Book Nook Ideas: How to Create a Cosy Reading Corner

A book nook is a small corner of your home set aside for reading. It might be a window seat, an armchair beside the bookcase or a pile of cushions in a child's bedroom. It doesn't take much space. It needs somewhere comfortable to sit, good light, your books close by and something on the walls that makes the corner feel like yours.

These book nook ideas go through each of those in turn, with photos of our prints in real rooms so you can picture the finished corner.

Looking for the miniature book nooks that slot between the books on a shelf? Those are small dioramas, usually sold as kits. This guide is about the other kind: a reading corner you can sit in.

Pick the right spot

Start with the corner you already drift towards. A spot by a window gives you daylight for most of the day. The end of a landing, the space beside a fireplace or a spare corner of the bedroom all work too. Keep it away from the TV and the busiest route through the room, so the nook stays quiet.

Make the seat the star

Choose one seat you could happily stay in for an hour: a deep armchair, a window seat with a thick cushion, a small sofa or a floor cushion with a couple of throws. Put a side table or a shelf at arm's height next to it for a mug and the book you're halfway through.

Layer the light

Daylight is lovely, but most reading happens in the evening. Put a lamp beside or just behind the seat so the light falls on the page and not in your eyes. A warm bulb keeps the corner cosy. A second, softer light, such as a small table lamp or a string of lights, stops it feeling like a spotlight.

Keep the books close

Shelves are what turn a seat into a book nook. Built-in shelves either side of a window, a narrow bookcase beside the chair or a couple of floating shelves all do the job. Leave a little room on each shelf for a plant, a candle or a small print leaning against the wall, so it looks like a display and not just storage.

Book nook wall art

Wall art is the quickest way to give a book nook its personality. A print of a book you love tells everyone what the corner is for, and it gives you something to look up at between chapters.

• One large print above the seat is a strong, simple choice in a small corner.
• Two or three prints from the same author or genre make a small gallery. Our poster sets group three books that belong together.
• Lean a print on a shelf between the books for a relaxed, layered look.
• Match the frame to the room: natural wood for warmth, black for contrast, white for a light, airy corner.

A few book nook ideas from our own prints:

Kids' book nook ideas

Children love a reading corner that feels like their own hideaway. A low shelf with the covers facing out lets them choose a book by its picture. Floor cushions, a canopy or a small tent make the space feel tucked away. On the wall, posters of the stories they love make the nook theirs, and they're easy to swap as they grow.

Browse our children's book posters for picture-book favourites and classics like The Secret Garden.

Small-space book nooks

No spare corner? A book nook can be a chair and a lamp at the end of the bed, a deep windowsill with a cushion or the space under the stairs. Keep it to one seat, one light and one print on the wall, and it will still feel like a place to read.

Finishing touches

A throw and a cushion or two, a plant, a basket for the books you're reading now and a candle you only light there. Small habits like these help the nook become the place you go to read.

Ready to dress the walls? Have a look at our best sellers and poster sets, or find a present in our gifts for book lovers.