Create a Cosy Reading Nook

For book lovers, the idea of a cosy reading corner is the perfect way to add literary charm, relaxing vibes and a touch of opulence to your home.

But how do you create a cosy reading book, and are professionals required and if so, in what scenarios?

Let’s dive in!

How to Bring a Cosy Reading Nook to Life

A reading nook can come in many forms (as we’ll discuss more about it in the next section). To give some examples, you may opt for a relatively simple DIY approach or a fairly extensive project that requires the work of professionals.

Either way, a cosy reading nook will generally involve a sofa, cosy couch or bean bag, along with other fixtures and decorations ranging from bookshelves to lamps to rustic cabinets.

DIY Approach

Note: It’s important to ensure that all of the work involved is indeed DIY-friendly. For example, any electrical work or plumbing will necessitate the work of professionals. If in any doubt as to whether the given work requires professionals, consult with suitable professionals for advice.

If you want to undertake this work DIY, here are broadly the steps involved: Design your cosy reading nook. Ensure your vision contains all the necessary elements to create a cosy reading nook that works for you and your household.

Also, consider how the reading nook might look and feel within the context of the rest of the room.

Write a list of all materials and tools required before purchasing any you do not have.

Decide the order in which you want to bring your reading nook to life. Begin the work per a schedule you’ve done up. Be sure to take enough breaks, keep hydrated with water and eat food during your breaks to keep your energy up, especially if it’s a long, several-hour project. In some cases, the work may take several days.

Ensure all installations are firmly in place (e.g. bookshelf) before tidying up. Then you and anyone else in your home can enjoy your reading corner!

Working With Professionals

If, instead, you need professionals or/and would prefer to work with professionals, here are the broad steps required:

Hire an architect or designer to come up with a detailed design for your reading nook.
Figure out what professionals will be needed to create your reading corner fully. You should discuss this with the architect/designer if unsure.
Hire the necessary professionals for each part of the job. A carpenter will likely be required. Beyond that, you may need an electrician, plumber, etc. depending on how extensive the changes to the room will be. *
Each professional can then perform their part of the work in a suitable order (if unsure of this, consult a professional for advice as to the order of work needed).
Once everything is secure and complete and the work area thoroughly cleaned, you and others in your household can now enjoy a cosy reading corner.

*You should consider securing 3+ quotes from different professionals for each job required (i.e. 3+ electricians, 3+ carpenters etc.). By having three or more quotes in each case, you can compare a few options by looking at details like their pricing, levels of experience and any online reviews or ratings they might have. This can let you make an informed decision when hiring any given professional.

List of Essentials:

Here are some of the essentials for making a cosy reading nook:*

A comfortable seat
Suitable soft furnishings
Appropriate location to create your reading nook

*Of course, while the above items/features are a must, there are many elements commonly used for making a reading nook, some of which we’ll look at in the section below.

Different Options and Reading Nook Ideas

There are many possibilities when it comes to creating a cosy reading nook and plenty of ideas to consider. Let’s look at some of the more popular options/ideas.

Window Seat Reading Nook

Having a seat set up next to a window (ideally with blinds for privacy reasons if located at the front of the property) is a common approach to creating a reading nook.

Letting some light in as you read or/and having the background sights of nature (e.g. perhaps from your back garden) can make for a very relaxing reading environment.

Install Bookshelves

Note: If adding bookshelves DIY, just be sure to consider their load-bearing capacity to ensure the books added won’t cause the shelf to collapse either in the short term or later on.

While a reading nook doesn’t require bookshelves, it can make for a convenient and aesthetically pleasing addition to your reading corner.

Floating shelves are a common choice and a fairly DIY-friendly solution. However, more sophisticated options exist, like modular and ladder bookshelves.

Then, of course, there is the choice of a large traditional bookshelf, which is a self-contained unit featuring several levels for storing books.

Use of Soft Furnishings

Soft furnishings are key to making a reading nook cosy. Some soft furnishings you may want to consider include pillows, throws, blankets and more.

Of course, it’s important to consider not only the type of furnishings you’d like to include but also the colours and designs and how they will work together along with other furniture and colours in the space (e.g. wall colour).

Lighting Installations

You may also want to have a lighting fixture added to your reading corner. For example, you could opt for a table-sitting lamp or even a tall standalone lamp.

In most cases, new lighting fixtures can be simply set up and plugged in. However, this assumes no electric work is needed, such as for a light installation in the ceiling or a new plug. If electrical work is required, you must hire an electrician.

For example, you might want to have new pendant lights added directly above the reading area.