Bookworms and design lovers can combine all their interests by designing a beautiful home library. A home library is a great way to bring your personal style into your home, while still using functional and loved objects.
Even though using books as design is a hot-button issue amongst the readers of social media, it’s impossible to deny that even the most functional home library has a serene atmosphere that fits any aesthetic. NewHomeSource isn’t going to wade into the rainbow book debate, but we can help you design a home library that makes you want to curl up with your favorite book and beverage and read your heart out.
Home Libraries in a Flex Room or Den
Few things beat the joy sparking power of transforming an entire room in your home into a library. If you’re fortunate enough to have a flex room or den to house your books, you can create the perfect reading escape.
Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the home, a dedicated reading room gives you the perfect chance to show off your books and personal style. Line the walls with built-in shelves, or fake the look with a modular shelving system, and fill them with your books. Throw in a comfy chair, and complete your library by decorating it however you want.
If you’re building a new home, you may be able to work with your builder to make your dream home library a reality. Custom home builders will have the most flexibility to work with you to design a beautiful reading space. Production home builders often have built-in shelving available in rooms like dens and living rooms, and may offer it as an upgrade option in owner suites and flex rooms. Your builder is here to make your dream home a reality, talk with them about how they can build your love for reading into the foundation of your new home.
Reading Nooks
All true readers know that curling up in a cozy reading nook adds at least a 30% increase in your enjoyment of your book. Fortunately, book nooks fall into the golden of home improvement because:
- They are generally easy to add to your home
- They allow you to make use of an awkward space of your home
- They look beautiful
- They spark a lot of joy
Make use of the space beneath your stairs by building in a book nook with shelves and a comfortable chair. (We won’t tell anyone if you pretend to be Harry Potter.)
Adding a storage bench near a window gives you the perfect reading space for sunny and rainy days alike. Style it with comfortable pillows, and stash your books below. Unused corners in your living room can easily be transformed into a beautiful reading space by lining the corners with modular or built-in shelves and adding a comfortable chair.
Books in the kitchen? Kitchen islands are increasingly designed with built in shelving, so you can add a book stash in your kitchen. Most people use it for easy access to their cookbooks, but nothing is stopping you from storing your novels there, while taking full advantage of an eat-in kitchen. Your guests will rave about your unique and creative kitchen design!
Small-House Home Libraries
A small floor plan doesn’t have to be a limiting factor for creating a home library. No matter how much space you have for your beloved books, you can style a striking “shelfie” that displays all your favorite things and reading materials.
Rethinking your shelving strategy is key to making your dream home library fit in a small house. Make use of all unused vertical space with floor to ceiling shelves, and pack them with books. Tuck in a sleek library ladder so that your favorite tomes are always at your fingertips.
Built-in shelving can let you take advantage of wall space around larger pieces of furniture. If you can’t dedicate an entire wall to shelving in your living room, you may be able to build your bookshelves around your couch. The dedicated pre-bedtime readers can use similar shelving strategies over and around their beds.
If you have more books than clothing, you can tuck a small library into a closet. Instead of a clothing management system, line the space with shelves and pack the shelves with books. Removing the closet door and painting the frame a fun color is a great way to show off your small space savvy reading solution.
Libraries for Littles
When designing a home for readers, don’t forget the baby bookworms that live in your house! Giving children a fun space to explore the wide and wonderful world of books fosters a love of reading.
The library for the little in your life doesn’t have to be expensive or a massive DIY undertaking. Recreating an enchanted forest is fun, but you don’t need all the faerie lights and themed décor to create a great place for your child to read.
Easy to access shelving is the cornerstone of a child’s first library. If the books are hard to get to, your little explorer might think their bookshelf is a great training ground for Mount Everest. Sturdy built-ins are a safe shelving option for young children who still climb all over everything. If you do choose to go with removable shelving, make sure you anchor it to the wall.
After you fill the shelves with books, fill your mini reading room with cozy blankets for your child to burrow under, fun toys for children to read to, and maybe a flashlight so they can read under the covers.
No matter what you love to read, what aesthetic speaks to you, or how much space you have for your books, you can design the perfect home library. Let us know what your must haves are in your home library in the comments below, and tag NewHomeSource in your shelfies on Instagram!
After graduating in 2016 from The University of Texas with a degree in English, Sanda Brown became a content writer for the BDX with a focus on website copy and content marketing.
At the BDX, Sanda helps write and edit articles on NewHomeSource.com, writes website copy for builders, and manages a team of freelancers that work on additional content needs.
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