Reading is much more enjoyable in a relaxing space. Anyone can make a cozy home library, regardless of where they live. All you have to do is follow your gut. Find inspiration for your DIY library project with these helpful ideas for renters and homeowners.
1. Evaluate Your Space
Your library’s size depends on how much room you have. Consider where you want to read and see how big it is. You can fill the room with shelving wherever there’s an empty wall or room on your floor.
You’ll also need to fit all of your books. Your collection will determine how much shelving you should create.
2. Choose an Aesthetic
Designing part of your home is always easier with an aesthetic in mind. The theme will guide every choice that results in your cozy library. Explore interior design aesthetics like dark academia, witchcore, modern farmhouse and more. If you compile pictures of what each looks like, you can narrow your options based on what best fits your personality.
3. Determine Your DIY Skills
There are numerous ways to establish an in-home library, especially if you know how to use an electric drill. Consider your previous DIY experience to see if you could build your shelves. You can also browse YouTube videos to see how other people made libraries out of corners, hallways and entire rooms.
The budget-friendly DIY approach is also best for people who live in nontraditional spaces and need more creative solutions for book storage. If you live in an RV, tiny home or a houseboat, you can customize your library to the exact space you’re working with.
4. Find the Perfect Piece
Buying furniture is also an option. You could combine two or more bookshelves to create an expansive library wall. Alternatively, turn a dining hutch from a flea market into your book storage. If you see something that catches your eye and has shelving wide enough for books, you can incorporate it into your library.
5. Improve the Lighting
Imagine how cozy you’d feel under the fluorescent lights of a doctor’s office. Now, picture yourself reading by a table lamp with a soft yellow glow. Lighting sets the mood for the activity you’ll do in any space.
You could even emphasize your theme with the right selection. If you aim for a vintage library vibe, any antique lamp made between the 17th and 20th centuries will lend the historic feel you want. Build out from your theme to choose the perfect library lighting.
6. Center a Reading Nook
Libraries aren’t only stacks of books. They’re also places where you can find plush couches and chairs for hours of reading. Create a space to do the same in your home.
Place an aesthetically pleasing lounge chair between two bookshelves or build a bench into your DIY wall-to-wall library. If it looks inviting and features comfortable cushions, you’ll get closer to making a cozy space.
7. Add Soft Textures
Wood shelves and hardcover books can create a gorgeous aesthetic, but texture is foundational to any inviting room. Layering different ones in your design will make your reading nook more appealing.
Place a chunky-knit throw blanket or velvet pillows on your seating. Hang a tapestry nearby or thick curtains on the closest window. The simple additions add depth to any room while softening what might only look like dense furniture.
8. Display Your Belongings
While a public library might be inviting, it’s not homey. The difference comes down to your decor. Add personal belongings to your shelves or the empty wall space surrounding them.
You could arrange your books between candles, framed pictures or decor you’ve collected in previous years. The additions display your personality alongside your reading preferences.
9. Fill the Space With Plants
Cozy places invite people to spend lots of time there. You might spend years making memories with loved ones in the same room or business. Celebrate life and the passing of time in your home library, too, by adding a few plants.
Don’t worry if you’ve never had a green thumb. Silk flowers and faux greenery can look equally stunning on bookshelves. You could even add a towering fiddle leaf fig to play with the visual depth in your house.
10. Opt for Calming Colors
You’ll also need to choose colors for various parts of your project. Your pillows, blankets and decor should have a cohesive visual theme. You might also have to paint your shelves, which will impact your library’s appearance. Think about which hues feel most cozy or calming for you. Whether you prefer pastel shades or a dark hue that creates a den, defining your preferred two or three colors will pull everything together.
11. Think About the Temperature
The best part of reading is feeling so comfortable that you lose yourself in your novel. If your library is too hot or cold, you won’t have that experience. See if your selected reading space is next to an air vent or within part of your home that stays naturally warmer than others. You can compensate for either challenge with an air vent deflector or a standing fan.
12. Embrace Natural Lighting
Arranging mood lighting for evening or late-night reads is crucial, but you’ll also likely spend time in your library during the day. Picture yourself on a comfortable couch under golden sunbeams. You’ll maximize your daytime coziness by choosing a library location with natural lighting.
Even if the nearest window is a few feet away, keep the curtains open while the sun’s high in the sky. You’ll get lots of natural lighting, which is even more important if you keep potted plants around your books.
Make the Cozy Home Library of Your Dreams
You don’t need an interior decorating education to make a comfortable reading nook. Consider details like your preferred aesthetic, textures and colors. Measure the space you’re working with and create a budget. Once you start working through the details of your library project, you’ll be on the right track to make an inviting space.
