How to Create a Cosy Reading Nook*
A lot of people who love reading can do it anywhere and everywhere. But the best place to curl up with a good book is in a quiet corner. Unfortunately, you can't always find somewhere peaceful enough, especially if you live in a busy house. If you need somewhere you can hide away whenever you need to immerse yourself in a story, you can create a cosy space for yourself. Even if you don't have much room to claim as your own, you can set up somewhere quiet just about anywhere you can think of. Start putting together your reading nook with these suggestions.
Find a Quiet Space
The first thing you need to do is find somewhere that you can use. Sometimes there's a perfect place, like a window seat or a cosy corner. But you might find that you have to carve out a space for yourself, whether it's in a small alcove or just an empty space in a room. If you don't want anyone to disturb you, don't choose a high-traffic area where your family or housemates will always be walking past. If you can't find anywhere that's naturally separated from the rest of the room, you could section off a space with a privacy screen or curtain.
Choose Your Lighting
Lighting is critical when you want to get stuck into a book. Soft lights make everything relaxing and peaceful, but you don't want it to be so dim that you have to squint at your book. You might choose to sit by a window so there's plenty of natural light during the day. But in the evening you'll need some help from a lamp or two if the overhead lighting isn't enough. You could decorate with fairy lights, which would help you to see too. It helps if there aren't too many wires to deal with, so think about some battery-powered LEDs.
Get Comfy
You don't want your reading nook to be uncomfortable. Most book lovers will read in any position, whether it's curled in a ball or hanging upside down. Make sure you're super comfortable by picking the right seating and adding some cosy accessories. You might not have much room, so if there's no space for a squishy sofa or armchair, try a beanbag. Otherwise, make a hard dining chair more comfortable with some cushions. It's also a good idea to have something to keep you warm, like the Aran wool throws from AranSweatersDirect. Any time it's cold you can snuggle up with a blanket and dive into your book.
Find Somewhere for Your Books
You don't have to keep your books close by, but it's helpful if you don't have to leave your sanctuary to get a new one. Even if you don't keep your entire collection in your reading corner, you can have one shelf that has some favourites or your current reads on it. You could also hang a storage pouch from the wall to slip your books inside without taking up any room.
Every avid reader needs somewhere they can enjoy their books without being disturbed. Make sure you have your space by creating one today.
This is such a cute post! I think something to be considered is access to food. I always enjoy reading with a cup of hot cocoa or coffee/tea, or some kind of snack. :)
ReplyDelete-P.E. @ The Sirenic Codex
Ooh yes you're so right! Completely forgot about that.. I'm really paranoid about getting food/drink on my books though so in my book nook I'd have to have carefully selected snacks aha
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