Reading Nook Ideas with a Celestial, Cozy Glow

A celestial reading nook comes down to four things: a deep, matte wall color, warm layered light, a chair you can curl up in, and soft textures that quiet the room. Skip the rocket-ship lamps. You're after the feeling of a night sky, not a theme party.

These reading nook ideas work in a corner of a bedroom, a landing or a bay window, and they suit small footprints well. Dark color is the one that worries people, so we'll start there.

Save

What colors make a reading nook feel like a night sky?

Deep navy, charcoal blue and aubergine do the job. It's common to fear that dark paint will make a small nook feel tight, but dark, matte colors blur corners and edges, so the boundaries of the space are harder to read. That suits a corner meant for hiding away with a book.

Choose a matte or flat finish. Glossy paint reflects light and shows every bump in the wall, while matte absorbs it and softens shadows. If you live with pets or kids, look for washable matte formulas.

Consider painting the ceiling the same color as the walls. In a nook it acts as a fifth wall, and one continuous color gives a cocoon effect. A simple balance helps keep it from feeling like a cave: mostly deep color on the walls, a good share of soft grays, creams or dusty blues in the rug and upholstery, and a small hit of brass or gold for the metallics.

How should you light a reading nook?

Use at least three sources at different heights, and turn off the overhead light. You can't read comfortably by a galaxy projector, so the nook needs both mood and task light.

Ambient glow

Wall sconces with perforated brass shades throw pinpricks of light on the wall, which hints at constellations without being literal. If you have built-in shelves, LED tape along the back or underside gives a soft halo. Plug-in sconces work well for renters.

Pick warm bulbs, around 2700K. Correlated color temperature is one of the main ways light's appearance is described, as the Department of Energy's color and spectrum page explains, and anything much above 3000K starts to look cool and clinical against dark walls. LEDs also last a long time: the Department of Energy's LED basics expects good-quality white LED products to have a useful life of 30,000 to 50,000 hours or even longer.

Task light

Put an adjustable floor lamp behind and slightly to the side of the chair so the light lands on the page, not in your eyes. A bulb in the range of 450 to 800 lumens is a reasonable starting point for reading. A dimmer lets the same lamp serve for evening reading and for winding down.

Light also affects sleep. The Department of Energy notes that "Light plays a key role in setting and regulating the body's biological clock." For a bedroom reading nook, I recommend dimmable warm bulbs so your last hour of reading is gentle.

Save

What is the best chair for a reading nook?

One with real seat depth. Look for about 22 inches or more, so you can tuck your legs up. If the corner can handle it, a chair-and-a-half (usually 48 to 54 inches wide) is the comfortable choice. Leave about 30 inches of clear walkway if the nook opens onto a hallway.

For fabric, velvet suits the theme because it catches light on its curves and gives natural highlights and shadows. Performance velvet in polyester is easier to clean, and its tight pile gives claws less to snag than loosely woven fabrics. Check the care label if a dog or cat will share the seat.

Side table

Keep a table within easy reach, about 12 to 14 inches from the chair arm and close to arm height. It only needs room for a mug, a book and a small lamp. If you want ideas, see these side tables for reading nooks.

What textures make a small reading nook feel cozy?

Soft goods absorb sound, and hard rooms feel cold and echoey. A rug, curtains and a few pillows change the nook more than you'd expect.

• Rug: at least the front two chair legs should sit on it. A round rug of about 5 to 6 feet softens a square corner or bay.
• Curtains: if the nook has a window, use full panels, roughly two to two-and-a-half times the window width, ideally with a blackout liner to calm midday glare.
• Throw and pillows: a faux sheepskin over the chair back and a mix of one square pillow with a lumbar one add comfort and texture.

Save

What should you put in a reading nook besides a chair?

Keep the extras few and meaningful. A nook is small, so each object has to earn its place.

• A convex mirror, which bounces warm light around dark walls and reads a bit like a small planet.
• Vintage star charts, brass moon-phase pieces or abstract art in dark blue and gold, rather than galaxy posters.
• Heavier objects on the side table: crystals, a brass hourglass or a globe.
• A plant with dark, waxy leaves, such as a rubber tree or ZZ plant. If you have pets, check any plant with your vet or a pet-toxicity list before bringing it home.

Hang art with its center around 57 inches from the floor. Above the chair, leave 8 to 10 inches between the chair back and the frame so you don't bump it.

Save

How do you fit this into a small space or on a budget?

Paint is the cheapest big move, and one can of deep matte color covers a corner. Add a plug-in lamp, a secondhand chair with a washable cover and a rug, and you have most of the effect. For more low-cost ideas, see affordable reading nook ideas or a DIY reading nook with a nature vibe.

Renters can use dark peel-and-stick wallpaper on one wall and put the money into the chair and rug, which move with you. If you'd like a lighter palette, cool blue decor for a reading nook is a softer route, and there's a celestial version for kids too.

Tidy the cords last. Clip the lamp cord down the chair leg or tuck it under the rug so wires don't break the mood. If you want to add a lamp circuit or dimmer wiring, hire a licensed electrician.

Save

On outdoor-style night lighting principles, the Illuminating Engineering Society and International Dark Skies Association say their Five Principles call for "careful selection of color temperature" and using the minimum amount of light necessary. The same logic works indoors: small, warm pools of light beat one bright fixture.

Frequently asked questions