Picture this: you’re snuggled up in your favorite chair with a good book, perfect lighting, and that soft, welcoming silence that makes it easy to slip into a fresh chapter. A dream come true!
We know that sometimes, no matter how much you want to get lost in a book, it can feel impossible to shut out the outside world and busy thoughts. However, when you set up your very own reading area in your home, it’s much easier to set that perfect scene and turn your reading dreams into reality.
Does it Matter Where You Read?
Dedicating a spot in your home for reading can minimize household distractions, promote focus, and give you ultimate comfort as you read. Whether it’s an entire room or a specific chair in your living room, the cozy feeling and personalized aesthetic of your reading space will encourage you to pick up a book and immerse yourself in the story whenever you have free time. In short, a reading space can inspire better reading habits in readers of all ages!
5-Step Guide to Creating Your Own Reading Space
Great news, readers: anyone can create a dedicated reading area in their home! Follow these steps to curate the book nook of your dreams:
Step #1: Set a Budget
When it comes to setting a budget for your reading space, you don’t have to feel limited – there’s a solution for every price range. It can be something as simple as a previously furnished area in your basement decked out with comfy throw blankets and a new lamp or as elaborate as a freshly built book shed in the backyard.
Be realistic about how much money you can set aside for this literary project and go from there. From $20 to $2,000—whatever you can spare is enough.
Step #2: Choose the Best Spot and Seat in the House
Take a second to debate where your reading nook should be in the house. Is there an area where you can hide away to enjoy your latest book club title with minimal interruptions? Maybe an area next to big windows for premium daytime lighting? Look around your home for a place that suits your reading habits and feels extra cozy.
Wherever you decide to set up shop, make sure you prioritize comfort when picking the seating. Chairs, cushions, hammocks, and more should all be chosen based on their durability, supportive structure, and overall coziness so you can read for hours snug as a bug in a rug.
Our Favorite Spots for Reading Spaces
You don’t need a built-out window reading nook to enjoy your favorite cozy mystery; you can work with what you’ve got! Popular options include:
- Padded window seats
- Closed-in porch areas
- Beds (propped up with extra pillows)
- Recliners in the living room
- Sofa chairs near the fireplace
Step #3: Find the Perfect Light Source
Every reading nook needs a little lighting! Floor lamps, booklights, strands of fairy lights—whatever source you choose, it should match your desired aesthetic and be bright enough for you to be able to read your book without squinting.
Adding lighting also makes reading more ritualistic: turning on the light will help signal to your brain that it’s time to focus on your current book. When you’re all done, just turn off the light, put down your book, and continue with your day-to-day life.
Step #4: Consider a Table
If there’s room in your designated reading area, a table is the perfect addition! This provides a surface to place any drinks, snacks, reading glasses, and accessories you’d like to keep close. No need for it to be anything big or fancy—a simple bedside table or stand will do.
Step #5: Add Cozy Touches
No reading nook is complete without a few extra touches to make the space special to you. These accessories should add to the overall cozy ambiance of your area. We suggest finding a few curated items from this list:
- Blankets
- Pillows
- Heating pads
- Photographs
- Candles
- Mug warmers
- Plants
Setting Up Your Reading Space for Audiobooks
If you prefer listening to audiobooks, you can still benefit from a dedicated reading nook—with a few adjustments and additions, of course. Make sure your chair is near an outlet so you can keep all your electronics charged. Clear a space for your headphones, speaker, tablet, or smartphone so you can cozy up and listen to the narrators bring the story to life.
Get an Inside Look at Rachel’s Reading Nook
Rachel, one of the co-owners of Novel, loves her reading space. When she has a free moment, you can find her reading her latest title in her cozy chair near the fireplace. To make it extra comfy, she’s added an ottoman and side table. Contrary to some people’s preferences, it’s nowhere near her bookshelf—that would be way too distracting!
Top Tips for Making a Cozy Reading Space for Your Kiddos
Watch out—when you’ve perfected your reading nook, your kids will want one, too. If you have the space for it, it’s the perfect way to encourage healthy reading habits. You can follow the same steps with a few minor adjustments:
Tip #1: Lean into the childlike whimsy and bring it down to their level. Maybe it’s a bunch of colorful pillows under a butterfly canopy. Perhaps you pitch a tent or make a fort. If you cater it to your kiddos’ interests, they’re more likely to use it.
Tip #2: Set the reading space up next to their bookshelf to encourage independent reading. Reading on their own is a crucial component of childhood development, and having their selection of books readily available will help them commit to the hobby.
Tip #3: If your kids prefer listening to audiobooks, add a Yoto Player! These small and mighty devices have radio stations, meditations, fairy tales, podcasts, kid-friendly classics, and more that your children will love.
Once you dedicate a space in your home to reading, picking up a book is bound (no pun intended) to become the best part of your routine. Fantasy, historical fiction, romance—it doesn’t matter what book genre you prefer—cozying up makes it all the better. Follow our five-step guide to creating the reading nook of your dreams, contact us with any questions, and enjoy!
