, you might have a library that resembles the one in the popular film Beauty and the Beast.

For the time being, if you’re dealing with a considerably smaller space, like a window seat, consider flanking the reading nook with built-in bookshelves.

If space isn’t an issue, you need to decide how to display your books and magazines. This will be defined by your collection and the space available. Once you’ve decided whether you want all your books near the nook or only the ones you’re currently reading, it’s time to arrange them in a way that makes sense. You can stack your books vertically or horizontally or even both ways to create a sense of movement.

6. Install a Table

If you aren’t short on space, you can add a side table (or any type of tabletop) near your reading nook. This ensures you a place to rest your book, snacks, coffee or newspaper.

Other Considerations

What kind of environment best allows you to read? If you can’t concentrate due to distractions, hang a window treatment such as a curtain from the ceiling to close the space off. If you need soothing noises to focus better and have a tabletop nearby, add a small fountain. Keep a throw loosely spread across your nook for those extra chilly days. If you don’t have windows near the space, hang pictures of local landmarks to add an aesthetic appeal.

What good is a reading nook if it doesn’t make you want to spend time there? Remember, creating a comfortable space to call your own isn’t difficult. With these tips, you can create a personalized space to dive into your fictional worlds and forget about the outside world, if even for a short while.