How to Create a Cozy Reading Nook

Dreaming of curling up with a book in your favorite, most comfortable chair? Our guide will help you create a cozy reading nook anywhere in your home. The corner of your primary bedroom, a teeny loft at the top of the stairs, an unused closet off a main hallway—you can transform an underutilized space into the perfect place to read with our inspiration and ideas. Once you’ve picked the right spot and found a comfy reading chair, follow our tips to make a reading nook that feels customized to you.  

Where Is the Best Place to Put a Reading Nook?

Choosing the right spot is the first step to creating a cozy reading nook, but the best location depends on the floor plan of your home and your personal preferences. Do you want somewhere secluded that you can escape to for alone time? Or would you prefer to style a reading nook that acts as a decorative accent in a larger space, like the living room or primary suite?  

An alcove, corner, or even a closet can become a cozy space to escape and snuggle up with a good book when you add the right furniture, decor, and accessories. Here are our tips for choosing the best spot to put your reading nook. 

  • Consider your existing spaces. Explore your home for spaces that lend themselves to seclusion, such as a window seat or dormer alcove. In a kids’ room or office, an extra closet could easily become a cozy spot for reading. 
  • Capitalize on natural light. If you set up your reading nook next to the window, you let natural light illuminate the pages—and provide the perfect views for daydreaming.  
  • Double-check access to power. Whether your nook is next to the window or not, you’ll still want to add supplemental accent lighting to minimize eye strain, so prioritize placing your reading nook somewhere there is an outlet.  
Image of women reading by window wrapped in quilt

How to Set Up a Reading Nook in 5 Steps

Once you’ve chosen where to put it, setting up a dreamy reading nook is almost as easy as 1-2-3. From picking a comfortable chair to adding decor, consider these cozy reading nook ideas to create the ideal spot for exploring your favorite story. 

1. Choose a Comfy Reading Chair

Anchor your reading nook with seating that fits your exact comfort preferences. Style is always important, but function comes first when choosing the best chair for a reading nook; you’ll be less likely to use it if the seat is not comfortable or supportive. An oversized chair, a plush rocking recliner, a trendy rounded chair, or a loveseat or chaise with space to spread out—the right reading nook seating comes down to your personal preferences and the aesthetic you aim to create.  

Reading Nook Design Idea: If you’re setting up your reading nook in a bedroom corner, choose two coordinating chairs and set them up kitty corner, so there’s a spot for you and one for your partner, as well. 

2. Add a Bookshelf, Side Table, or Other Accent Furniture

Once you’ve picked the perfect chair, the size of your reading nook will influence what accent furniture is most practical. If space allows, add both a bookcase and a side table; one with drawers can hide charging cables, pens, highlighters, and extra bookmarks to keep your reading spot tidy and clutter-free. In a closet, alcove, or somewhere else with a small footprint, a side table with shelves—or a bookcase that can also serve as a side table—may be a better option. Consider other accent furniture as your needs, space, and desires dictate. For example, a cushioned ottoman or pouf can be a convenient place to prop your feet while you disappear into your favorite fictional world. 

3. Make Sure There's Plenty of Light

Choosing the right task lighting for your reading nook prevents eye strain and creates a warm, cozy ambiance for the space. Even if your room has overhead fixtures or nearby windows, we recommend adding a lamp to make it easier to see. Choose a small fixture that fits on your end table bookcase. Opt for a floor lamp to make room on your side table’s surface for a candle or a mug of tea. Or, install a classic wall sconce that fits the decor style of your space—a swing-arm sconce for traditional library vibes, a modern shaded option to create a contemporary aesthetic. 

4. Up the Cozy Factor With Blankets and Pillows

A lumbar pillow can provide extra support while you read and, with the right cover, adds extra style when your seat is empty. Choose a decorative pillow that matches your reading nook’s style, or opt for a down or down alternative insert and swap out pillow covers throughout the seasons. Supplement a single lumbar cushion with other accent throw pillows; the larger your chair, chaise, or loveseat, the more you can add. More pillows make the space feel cozier—just make sure you still have space to sit! 

Image of book with a cozy blanket

Make your nook even cozier with a blanket you can pull over your lap or wrap around your shoulders. We recommend one for every season: a lightweight cotton gauze or linen throw in the summer, something sherpa-covered or down-filled for cold winter mornings, and a middle-weight option when the weather’s in between. You can keep extra blankets in a basket by your chair when not in use, or fold and store them in a nearby linen closet. 

5. Add Bookish Accessories and Decor

The final step in designing a dream reading nook is to make it feel like yours. The options are as endless as an author’s imagination, but you can start with some of our favorite ideas:  

  • Style your side table with the right decorative accents, such as a candle, coasters, and a vase of fresh flowers or even a low-maintenance faux plant. 
  • A small, plush accent rug adds inviting texture, dimension, and color to your cozy closet reading nook or secluded alcove space. 
  • Wallpaper can be the missing element that transforms a reading nook from a simple corner to your favorite spot. Embrace cottage-core trends with floral wallpaper, or go modern with a geometric design. 
  • Hang literary-inspired artwork on the walls. Frame your favorite book covers, choose prints you can update with the season, or hang photos that capture locations from beloved stories. 
  • A mirror can make a small reading nook feel larger and lend a certain antique-inspired charm to the space, perfect if you’re looking to create the aesthetic of an old-fashioned library. 
  • If your nook is near a dedicated window, choose curtains that coordinate with your chair color, wallpaper, or other room decor.  

While every reader can’t have a library à la Beauty and the Beast, with the right approach, you can easily create a comfortable, cozy reading nook at home. Whether you have the perfect space already picked out or are just starting to look for inspiration, you can follow our tips to transform a boring corner, closet, or alcove into a space well-suited for enjoying your favorite stories. For more on creating a comfortable home that reflects your style, explore our other Guides.