This guide covers everything you need to create a reading nook — from choosing the right location to selecting the furniture, light, and textile layers that make a corner feel like a destination.
Step 1: Find the Right Spot
The first and most important decision is location. A reading nook doesn’t need to be large, but it needs to feel separate from the flow of activity in your home. The worst possible reading nook is a chair positioned in the middle of a busy hallway where you’ll be constantly distracted.
Ideal locations, ranked:
1. A corner of the living room, near a window. Natural light is ideal for daytime reading, and windows provide a sense of connection to the outside world that makes reading feel more expansive. Position the chair so your back is to the room (facing the window or a wall) — this psychological separation from the room makes the nook feel like its own space.
2. An under-utilized alcove or bay window. If your home has an architectural recess, it’s already half a reading nook. All you need to do is fill it. Bay windows are particularly excellent because they provide light from multiple angles and a built-in sense of enclosure.
3. A landing or wide hallway. The space at the top of a staircase is often underused because it’s an awkward size for standard furniture. But a slim armchair and a small bookshelf fit perfectly in these transitional spaces, and foot traffic is low enough not to be disruptive.
4. A bedroom corner. Bedrooms are ideal for evening reading — quiet, private, and already associated with rest. Position the chair away from the bed so it feels like a distinct zone.
Avoid: Basements without natural light (unless you exclusively read at night), corners directly adjacent to television sets, and any location where you can hear kitchen noise or other household activity.
Step 2: Choose the Chair
The chair is the single most important piece of furniture in a reading nook. It needs to be comfortable enough for multi-hour sessions and provide arm support for holding a book.
What to look for:
- Armrests. Non-negotiable. Your arms need somewhere to rest while holding a book or e-reader. Wingback chairs and club chairs are classic for good reason.
- Seat depth. Deep enough to curl your legs up if that’s how you read. About 50-60cm (20-24 inches) of seat depth accommodates most reading positions.
- Back height. High enough to support your head when you lean back. About 90-100cm (35-40 inches) is comfortable for most people.
- Fabric. Something you want to touch. Velvet, wool, linen, or aged leather. Avoid synthetic fabrics that feel cold or slippery.
Our recommendations:
- IKEA STRANDMON ($299): The best value reading chair available. High back, deep seat, supportive armrests, and available in several fabrics. It’s a modern interpretation of a classic wingback.
- Vintage wingback ($100-500, secondhand): A well-made vintage wingback is often better quality than a new chair at twice the price. Look for solid frame construction (the chair should feel heavy) and high-quality upholstery.
- Papasan chair ($150-300): The ultimate curl-up chair. A large, bowl-shaped cushion on a pedestal base. Not the most elegant option, but deeply comfortable.
Step 3: Get the Lighting Right
Reading light needs to be bright enough to read by without straining your eyes, and warm enough in color temperature to feel cozy rather than clinical.
The ideal setup: A floor lamp or adjustable wall sconce positioned beside or behind the chair, casting light directly onto the page from above and slightly behind your shoulder. The light should illuminate your reading material without shining directly in your eyes.
What to look for:
- Adjustable head or arm. You want to be able to direct the light precisely where you need it.
- Warm color temperature (2700K-3000K). Cool white light (4000K+) feels like an office. Warm light feels like a home.
- Dimmer or at least two brightness levels. Bright for reading, dim for ambient atmosphere.
Our recommendation: The IKEA RANARP floor lamp ($49) or a vintage pharmacy-style floor lamp with an adjustable brass shade. Both have the classic look and functional adjustability you want in a reading lamp.
Step 4: Add a Surface
You need somewhere to put your coffee, tea, water, or the current stack of books you’re working through. This doesn’t need to be large — a small side table is ideal.
What to look for:
- Height approximately level with the chair’s armrest
- Large enough for a mug and a book (about 30cm / 12 inches diameter is sufficient)
- Stable base (a wobbly table that spills your tea defeats the purpose)
A small C-table (a table with a base that slides under the chair) is particularly space-efficient for tight corners. A stack of large-format art books can also serve as an impromptu side table — functional and visually appealing.
Step 5: Layer Textiles
This is where the “cozy” happens. The difference between a chair in a corner and a reading nook is largely textural.
One throw blanket. Wool or cashmere for winter, cotton or linen for summer. Drape it over the back of the chair, visible and inviting. The visual cue of a waiting blanket makes the chair look intentionally set up for reading rather than just placed in a corner.
One cushion. A lumbar cushion supports your lower back during long reading sessions. A square cushion can be tucked behind your head or under an arm as needed.
One rug (if the chair is on a hard floor). A small rug — even a 90 x 150cm (3 x 5 foot) — defines the nook as a distinct zone and provides a soft landing for bare feet.
Step 6: Books Within Reach
A reading nook without books nearby is just a chair. You need at least a small collection within arm’s reach.
Solutions by space:
- A narrow bookcase (30cm / 12 inches deep) positioned beside the chair. The IKEA BILLY in the narrow 40cm width is ideal.
- A wall-mounted shelf above or beside the chair for current reads.
- A small stack of books on the floor beside the chair, topped with the side table. This is the most casual and flexible option and works in the tightest spaces.
- A rolling library cart if you have slightly more room. Vintage-inspired bar carts work beautifully as mobile book storage.
Step 7: The Finishing Touches
A candle or small plant. One living or flickering element makes the space feel inhabited rather than staged. A small potted plant (pothos or snake plant — they tolerate low light) or a candle on the side table adds life.
A clock, but not your phone. A small analog clock lets you read without checking your phone and getting pulled into notifications. The goal of a reading nook is analog immersion — the clock is incidental, the phone is a portal to everything else.
No screens. This is the hardest rule and the most important. A reading nook with a television in view is a television room with a chair. If you can see a screen from the chair, repo
The Budget Breakdown
Minimal setup ($200-400): IKEA STRANDMON chair ($299), IKEA RANARP floor lamp ($49), a thrifted side table ($20-30), a wool throw you already own, and a stack of books on the floor.
Mid-range setup ($500-800): Vintage wingback ($300-500), a brass pharmacy lamp ($100-150), a small solid wood side table ($50-100), a wool throw ($50-80), and a narrow bookcase ($50-80).
Investment setup ($1,000+): A high-quality armchair from a reputable manufacturer ($800+), a designer floor lamp ($200+), a solid wood side table ($100+), a cashmere throw ($150+), and a custom-fitted bookshelf.
The reading nook, at any budget, is one of the highest-return investments you can make in your home. It costs far less than a renovation and provides daily returns in the form of quiet, focused time with a book. The best reading nook isn’t the most expensive one — it’s the one that makes you actually sit down and read.