Anyone who enjoys reading knows that while a lovely ambience isn’t necessary, it can certainly enhance a book experience no matter what you’re reading. It’s why so many people read on the beach – it’s not because they’re ignoring the amazing ocean in front of them, but because the sounds of the waves, the birds, and the gulls are a lovely addition to the comforts of being transported into another world.
Better yet (and especially as the winter comes), at home you can be as indulgent with this as you want. Sure, you’re unlikely to have a sandy beach in your living room, but you can still curate the space for comfort, apply good lighting, and just make the general experience of surrounding yourself with your library even more pleasant.
But how might you nail your reading haven in your living room? Let’s consider a few nice upgrades to help this environment become the only place you want to read.
This is a collaborative post.
Consider The Light Gradient Throughout The Day
There’s something to be said for finding the perfect reading lighting, and of course, you can use lamps and lights to help with that. But we’d also recommend using curtains or blinds that allow the most light in at various points of the day, while also positioning lamps so that no matter where you sit, the angle is that you have soft light on your pages and you never have to strain your eyes to see the words. Angling an armchair in front of your bay windows might be a good start, with a pivoting lamp you can easily point at your book if needed on top. A warm glow could also be nice, so a comforting lampshade could work here too.
Enjoy Those Calming Comforts
If you’ve ever listened to a rain or gentle ambient music playlist on YouTube, you know how the background can make all the difference. A media wall fireplace can serve as a fantastic substitute to a fireplace that not all properties are equipped to have, and hearing the crackle of the wood and the calm of the ambient glow can be a nice addition which feels more present in the home than a simple YouTube vid. You can also buy a deep, supportive chair paired with a footstool that allows you to sink into your chair but still feel angled correctly for a long reading session.
Perfecting Your Storage
Books have their own way of accumulating, and if you’re at all a constant reader your backlog is likely incredible, but cluttered spaces rarely feel relaxing. Floating shelves can be a practical storage option that doesn’t overly busy the room. A neat basket beside the chair can always give you easy reach for your current reads close at hand. A nice standing library, perhaps a small freestanding pair of shelves you keep for your current and to-read displays can be lovely too, especially those expensive books with hard covers that you want to show off, while you can keep your cheap and battered used books in other storage areas, perhaps in your bedroom or somewhere more personal. This can even be designed well too – if your bedroom has more of a nautical theme, you can use a half-cut upright road boat design for shelves for instance.
With this advice, we hope you’ll enjoy a comforting reading haven to enjoy.