Reading Nook Ideas: A DIY Corner with a Nature Vibe

A good reading nook needs four things: a corner that feels sheltered, a deep and comfortable chair, a warm light aimed over your shoulder, and a few natural materials and plants. You can build all of that in about 4 by 4 feet, and you don't need a spare room to do it.

Below are DIY reading nook ideas with a nature vibe, from picking the spot to choosing pet-safe plants. If your home is tight on space, the sizes here work as a starting point you can shrink a little.

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Where should you put a reading nook?

Pick a corner or an alcove. Humans tend to feel most at ease when they can see the room while having their back covered, an idea often called prospect and refuge. A chair floating in the middle of a room rarely feels cozy, because you never quite settle.

Among reading nook ideas with a window, the simplest is the best: put the chair beside the glass. Daylight is the easiest reading light there is, and a view of a tree or even the sky gives your eyes somewhere to rest between pages. Not every home has the right window, so a bedroom corner, a stair landing or the end of a living room all work too.

How much space do you need?

Plan on roughly 4 feet by 4 feet of clear floor. That fits an armchair (usually 30-35 inches deep), a small side table, and room to stretch your legs or add an ottoman without blocking the walkway. For reading nook ideas for small spaces, a slim armchair and a wall-mounted shelf can get you close to that footprint.

What kind of chair works best?

Choose a chair made for long sitting, not a dining chair or a decorative accent piece. As an architect, I'd look for a seat depth of about 22-24 inches so you can curl your legs up, plus a high back that supports your head. A high-back armchair with a separate ottoman is more flexible than a chaise in a small corner.

If a dog or cat shares the chair, fabric matters. Linen and cotton look right for a nature theme but stain easily and snag on claws. I recommend a tight-weave performance velvet or a similar stain-resistant fabric, and I'd skip boucle and loose tweeds, which catch claws and hold fur.

Moss green, terracotta and warm stone gray keep the outdoorsy mood and hide pet hair better than cream.

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How do you light a reading nook?

One ceiling fixture throws shadows onto the page. Add a dedicated task light, either a floor lamp or a wall sconce, placed so the light falls over your shoulder. An adjustable arm helps: pull it close for small print, push it away when you're just lounging.

Choose a warm white bulb, roughly 2700K-3000K. Correlated color temperature is one of the main ways to describe how light looks, as the U.S. Department of Energy's page on color and spectrum explains. Cooler 4000K+ bulbs look bluish and clinical, which doesn't suit a place meant for winding down.

Use a linen, paper or frosted shade rather than a bare bulb. It softens shadows and gives the corner that evening glow. LEDs make this cheap to run: Energy.gov's LED basics notes that good-quality white LED products are expected to last 30,000 to 50,000 hours or longer.

Light also affects sleep. The U.S. Department of Energy says, in its guide to color-tunable LED products: "Light plays a key role in setting and regulating the body's biological clock." If you read at night, keep the light low and warm.

For more ideas on shades and fixtures, see these reading nook lighting options.

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How do you give it a nature vibe?

Painting a wall green is a start, but texture does more. Wood with a visible grain (a walnut side table, oak shelving), woven rattan or jute, and a basket for books add warmth and contrast against an upholstered chair.

Then add living plants. If you have pets, choose carefully. Spider plants, Boston ferns, cast iron plants and calatheas are generally listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Lilies and sago palms are dangerous for pets, and snake plants are mildly toxic if chewed. Check the ASPCA's plant list or ask your vet before buying anything new.

A rug anchors the group. Put at least the front legs of the chair on it. A chunky throw and a sheepskin, real or faux, add the last layer of texture.

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Things to put in a reading nook

Here is a practical list of things to put in a reading nook:

• A side table at about the height of the chair arm, usually 20-24 inches. A sturdy live-edge table or a tree-stump stool won't tip when a big dog brushes past.
• A shelf or basket for the book you're reading and the next three.
• Coasters in cork, slate or stone to protect the wood.
• A throw blanket within reach.
• A ceramic diffuser or a candle, if you like scent. Skip plug-in air fresheners if you have pets, and check with your vet about essential oils.
• A small speaker or white noise machine tucked behind a plant, if your street is loud.

In a tight corner, run floating shelves vertically up the wall beside the chair, which draws the eye upward. Canvas or leather wall pockets hold magazines or a tablet, and a storage ottoman hides spare blankets. For more on the shelf side, see how to decorate corner shelves.

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How to make a cheap reading nook

Spend on the chair and the lamp, and save on everything else. A secondhand solid wood side table can be sanded and refinished. Plants can be propagated from a friend's cuttings. A basket, a thrifted throw and a plain shade over a warm bulb do a lot of the work. More budget ideas are in these affordable reading nook design ideas.

Renting? Use a floor lamp instead of a sconce, a freestanding or ladder bookshelf instead of wall shelves, and removable adhesive strips for lightweight art. If your nook sits by a drafty window, hang heavy velvet or wool curtains and extend the rod about 10 inches past the frame on each side so they clear the glass when open. Keep wood furniture and plants away from radiators.

If your palette leans cool, this blue reading nook is a calm alternative to greens.

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