Reading Nooks for Relaxing Moments – find a place for one in your home

READING NOOKS FOR RELAXING MOMENTS

Find a Place for One in Your Home

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READING NOOKS

I love reading nooks! I love having a place to rest, regroup, and have a quiet moment to read. If you love to read as well, then you need a reading nook!

Our home has vaulted ceilings. When my husband, Dutch, the kids, and I moved into our home, we were excited to find gables and angles and nooks and crannies everywhere. I love it! But I didn’t know what to do with all of it. Experimenting with these different spaces has been so much fun. And one of my favorite spaces that we created is the reading nook.

This is what the space looked like when we moved in:

The walls and ceilings were painted this color blue:

We took out the carpet and put down pinewood floor boards. We bought reject pine boards from a lumber yard. Then we took them to a woodwork warehouse and had them planed. We chose to not have them sanded, so they would have a more natural feel.

This is what the floor boards looked like in our library before we stained them:

We chose to stain the boards with Minwax Dark Walnut. It is a rich, slightly darker than medium, brown.

View this Amazon link for Minwax Dark Walnut Stain:

Here:

This is what the pine floor boards looked like after we stained them:

And this is how they looked with 2 coats of polyurethane:

This is our family room. We used Minwax semi-gloss polyurethane.

View Minwax Polyurethane here:

We also painted the walls Benjamin Moore Bavarian Cream 2146-70. It is a luscious ivory color, with a slight green undertone. That keeps the color from having a pink tint, which I really wanted to avoid. And it contrasts wonderfully with Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17, which we used on our trim work, doors, and ceilings.

Once the renovating was finished, the fun began! I was surprised with how much we were able to put into this small space with its charming, yet problematic, gabled ceiling.

We started with an area rug. Amazon rugs come in many sizes, styles, and colors. I have purchased quite a few of these rugs for our home, and I have been pleased with all of them.

This is the rug that we purchased for the reading nook:

View the rug here:

Here are some more rugs that would work well in a reading nook.

I love these rugs. They come in black and ivory:

View the black rug:

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View the ivory rug:

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I have purchased several of these rugs. My favorite colors are these:

Blue/Burgundy:

Burgundy/Beige:

Navy Blue/Beige:

Ivory/Blue:

Next, I measured really carefully for bookcases. And this is what surprised me the most. We were able to get 3 bookcases that were just the right size to fit under this angled roofline. It was very exciting! Before we placed the bookcases against the wall, I filled those cubbyholes with bedding that we weren’t using. I now have an out of the way stash of emergency blankets!

This bookcase is similar to what we purchased. It comes in several wood tones.

View it here:

These bookcases come in a lot of fun colors. And there’s one that is unfinished, so you can custom-color it.

View them here:

Try these baskets on your bookshelves to throw bookmarks and pencils and knick-knacks in. They come in various colors and sizes:

View here:

Here:

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Check out this post for book ideas, for filling your new bookshelves:

Favorite Books to Read in the Fall

Do you love fairytales? So do I! Here is a fairytale novel of Beauty & the Beast. Take a look at it here:

The Treekeeper’s Daughter by Marilee Boekweg

We had just enough room for 1 end table.

View similar end tables:

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And here:

And here are some lamps to go on your bookcases and accent tables.

View them:

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And here is a floor lamp that comes in brass and black:

View it here:

There was limited space, so we chose to go with one love seat and one accent chair.

View some similar love seats:

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And here:

And here:

View some accent chairs:

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Add a blanket throw or two for color and comfort.

View these blanket throws in lots of bright colors:

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And here:

And here:

And furniture is not finished without accent pillows! View these fun accent pillows in different colors, styles, and sizes:

View here:

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And here:

And here are some accent pillow inserts in different sizes:

View them here:

We chose a round table. View a similar table in various wood tones:

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An oval table:

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And here:

Here are some neutral-toned ottomans that come in square and round:

Square:

Round:

View some rectangular tables:

Here:

Here:

Here in several wood tones:

Here in farmhouse style:

These tables are really lovely. They cost a bit more.

View them:

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Here:

And Here:

And here are some tablecloths to bring in color and to protect your table.

View these jewel-toned damask tablecloths:

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And these earth-toned damask tablecloths:

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Then I chose some fun things for decorations.

Candlestick holders:

View here:

And here:

And here:

And here:

And here:

Tapered candles:

View colorful tapered candles in different lengths:

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View twisted candlesticks:

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And, of course, I added everything for tea time.

I chose to go with mugs, instead of tea cups. Mugs are sturdy, they hold in the heat, and I just like them.

View some mugs in various colors:

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And view some beautiful artisan mugs:

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I love this electric tea kettle:

View here:

I also like this stovetop kettle. It has a whistle, which is fun and cheery!

View here:

And these wooden trays are so handy and helpful:

View here:

And here:

Are you looking for a fun book to read? Here is a fairytale novel that I wrote. It’s a retelling of the beloved Beauty & the Beast story.

Find it here:

The Treekeeper’s Daughter by Marilee Boekweg

And that’s our cozy reading nook!

Now let’s find a place for a reading nook in your home.

Let’s start with under a staircase. Is it just empty space? Is it a closet used for storage? Can it be cleared out and opened up?

Martin Lang

Does your home have a wide hallway? Or space at the end of a hallway?

Here are some benches that would work well in a space like this:

View here:

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What about a stair landing? Or a bridge?

Kei Scampa

A corner of a room could become your reading and relaxing space.

And, of course, in front of a fireplace is a very cozy place to be.

Clay Banks

Does your home have a gable or a bay window that you can claim?

Clay Banks

Or a window seat?

Rahul Pundir

Are there any windows in your home that let in a lot of sunshine? Or that have a beautiful view?

How about repurposing a room? Do you have a room in your home that gets very little use, such as a formal dining room, or a sitting room, or an office? Turn that room into your reading room!

Now that you have your very own reading nook, let’s add some fun things to it!

How about some games?

View some Jane Austen games:

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And here:

And here:

View some Chess Games here:

Frosted Glass Chess:

Harry Potter Wizard Chess:

Folding Portable Chess:

And some mind-relaxing coloring books.

View a Thomas Kinkade Coloring Book:

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And a Harry Potter Coloring Book:

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View some Jane Austen Coloring Books:

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View a William Bouguereau Coloring Book:

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View some William Morris Coloring Books:

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And here:

Here are some colored pencils and some art brush pens.

View colored pencils:

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View marker brush pens:

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And throw some fun bookmarks into a basket, to mark your spot for next time.

View some bookmarks in various materials here:

Metal Butterfly Bookmark:

Magnetic Bookmark:

Magnetic Bookmark:

Wooden Bookmark:

Need some book suggestions to fill your new bookshelves?

Check out this post about Favorite Books to Read in the Fall for some ideas!

And check out this romance novel that I wrote. It’s a retelling of the fairytale Beauty & the Beast. It’s full of enchanted roses, talking animals, and a mysterious sealed castle.

View a sample reading of it here:

The Treekeeper’s Daughter by Marilee Boekweg

Taking time to read a good book is so relaxing and restoring. And having a comfortable space for it makes it even better. I hope you enjoy your new reading nook!

Crafting wishes,

Marilee

Check out this related post:

Favorite Books to Read in the Fall

And this post about my Beauty & The Beast fairytale novel:

The Treekeeper’s Daughter by Marilee Boekweg

Read a preview of The Treekeeper’s Daughter here:

The Treekeeper’s Daughter by Marilee Boekweg

Follow me to discover enjoyable books to read and more ways to craft your reading time!