36 Reading Nooks That Inspire Inner Peace (and Book Recs to Go With Them!)
Screen time? What's that?
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Writer Durga Chew-Bose summed up the beauty of a nook in her essay Heart Museum: "What a nook person wants is space, however small, to follow whatever image is driving her... Nook people find it trying to imagine themselves in real-life situations but long to climb into, for instance, a movie still," or, of course, a good book. Because nook people ceaselessly seek stories, nothing goes better together than nooks and books! If you can relate, what's stopping you from arranging your very own reading nook? Whether you want to build a cozy architectural space to crawl into, or even if you just have an awkward corner in your home, a reading nook is just a few design tips and ideas away. From sophisticated and modern to eclectic, quirky, and classic, the spaces below will inspire you to create your very own reading nook to escape to.
Warm Up Glass
The modern steel and glass windows span such large swaths of the walls in Kathleen McCormick's home that the whole thing appears to be floating above a forest. That makes the ideal spot to cozy up in with a good book. Light textiles and a large rug under the lounger soften the modern materials.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by
Gabrielle Zevin, $11
Sneak in Storage
Deep enough to moonlight as a guest bunk, this alcove by Rita Koenig and architect Gil Schafer III has drawers under the cushion. “It’s more than a reading nook or another piece of furniture,” says Schafer.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW Catch and Kill by Ronan Farrow, $16
Invoke Your Favorite Things
Lauren Nelson Design chose plum fabric for the comfy swivel chairs in this reading nook—and incorporated purple throughout the entire home—because the homeowners really love figs. If you have a favorite color, food, motif, etc., weave it into your reading nook. It should, after all, be your happy place. A super special and low-hanging pendant polishes things off.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW Pure Color by Sheila Heti, $14
Optimize It With Outlets
Designer Kati Curtis included plenty of surrounding storage for books and other items and disguised the cabinets with an eye-catching glossy red hue. Pro tip: equip the interior nook with outlets so you can charge your devices while taking a cat nap or reading a book.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW Females by Andrea Long Chu, $9
Give Yourself Options
Why not give yourself options? In this warm and layered study designed by Heidi Caillier, bookworms can take their pick between an extensive literary catalog as well as various seats. Stretch out on the window seat cushion or lean back on the rolled armchair.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor
Jenkins Reid, $15
Take Advantage of Dormers
"We call this the 'funny room'" says Nicole Dohem, the designer behind this home and the firm Atelier ND. She identified unused space on the stair landing beneath a charming dormer window, so she decided to put it to use as a reading nook. This vintage Ligne Roset chair was the only furnishing low enough to fit under the sloped ceiling, making t all the more cozy! The bookshelves line the gap between the window and floor and then extend and expand to the entire staircase wall below.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW Daddy's Gone A-Hunting by Penelope Mortimer
Make the Best of Weird Layouts
Take full advantage of architectural quirks—this way, they'll actually become your favorite thing about the space. Build a custom bench by a window and add a cushion so you can use it as a window nook to read and relax in. (And you'll be able to forgo a bulky couch that takes up too much space!) Pile on the pillows and add a pendant light for tasks, as Jae Joo did here.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW Dune by Frank Herbert, $10
Install Thought-Provoking Artwork
In this entryway designed by Andrew Flesher, the "zoomed-in" and "pixilated" painting of the ocean makes for a contemplative backdrop perfect for analyzing The Waves or Moby Dick.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW Waterland by Graham Swift, $12
Think About Scale
A reading nook doesn't require an eccentric backdrop or origin story, like an empty stair landing, to be charming. These sling chairs with a fun, vibrant green fabric assert an easygoing mood while the side table and floor lamp bring in some modern punch. They're also the perfect scale for the bedroom.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW Outline by Rachel Cusk, $10
Channel Vacation
Carefree, easy-breezy living is the name of the game in this summer home designed by Kurek Jones. Between the sea view and the natural ashwood paneling framing the windows, the effect is that of losing yourself in a novel while floating on a boat (minus the seasickness!)—who doesn't get more reading done while on vacation? A custom wrap-around side table provides a perch for both your beverage of choice and your book.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW The Hero of This Book by Elizabeth McCracken,
$12
Transform Odd Rooms
Leanne Ford transformed this odd basement corner into a bonafide sanctuary. The low-to-the-ground cushions create a cozy, homey feel while also accommodating the sloped ceiling. A pendant light allows for late-night reading and the coffee table adds an extra use case of after-dinner drinks or coffee.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean
Vuong, $13
Blend It In
Designed by ETC.etera in the Firehouse Hotel, this multi-purpose nook (Read here! Sip coffee here! Work here! Post it on Instagram!) is so incredibly stylish. Just looking at it transports us to the English parlor we've always dreamed of—the one that's somehow both from the past and the future.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW Three Women by Lisa Taddeo, $15
Spruce Up a Corner
It might be hard to concentrate on the pages with this view as your backdrop, but that's why it's facing inwards. The modern floor lamp and lucite frames chaise create a nice juxtaposition against the more sophisticated and traditional elements, like the nesting tables. Designed by Studio DB, this reading nook includes all the staples, but with a more elevated twist.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW Find Me by André Aciman, $14
Surround It With Books
A reading nook brings this corner to life in a grand room by Phoebe Howard, and the asymmetry is bringing tons of interesting dimension. With one wall bolstered by a built-in bookcase and back cushion and the other animated by artwork, it's the perfect place to retreat.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW A Fortune for Your Disaster by Hanif
Abdurraqib,$10
Take It Outside
If you have a little alcove on your porch or a built-in cabana on a pool deck, make it cozy and outdoor-friendly with the right mix of materials. John Houshmand added cushions and a rug to soften things up.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner, $14
Utilize Transitional Spaces
To utilize this indoor/outdoor transitional space at Rae's On Wategos, Tamsin Johnson made a little day bed by simply added a cushion and some throw pillows. The architectural cut-outs create visual intrigue in the minimalist environment while also allowing sunshine to leak through for reading light and to create flow from outside to inside.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith, $13
Get Inspired
Give yourself something inspiring to look up at when you're getting ready to dream during a nap or while you ponder your reading material. to look at Artist Rajiv Surendra embellished the black chalkboard paint walls and ceiling in this Montreal writing room to mimic elaborate moldings. It feels fresh and modern, but also classic.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW Misfits by Michaela Coel, $11
Optimize For Studying
If you turned a spare room or stair landing into a homework zone for your family, optimize it for every kind of study activity. Sometimes reading requires a comfier seat, like this one, but in close enough proximity to a desk when it comes time to complete other assignments. Take note of this calming mint green study nook designed by Heidi Caillier for inspiration.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW On Freedom by Maggie Nelson, $14
Stick to the Staples
This hallway landing could've looked just fine with a classic console table situation, but instead, it's a cozy little reading nook to retreat to. (Plus, a console table would've blocked that natural light.) All it took was a coat of crisp white paint from floor to ceiling with a traditional gallery wall, a modern armchair and reading light, and then warm things up with a fur throw rug.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW The Topeka School by Ben Lerner, $14
Find Your Light
Surrounding a window and outfitted with overhead sconces, this lounging zone by Chloe Warner of Redmond Aldrich Design is both cozy and roomy. The wallpaper, Gondola by Cole & Son, energizes with color and pattern.
Our book recommendation...
READ NOW Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino, $14
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