How to Create a Cosy Reading Nook
Words by Michaela Quinn
November 04, 2025
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5m
If you’re looking to get away from the hectic hustle of daily life, a reading nook can offer a cosy haven in your home. This simple design technique can help you make the most of overlooked corners in your room, while providing a relaxing spot to take a break and get lost in a great book.
We’ll be sharing some of our favourite reading nook ideas to help you add a comfy corner to your own designs, whether you’re looking to fill space in an open-plan area or are making plans to bring your small reading room ideas to life. No matter how you choose to style your home, we’ll help you create a stylish reading corner that suits your space.
What is a reading nook?
Reading nooks are a small section of a room designed to help you take a break from your day and relax, typically featuring a comfortable seat for reading, and often accompanied by bookshelves for storage. They are usually styled along the edges of rooms to make sure they don’t take up too much floor space, and they can be decorated to add a unique touch of your personality to a design.
Adding a reading nook to your home is a great way to take the edge off a busy lifestyle and make time for a break. They are often used as a personal getaway from the rest of the home, and can help you find more opportunities to break through your reading backlog.
How to find the perfect spot for a reading nook
Sometimes, creating a reading nook is as simple as adding a chair and a side table to a well-lit corner of your room. However, if your space has any quirks in its layout that need to be filled in, incorporating these into your reading corner ideas can help make the most of your room.
If your home has a bay window, for example, this could be the perfect place to add comfy seating, a stylish table, and open shelving to display your favourite books. You could also use any quirks in your room’s layout to help add a reading nook to your space, such as styling a chimney breast or an unused corner.
A reading nook should also help you unwind, so try to stick to cosy spaces at the edges of your design rather than taking up central floor space. You should also keep your reading corner relatively small, as a vast open space can end up feeling impersonal.
Reading nook décor ideas
Now that you’ve chosen the perfect spot for your reading nook, the next step is to decide how to decorate it to reflect your personal style. Here are some things to consider when bringing your reading nook ideas to life:
Finding the ideal chair
A cosy chair is the most essential part of a reading nook, as your whole design will be built around it. Your seating should be as soft and inviting as possible, so consider a pillowy armchair for maximum comfort. You could also try going for a tactile element with a material like velvet or leather, adding a luxurious feel to your breaks. If you’d like to give your reading nook a social element, try replacing your chair with a small living room sofa, letting you read with a loved one.
Accessorising your reading nook
Since a reading corner is supposed to be your personal getaway, it should showcase your personality as much as possible. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your décor, adding your favourite items to a reading table to help you get settled in your space. You can also use soft furnishings for an even more homely touch, or add a footstool or rug to make the most of your reading breaks.
Pair your reading nook with storage
When you’re sitting in your reading nook, you won’t want to have to get up to fetch your books. Keeping open shelving on hand is not only convenient for accessing your collection, but it also adds an interesting visual detail to your room, letting you put your favourite trinkets and items on display. You can even pair your bookshelves with closed shelving, such as cupboards and cabinets, to keep clutter out of sight.
Reading nook ideas for small spaces
Reading nooks can help make the most of your room, but how can you add one to a crowded area? These tips can help you style a reading corner when working with limited space.
Use an alcove to your advantage
There are plenty of alcove décor ideas to take advantage of if your small room has a unique empty space in its wall layout. Try adding shelves to an alcove to stylishly bring storage into the design of your small room, or style it into a makeshift reading table.
Add a reading corner to your spare room
If you want to avoid taking up floor space in one of your more regularly used rooms, then a reading corner is an ideal way to use your spare room. This will help keep your nook out of sight in your daily routine, saving it for special occasions and letting you transform your spare room into a dedicated reading space when it’s not being used.
Now that you’ve read our reading corner ideas, it’s time to get lost in a good book! Barker and Stonehouse has all the furniture you need to style your perfect reading space, so take a look at our furniture options today to bring your interior design dreams to life. You can also check out our blog for more style inspiration, such as our guide to buying different armchair styles for your home.