Book nooks, a popular home design element, are designated areas that provide a comfortable, quiet place to settle in and read. “Today’s lifestyle is so crazy busy that people need their own private space to just get away and have a moment of peace,” says Deborah Sauri, co-founder of TriVista Design + Build. Here’s how to build your own cozy reading nook.
Find the Perfect Nook
A book nook can fit anywhere in your home, and it’s an especially good use of small spaces that might otherwise go unused. For example, TriVistaUSA Design + Build turned a space under the stairs into a hideaway for the homeowner’s book-loving daughter.
“It ended up being this super colorful, fun space for her. … it became this private little area for our client’s daughter to have a space for herself to read,” Sauri says.
But even if you don’t have an obvious “nook” in your home, a book nook can be incorporated into any room. “A book nook is anywhere in the home that invites you to kind of step away from the main space and just curl up with a book and relax,” says Diana Lombard of Fairfax-based Diana Lombard Interiors. “It could be off of the living room, it could be off a bedroom, it could be even in a hallway.”
Look for spots that are out of the way of high-traffic areas where you can get “a little bit more privacy and quiet,” Sauri says. It helps to have natural light, too, so spaces near windows work well, she says.
Build Your Nest
One of the most essential elements of a book nook, Lombard and Sauri say, is the seating, be it a squishy armchair, chaise lounge, or built-in bench with cushions.
“Really make sure that it’s comfortable, and that your back is supported. And that it’s a space that you want to sit in,” Sauri says. “Because if this doesn’t work, and if it’s not comfortable, then you’re not going to want to use it.”
Then, think about storage and shelving. Ideally, bookshelves should be nearby, and there should be a side table or ledge where you can set down your book and your coffee or tea.
Lighting is another key factor. If you’re not somewhere with a lot of natural light, add a lamp.
“You have your overhead light in the main part of the room, and then you have your sconce or floor lamp just in the reading nook. So at the end of the day, you could turn off the main light and just turn on the light in the reading corner. Then that instantly makes you feel like that’s a separate area,” Lombard says.
Snuggle Up
When you have the basic setup ready, you can bring in design elements that enhance the comfortable feeling. Add warm colors and soft elements like a plush rug, pillows, blankets, and an ottoman or pouf cushions, Sauri suggests. And adding family photos or plants can give the space a more personalized feel.
Lombard suggests looking for comfortable materials like velvet, boucle, or a soft performance fabric. “Then, obviously, a great throw — something you can snuggle up with — is always nice to have in the space as well to make it feel cozy.”
Feature photo courtesy TriVistaUSA Design + Build, by Angela Newton Roy
This story originally ran in our December issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
