I often talk about my kitchen and TV areas when telling friends about my flat, but that’s only because I like to keep my favourite home location to myself.  My reading nook is the perfect place to get away – a small and simple space that’s low profile but high on comfort.  Whether you live in a tiny studio or a sprawling manor, creating a cozy sitting space is as simple as following these few steps:

Choosing a seat

It shouldn’t exactly come as a surprise that the most important component of a sitting room is an actual place to sit.  What many people don’t realise is that while couches are terrific for watching TV and lounging (my parents have a pair of brown leather sofas that are to die for), they aren’t the best for reading.  Two much more logical choices are the chaise lounge and the reading chair.

Chaise lounges offer the comfort of a sofa with the solitude of a standalone chair.  Combing two chaise lounges will not only give you more space to sprawl out, it will also create a nice little snuggling spot for you and a loved one.

My favourite option, however, is the reading chair.  Reading chairs are the perfect fusion of design and function and make me feel as though their only purpose is to provide me with a great place to read.  I like chairs that have the slightest bit of lean to them, but aren’t so padded that I’ll fall asleep in them the moment I sit down.

Shedding a little light

Nearly as vital to your reading process as a good chair is a quality reading light.  Even if you have bright overhead lights in your living room, a reading lamp will provide direct light and keep you from damaging your eyes during long study sessions.  These lamps should be bendable and hang only about a foot over the top of your chair.

A place to set your feet

If you’re like me and your feet get cold the minute the temperature drops, you’re going to need to put something over your hardwood floors.  A small carpet – like a high pile or wool pebble rug – will provide comfort for your feet while allowing you to continue to show off your impressive floor in the rest of your living room.  Taking things even further, I also supplement my reading chair with an ottoman or small table (see the contemporary white coffee table above), which gives me the option of putting my feet up or having a place to stash my reading material, depending on the situation.

How did you create your ideal reading space?  Let us know below!

Did you know?

The modern coffee table traces its origins to Japan, where low tables have long been in fashion.

-Jeff O.

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