Forget about the spa pool, sauna or perfect kitchen garden – for many of us, the home library is at the top of the list for homely creature comforts. More than just a stylish space to display your much-loved book collection, a home library provides a cosy space to read (and re-read) your favourites in style.
Imagine a space you can escape to on a rainy afternoon, with a comfy sofa, a couple of blankets and a table lamp or two, to take you off into the lives of our favoured characters. A home library should be just that – warm, cosy and full of storage for your creature comforts.
Whether your dream library comes with built-in, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves with a rolling ladder, or a cosy reading nook with floating shelves full of your well-loved series, a home library, whatever the size, should reflect who you are as a reader.
A home library is simple to create, too. Allow it to stretch around your living room through bookcases surrounding your television or other furniture. Alternatively, if you happen to have a spare room or home office, hopefully with plenty of natural light, expand on your interior design to include everything you need for your library – an armchair, a window seat, or a rug to add some warmth, whatever will ensure the space feels cosy.
Our favourite home library ideas
Make a statement in blue
Colour-drenching interiors have gained popularity in recent years and for good reason. Defining the space, this bold blue library creates a designated space to sit back, relax and finish your book.
A library fit for a writer
As an author, the owner of this chic, recently renovated home, always dreamed of having her own library at home. Eager to create a peaceful space that’d inspire creativity, the library is now an imprint of her personality with the mix of books, artwork and momentous items she’s picked up on her travels.
A library under the stairs
This little reading nook is more chic than the cupboard under the stairs where young Harry Potter dwelled, but the perfect spot to store the wizarding series. With a soft rug, cosy armchair and warm table lamp, many hours could be easily spent here.
The perfect window seat
Watch the seasons go by in this dreamy reading nook. The built-in storage and bookshelves, as well as the fabric upholstery, give Nancy Meyers vibes.
Home office with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves
This home office and library hybrid would give the ultimate backdrop for your Zoom call. Adding art prints and table lamps adds personality to the space.
Spare a wall in your living room
This home library is a perfect example of taking a spare wall and making it your own. With plenty of natural light streaming in from the window behind the sofa, the golden tones of the wooden bookcases make this space look warm and cosy. Stretch out here with a cup of tea and waste an afternoon with your favourite novel.
A walk-in library for booklovers
Have a spare wardrobe or storage space? This miniature room proves you don’t need a large footprint to make a major impact. Using height rather than width, books can be stacked for days. Here, a ladder makes the most of the space to ensure each shelf can be easily accessed.
Make way for your art
Keeping books below eye-level allows your other keepsakes to shine. This home uses wall-to-wall cube storage that any of us could easily replicate – this piece from Mocka would work wonders in this design.
Add your house plants to brighten up the space
Bookshelves aren’t just for books, but for your favourite knick-knacks, artwork and plants, too. Trailing plants, especially, can be used to add dimension to a home library, sending your eye up and down to scan the shelves.
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