I always wanted my very own reading nook and I was happy when I realized that my new home has a space for it! The reading nook is one of the spaces in my home that I did not engage an interior designer to help with. I DIY-ed it all on my own (with my husband’s help and feedback of course). I love everything about my reading nook!
The key for a beautiful and stylish reading nook that is full of loose furniture is to know exactly what theme you are going for and then to find furniture that matches the theme. You can use Powerpoint or a free software like Google Slides to piece together the various pieces you have found.
In this article, I will share each Item that I got for my reading nook to make the space look so cohesive as well as the thought process behind each item. Enjoy!
1. Bookshelf
To me, since a reading nook is meant for reading, it is essential to place a bookshelf in it! I got my bookshelf from Ikea. It was love at first sight and I love how aesthetically pleasing yet practical it is. I specifically chose this bookshelf because of its dark moody wood color and the Japandi vibe that its sleek design gives, which suits the entire design of my home very well. I love the slanted detail of the legs and I also love its height and the number of shelves it has.
2. Slate Gray Wall Paint
The wall paint is actually a crucial part in giving my reading nook the moody vibe that I wanted it to have. The initial wall paint color was actually a more bluish lighter gray and this color was simply not suitable at all. Tip: When your interior designer proposes a colour, be sure to really double check to see if it is the color you want.
I ended up choosing slate gray because this shade of gray was of the darkness I wanted and did not have any blue/green/red undertones.
3. Vases
I got both my vases from Taobao but you can easily find them on various other platforms like Aliexpress or Shopee. Both vases have the same design (which is a minimalist zen buddha) but in different colors – white and terracotta.
The white vase sits on top of my bookshelf. I chose to let it sit by itself without any other decor around it because I love the zen effect that this gives. It also makes the negative space around it pop. On a side note, I find negative space in design to be so interesting.
The terracotta vase sits below one of the coffee tables. I chose terracotta as the colour because of the warmth it gives and also because it helps to balance out the other coffee table on the other side of the arm chair. Yes, I have 2 side tables for my single armchair.
4. Armchair
The armchair is the heart of the reading nook because this is where you will do the intended activity of the reading nook which is to read. The armchair I chose comes in a dark gray fabric with light wood legs. I believe the wood is either rubber wood or plywood. I chose dark gray because of the moody feel it gives. I alsoI like how the armchair’s dark gray color makes it seem like the chair is blending into the dark gray wall.
5. Cushion Pillow and Case
I got my cushion pillow and case from Aliexpress. The cushion case is made from a textured blend of linen and cotton. I want my reading nook to be as cozy as possible and I love how the addition of some texture instantly increases the warm and cozy factor of my reading nook.
6. Side Table 1
I spent a full week hunting for an ideal side table but I could not find any that was to my liking. Eventually I came across side table 1 on Taobao and I absolutely adored the design of the legs. I decided to go ahead to get it despite it being a huge risk (there were not many reviews and I was unsure whether the color would match my home (there were only 2 colors to choose from). However, since the cost was not very expensive (it was less than $50), I thought that there was no harm in getting it.
Anyway the table arrived and I am glad to have made this risky decision. I am loving this side table a great deal as it really helps to add some character to my space. It also ties together very well with my space because it iis of the same color tone as my sofa and little knick knacks like my teak coasters and my terracotta vase.
Pro tip: To make your space look even more put together, do make sure that every single element has at least one other element (be it big or small) that has the same color tone.
7. Side Table 2
Initially this side table was meant to be my TV speaker stand (as i wanted to place my speaker at the bottom surface of this side table. Unfortunately, I did not get the right height and the speaker could not fit into this side table. Hence, since there was nowhere else in my home to place this side table, I decided to place it at my reading nook area.
My Side Table 2 is used to place decor/necessities like a toothpick holder, coasters and a fortune cat. There is also space at the bottom to place a plant.
8. Map
My husband loves history and loves talking about different locations around the world and hence I thought it would be a good idea to display a map in my reading nook. For the map, I had a specific wooden style in mind and wanted the map to match my Japandi/Scandinavian theme. I also wanted the map to be as accurate as possible. Luckily for me, I managed to find my desired wooden map online! Find more more about the steps I took to ensure that my wooden map suits my home well and also stays attached to the wall at all times.
9. Clock
There is a ventilation opening at the top of my reading nook’s wall and it made the space look incomplete. Therefore I decided to hide it with a clock. I chose a clock with roman characters mainly because I think it looks quite classy. The woodiness of the clock also helps to enhance the woody vibe of the reading nook.
10. NO Carpets
The last point is about something that I chose not to have for my reading nook, which is a carpet. A carpet seems to be a necessity in many reading nooks on pinterest because of the coziness it gives. However, I decided not to get it because it will be very troublesome to have to clean it, on top of my full time job and other chores.