HOW TO DESIGN HOME LIBRARIES: A FRESH PERSPECTIVE
Home libraries, cozy reading corners, and elegant bookshelves add a feeling of warmth and tranquility to a house. Every home has the potential to allocate and display a well-designed, organized book library that is easily accessible and aesthetically pleasing. The daunting process of planning a home library often discourages homeowners from creating a unique reading arena, with a readymade bookshelf becoming the ultimate solution. Although a readymade bookshelf solves the functionality quotient, it lacks the aesthetic feel and aura of a personal and elegant home library space.
Home libraries need not be restricted to designated separate rooms or attic spaces. Any unused nook or corner of the house can be an ideal spot for the creation of a nice, cozy reading corner for the residents. All it takes is a careful process of sorting, arranging, and placing the collection of books in one specific zone of the home.
Home libraries need not be restricted to designated separate rooms or attic spaces. Any unused nook or corner of the house can be an ideal spot for the creation of a nice, cozy reading corner for the residents. All it takes is a careful process of sorting, arranging, and placing the collection of books in one specific zone of the home.
Here are some ideas that can be a comprehensive guide to help anyone design their own personal home library:
1. Understanding the total book count: Before one designs a reading corner or a library space, it is important to know the total number of books that need to be housed in this home library. Even an approximate number can help in gauging the number and size of shelves required for the accommodation of all the books.
2. Determining the location of the library space: Every home has few of those unused or under-used spaces that can be efficiently used for storing books and creating a nice reading corner. Identification and finalization of such a spot within the house can become the first step in designing a home library. Once finalized, the space can then be broadly categorized into three zones, that is, one for displaying the accessible books, second for storing the non-accessible books, and third for creating a reading corner or a working desk area.
The extent of the library space depends on the area of the house. Lavish and elaborate home libraries are easy to create in big, spacious homes, but the task to create a functional yet aesthetic home library in a small, compact residence becomes quite challenging. In small homes, identifying unused corners, like corners created by two blank walls, can help in creating a beautiful tugged-in bookshelf space offering a cozy reading nook.
3. Design of the bookshelf: The specific design of the bookshelf is an important factor that can make the home library interesting. Usually, uniform shelves of wooden finish at a regular, accessible height is the ideal design that proves to be soothing to the eyes, once all the books are stacked. The form and shape of the bookshelf can be modified as per the personal taste and choice of the homeowners. As long as the bookshelf is easily accessible, functional, and durable, the form can be entirely the homeowner’s creativity.
Whether to cover the completed bookshelves with glass shutters to protect the books from dust or to keep them open becomes the personal choice of the homeowners. Ideally, keeping a bookshelf open invites more people to explore the different books, allowing free access at all times.
The bookshelves can either be fixed to the wall, if it is your permanent house, or they can be built with frame cases. In either case, considering the weight and heaviness of the bookshelf becomes quite essential. Rough calculations of the total book weight and the weight of the entire bookshelf need to be carried out to create lightweight yet durable bookshelves that seem light even in visual appearances.
4. Comfortable seating space: A home library feels incomplete without a relaxed seating area. Curling up in an armchair with a book and a backdrop of an elegant bookshelf soothes our mind and calms our nerves after a hectic work day. Depending on the age and the personal taste of the homeowners, floor cushions with backrest, sofa chairs, armchairs, working desks, or ergonomically-designed adult chairs can be used to create a comfortable seating, reading, and working area near the home library.
For families with young children, the incorporation of seating spaces for kids becomes essential. Floor cushions, bean bags, and floor rugs of soft material are some of the ideal seating options that can be used to create cozy reading nooks for a small child.
5. Lighting up the space: You can completely enjoy reading only when there is enough light to take in all the words with ease. A home library space must have efficient lighting arrangements to protect the eyes from strained reading in dim light. Natural light from windows and skylights is the most optimal way of brightening up the space. In case of artificial lighting, a uniform blend of warm and white light (of about 3000K or 4500K) works well in providing abundant light. If a working desk is part of the library, then white light of 6000K can prove to be more effective for reading as well as working.
Homeowners can delve into research of different samples of light fixtures to procure the right appliances for the library space. For a cozy reading corner, floor lamps and hanging lights can be helpful and can also add to the overall aura of the space. For a working desk, table mounted lamps or lights can prove to be more efficient while reading and working. You can also choose some decorative lights just to add to the warm and soothing ambience of the home library.
6. Decor elements: The tasteful selection of eclectic and elegant decor items has the capacity to bind all the design ideas together in the home library space. While all the other elements cater to the functional requirement of the space, decor items prominently focus on displaying the beauty and grace of the library as per the personality and choice of the homeowners. Small items, like planters, photo frames, pen stands, show-pieces, and artworks, add a personal touch to the home library giving it a homely feel.
All of us aspire to give more time to reading but somehow our hectic work schedule leaves little time for it. When we do get the time to read, the cluttered storage of books takes away our motivation to choose and read a book. Creating a cozy and calm home library can motivate us to read more and also serve as a tranquil getaway from the hustle of our life to explore the magical world of stories. By following the above simple steps, each one of you can easily create a customized yet beautiful home library to accommodate your book collections and a cozy reading corner to unwind after a long, hectic work day.
1. Understanding the total book count: Before one designs a reading corner or a library space, it is important to know the total number of books that need to be housed in this home library. Even an approximate number can help in gauging the number and size of shelves required for the accommodation of all the books.
2. Determining the location of the library space: Every home has few of those unused or under-used spaces that can be efficiently used for storing books and creating a nice reading corner. Identification and finalization of such a spot within the house can become the first step in designing a home library. Once finalized, the space can then be broadly categorized into three zones, that is, one for displaying the accessible books, second for storing the non-accessible books, and third for creating a reading corner or a working desk area.
The extent of the library space depends on the area of the house. Lavish and elaborate home libraries are easy to create in big, spacious homes, but the task to create a functional yet aesthetic home library in a small, compact residence becomes quite challenging. In small homes, identifying unused corners, like corners created by two blank walls, can help in creating a beautiful tugged-in bookshelf space offering a cozy reading nook.
3. Design of the bookshelf: The specific design of the bookshelf is an important factor that can make the home library interesting. Usually, uniform shelves of wooden finish at a regular, accessible height is the ideal design that proves to be soothing to the eyes, once all the books are stacked. The form and shape of the bookshelf can be modified as per the personal taste and choice of the homeowners. As long as the bookshelf is easily accessible, functional, and durable, the form can be entirely the homeowner’s creativity.
Whether to cover the completed bookshelves with glass shutters to protect the books from dust or to keep them open becomes the personal choice of the homeowners. Ideally, keeping a bookshelf open invites more people to explore the different books, allowing free access at all times.
The bookshelves can either be fixed to the wall, if it is your permanent house, or they can be built with frame cases. In either case, considering the weight and heaviness of the bookshelf becomes quite essential. Rough calculations of the total book weight and the weight of the entire bookshelf need to be carried out to create lightweight yet durable bookshelves that seem light even in visual appearances.
4. Comfortable seating space: A home library feels incomplete without a relaxed seating area. Curling up in an armchair with a book and a backdrop of an elegant bookshelf soothes our mind and calms our nerves after a hectic work day. Depending on the age and the personal taste of the homeowners, floor cushions with backrest, sofa chairs, armchairs, working desks, or ergonomically-designed adult chairs can be used to create a comfortable seating, reading, and working area near the home library.
For families with young children, the incorporation of seating spaces for kids becomes essential. Floor cushions, bean bags, and floor rugs of soft material are some of the ideal seating options that can be used to create cozy reading nooks for a small child.
5. Lighting up the space: You can completely enjoy reading only when there is enough light to take in all the words with ease. A home library space must have efficient lighting arrangements to protect the eyes from strained reading in dim light. Natural light from windows and skylights is the most optimal way of brightening up the space. In case of artificial lighting, a uniform blend of warm and white light (of about 3000K or 4500K) works well in providing abundant light. If a working desk is part of the library, then white light of 6000K can prove to be more effective for reading as well as working.
Homeowners can delve into research of different samples of light fixtures to procure the right appliances for the library space. For a cozy reading corner, floor lamps and hanging lights can be helpful and can also add to the overall aura of the space. For a working desk, table mounted lamps or lights can prove to be more efficient while reading and working. You can also choose some decorative lights just to add to the warm and soothing ambience of the home library.
6. Decor elements: The tasteful selection of eclectic and elegant decor items has the capacity to bind all the design ideas together in the home library space. While all the other elements cater to the functional requirement of the space, decor items prominently focus on displaying the beauty and grace of the library as per the personality and choice of the homeowners. Small items, like planters, photo frames, pen stands, show-pieces, and artworks, add a personal touch to the home library giving it a homely feel.
All of us aspire to give more time to reading but somehow our hectic work schedule leaves little time for it. When we do get the time to read, the cluttered storage of books takes away our motivation to choose and read a book. Creating a cozy and calm home library can motivate us to read more and also serve as a tranquil getaway from the hustle of our life to explore the magical world of stories. By following the above simple steps, each one of you can easily create a customized yet beautiful home library to accommodate your book collections and a cozy reading corner to unwind after a long, hectic work day.