
Flat Roman Shade. Photo and design by Alaina Kaczmarski of The Everygirl.
Reading nooks evoke a sense of comfort and tranquility, the perfect space to get lost in a story while the rest of the house bustles around unnoticed. They can also be very practical design elements, as the ideal use for awkward unused corners, window seats, or small rooms. However your reading nook fits into the layout of your home, keep these tidbits in mind when choosing the furniture and décor.

Relaxed Roman Shades. Danielle Colding Design, Inc. Instagram: @daniellecoldingdesign
Start with a Comfortable Seat
The most obvious place to start is with a comfortable chair, sofa, seat, or bench. Depending on the rest of the room, you can use the seat as a focal point for the area and choose a unique design. Interior designer Danielle Colding used a gorgeous Jonathan Adler Bacharach Swivel Chair to set the stage for this nook, with curved comfortable lines and a gray tone that matches the Relaxed Roman Shades.

Roller Shades. Shorelines Interiors. Instagram: @shorelinestx
Consider Different Types of Light
Big windows provide excellent natural light for reading during the day. Will that light ever be too bright? If sunlight streams into your nook at high intensity, you may want to add a Solar Shade or other light filtering window treatment to reduce glare, especially if you’ll be reading on devices with screens like iPads or Kindles. For evening and nighttime reading, add another source of task lighting like the nearby lamp in this Shorelines Interiors office design.

Relaxed Roman Shades. jess & kevin. Instagram: @jessandkevinllc
Create a Warm Space
If your reading nook is near a window, it is especially important to consider how this affects the comfort of the space. If the window tends to be drafty or cold, remedy the situation by adding an insulating window treatment. Options include Cellular Shades, lined Drapery or Roman Shades, substantial materials like Wool, Wool Flannel, and Velvet, or layered shades and drapes to provide the highest amount of draft blockage. Extra blankets and pillows are also always a good idea, in case a captivating book prompts a long reading marathon where position changes might be necessary. You can decorate chairs and window seats with pretty throws, or store blankets in a basket or box next to the seat, like jess & kevin’s design shown above.
Even the tiniest of reading nook spaces can still be big on design. Browse our photo gallery, Pinterest, and Instagram accounts for inspiration, or visit one of our nationwide showrooms.