Do you love to read? If so, you’ll want to create the perfect reading room in your home! This space should be comfortable and inviting, and it should be easy to relax in. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips and tricks for creating the perfect reading room. We’ll also provide some ideas for decorating this space. So whether you’re designing a reading room from scratch or you’re looking to make a few changes to an existing space, read on for some helpful advice!
Pick The Perfect Spot
The first step in creating the perfect reading room is to pick the perfect spot! This space should be away from any areas where there is a lot of foot traffic. It should also be free from any distractions, such as television or loud music. Try to pick somewhere that is not right by a main road too, or you will find it hard to concentrate. It might be that you have a spare room in the house that you want to turn into a reading room/library. However, if you don’t have a dedicated room, look for a nice corner in the living room or a bedroom that doesn’t get that much use.
When picking your spot, consider natural light. A room with lots of windows is ideal, as you’ll be able to enjoy the outdoors while you’re reading. South-facing rooms will get a lot more sunlight during the day, so they’re perfect if you want a bright reading spot.
Once you’ve found a nice quiet spot with lots of natural light, you can start planning the details of your reading area.
List Your Must-Have Features
Now that you’ve picked the perfect spot, it’s time to start thinking about what features your reading room must have. Of course, every reading room needs a comfortable chair or two! You’ll also want to consider adding a small table or ottoman, as this will give you a place to rest your book when you’re not reading. You need storage for your books too. We’ll discuss all of these key elements in detail later.
However, there are other added features that you might want in your room. Maybe you want some speakers for some nice background music or you might want a small fridge so you can keep drinks and snacks close by. You could also add a desk so your reading area can double up as a study for working in. It’s up to you what added features you include, just make sure they don’t take away from the main purpose of the room – reading!
Design The Perfect Layout
Once you’ve decided on the must-have features for your reading room, it’s time to start thinking about the layout. This is where you can get creative and really make the space your own.
You need to make efficient use of the space so you can fit all of your storage in without cluttering the seating areas. Make the actual reading areas the focus of the room and then build around them. For example, if you have a large window in your reading room, consider using it as a focal point and place your seating area nearby. This will make the most of the natural light and create a relaxing environment.
Choose The Colour Scheme
Once you’ve decided on the key features of your reading room, it’s time to start thinking about the colour scheme. This is a very important step, as the colours you choose can really influence the mood of the room. If you want a calm and relaxing space, go for soft blues and greens. If you’re looking for something more stimulating, try brighter colours like yellow or orange.
Of course, you don’t have to stick to one colour scheme. You can use different colours for different areas of the room. For example, you could paint one wall a bright colour and the others a more neutral shade. Or you might want to use wallpaper in your reading room. Just make sure that you don’t go overboard with the bold colours or you will ruin the relaxing atmosphere in your reading room.
Ideally, you should use more subtle shades on the walls, and then you can add a burst of colour with pieces of furniture and wall decorations, so you have a good balance.
Get Some Comfortable Seating
The next step in creating the perfect reading room is to choose some comfortable seating. This is one of the most important elements of any reading room, as you need to be able to relax in your chair for long periods of time. You might want to invest in a nice armchair or recliner. Or if you have the space, leather sofas are amazing for a reading room. They have that great rustic feel to them, which is perfect if you are going for a traditional library aesthetic. As well as your main chairs and sofas, consider adding a few beanbags or maybe a bench around a bay window if there is one. Having some informal seating areas means that you can entertain people in a casual atmosphere if you want to.
Add Bookshelves and Other Storage
Of course, a reading room isn’t complete without some bookshelves. You need somewhere to store all of your favourite books! Bookshelves come in all shapes and sizes, so you can find one that will fit perfectly into the space you have allocated for your reading room. If you don’t want to clutter up your walls with shelves, you can always use a freestanding bookcase. Consider the vertical space too and get a taller bookcase, especially if you don’t have much floor space in your reading room.
You might also want to consider adding some other stores in your reading room. This could be anything from a small cabinet to a large wardrobe. Just make sure that it’s not too cluttered, as you don’t want the room to feel cramped. A few well-placed shelves and cabinets can really help to keep the room organized and tidy.
Get The Lighting Right
Lighting is very important in a reading room. You need to be able to see properly when reading your book, but you also don’t want the light to be too harsh. Ideally, you should have a mix of different light sources in your reading room. This could be anything from floor lamps and table lamps to overhead lighting and spotlights. This allows you to adjust the lighting and create a different atmosphere when you need it. So, if you are studying and you need to concentrate on reading and making notes, you can have some bright lighting. But you can also soften the lighting a little if you want to get lost in a good book.
Add Some Wall Decorations
Wall decorations are the best way to add more character to your reading room and give it a personal touch. This could be anything from paintings and photographs to posters and tapestries. If you have a lot of bookcases in your reading room, you might want to use some of the space on the shelves for decorations too. Just make sure that you don’t go overboard, as you don’t want the room to look cluttered.
When choosing decorations, think about the theme of the room. Are you going for a bright, spacious, modern reading room or a rustic old library feel? This will help you choose the right pieces.
Get Some Blankets
Comfort is key in a reading room. You should make sure that you have plenty of blankets and cushions so that you can get cosy when reading. This is especially important if you are going to be spending a lot of time in your reading room during the winter months. Choose some thick, soft blankets in colours that match the theme of your room. Use this as an opportunity to add a flash of colour too.
If you have hardwood flooring in your reading room, it can get quite cold at night and during the winter. Adding a nice area rug is a good way to keep your feet warm and add some more style to the room. You can also change it easily if you want to revamp the room without decorating the whole space.
Consider Other Functions
A reading room doesn’t have to just be for reading. You can use it for other activities too, like studying or as a home office. Although having a reading room is nice, it’s not a particularly efficient use of space to dedicate a whole room to one activity. So, consider other functions when you are creating a layout. Adding a desk is a simple way to turn it into a workspace. You could also mount a TV on the wall too.
Creating the perfect reading room is all about finding the right balance. You need to make sure that it’s comfortable and stylish, but you also don’t want it to be too cluttered. Getting a good balance of lighting is crucial too because it really helps you get the atmosphere spot on. Use these tips and tricks to create the perfect reading room in your home.
0
Nancy Jeffrey says
I really liked the various points made about what to consider in a reading room or space – like even considering which is the best direction to face. Good thought about adding blankets.