Every Home Needs a Reading Nook

Every Home Needs a Reading Nook

(Last Updated On: October 24, 2021)

Reading is the most relaxing and satisfying pastime for many people. You can read when you feel exhausted or unwell, you can read for ten minutes while you wait for your dinner to cook or you can read for the simple pleasure of the pursuit. Reading allows you to travel vicariously around the world, travel through time, learn a host of new things and become anyone you want as you relate to the characters in the story.

And once you have become a bookworm, a lover of reading, there’s really no going back.

For those who don’t just read occasionally or before bed, but read because you are compelled to pick up another book to discover what is inside, having a reading nook in the house is a luxury worth making the space for. It doesn’t have to be expensive or take over a room, but having a place where you can sit peacefully for a while is a dream most avid readers envision.

So let’s take a look at the different types of reading nooks and what we can put in them to make them functional and stylish. Creating a reading nook to love is the goal, as always!

Every Home Needs a Reading Nook – Put it Together!

Finding Comfort

comfy reading nook

Everyone has a different definition of comfort, and your particular interpretation will be the foundation of your reading nook. When it comes to seating, some of us prefer a firmer chair or sofa, while others would rather snuggle on a cozy window seat surrounded by pillows.

If you really want to get down and casual,  this overstuffed beanbag is great for finding the balance between sitting and reclining. The beans are perfect because they fit around your body for excellent support. But a beanbag isn’t for everyone, and a chair with a footstool or a comfy couch could be just the thing for you.

I love the idea of an oversize chair, or chair-and-a-half, like the pair that are pictured below. I don’t sit in them straight on like a lady. Oh no…I sit sideways and dangle my legs over one edge. It’s the best!

Or, you might have an area in your home similar to the window inset above. It could be the perfect place to build a simple bench, or purchase a bench that fits nicely inside the space. Place cushions on the bench for sitting comfort, then add accent pillows all around for getting nice and comfy while you read.

[bctt tweet=”Every home needs a cozy reading nook. Here are some simple tips for creating your own!” username=”inspiremystyle1″]

Getting the Light Right

cozy reading nook with white barrel chairs

Why is the right lighting for comfortable reading so important?  Try reading in a space where the light is either too bright or too dim and you’ll realize the importance of having exactly the right ambience

Reading by a window is great for making the most of natural light but you might also invest in a task light that provides enough illumination for you, to prevent eye strain. That way you can focus in on the plot and forget about where you are entirely to plunge into the world between the pages.

The Extra Mile

Of course, while you read, you will almost certainly need a beverage to sip as you work through the plot. A perfectly made coffee is ideal for morning reading while you are just starting to persuade your body to wake up properly and get on with the day. In fact, add in a biscotti and you will be set for a good long read 🙂

So, for me, a cozy reading nook will have the following components:

  • A space in your home that is ready and willing to serve as a your special reading, relaxing space
  • Comfy seating
  • Proper lighting, be it natural or artificial (or a combination of both)
  • Accent pillows to scatter around, behind or if their large enough, to sit or lounge on
  • An accent table close by to hold your beverage, journal and other stuff that you must have close by

And, as every home needs a reading nook, it’s time to go create one for yourself 🙂

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DIY Ideas to create a cozy reading nook

14 thoughts on “Every Home Needs a Reading Nook”

  1. SO true! It’s funny to read this, because my 8yo and 6yo have already figured this out! They each have a number of elaborate “reading nooks” that they’ve carved out all around the house 🙂

  2. I have my reading corner next to the window, and during fall and winter seasons the floor lamp works great. My favorite spot at home for sure 🙂

  3. I agree – every home needs a reading nook! When I was young I had a bench seat across one wall in my bedroom that worked very well for devouring those Nancy Drew books… these days I think my over-stuffed chair with a good lamp on the table next to it fits the bill quite nicely!

    1. Oh, I loved Nancy Drew! Kept me occupied for hours at a time. And I agree, it doesn’t take a lot to create a cozy reading corner!

  4. I felt peaceful reading this post and can not wait for the next available opportunity to sink into my reading chair with a nice cup of coffee and get lost in a good book!

  5. When our daughter moved out recently, we gave her the two comfy chairs from my reading nook. Miss using the space but it’s summer so I head out to read on the patio or by a pool/beach for now!

    1. I spent some quality time reading by the pool the other day, and it was quite wonderful, so I know what you mean!

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