Even though we live in a digital world, nothing beats the feeling of holding a great novel in your hands. If you’re a bookworm, you probably want to display your favorite books in a unique, welcoming setting. This is where home libraries come in. A home library is more than a collection of books and bookshelves. With a trendy focal point like a fireplace, a grand desk, and a reading chair, your home library can become a place where you’ll want to spend all your free time. So, if you’re thinking of creating one, we’ve covered you with our tips on designing a functional and stylish home library!
Pick the Right Room
It’s fantastic to have a whole room dedicated to serving as a home library since you can fully indulge and create your reading paradise there. However, not everyone has the financial means to set aside a whole room, particularly in this day and age when homes are only getting smaller. That’s why it’s crucial to pick a suitable space for a home library. For starters, you want a room that is airy, uncluttered by furniture, and has a warm atmosphere. For example, a home office or a corner in your bedroom or living room are some of the best options for a home library.
Choose a Color Scheme
The next thing you want to do to design a functional and stylish home library is picking a color scheme. When doing this, most people tend to choose the most straightforward option they can think of. If you want your home library to stand out and inspire, select your color scheme carefully. Consider how the color of your library will work with or contrast with the surrounding architecture before making a decision.
Fortunately, there are many alternatives to pick from, including light wood, dark wood, clean white, and even cozy black. You may choose between modern, classic, or even transitional decor depending on the style of the area.
Make Sure There’s Enough Storage Space
Prudent decision-making is one of the most crucial components of creating your own personal library. It doesn’t matter how many books you now own; what matters is how many books you want to acquire. You should aim for maximum storage and thorough organizing because such a thing may be pretty challenging to forecast, especially if you’re an ardent reader.
You should look at modern shelving options that match your interior decor and are solid and trustworthy enough to carry the weight of the books. To highlight the works you value most, try to seek library designs that provide a range of configurations.
When you have so many books, it’s almost inevitable you’ll have to store some of them away at some point or another. Whether you’re doing this because you’re moving or just remodeling your home, you need to learn how to properly store your books. Choosing appropriate storage boxes and finding termite-free storage can keep them safe and sound, whether permanently or temporarily.
Lighting
Lighting is probably the second most crucial aspect of a home library design apart from the color scheme. Choose light, airy materials for the curtains and let the sunlight in if you can let natural daylight into the area. Additionally, make the illumination flexible and layered. Picking the best table lights is more crucial than picking the table.
Ambient and task lighting are essential components of library décor; each seat in the seating area in a library has to have one of them either immediately above or directly beside it so people can read comfortably. Choosing the correct light bulbs is also crucial for reading comfortably. Choose warm, powerful lights and add a dimmer so you may adjust the brightness as needed.
Furniture Layout
Your perception of and interaction with your library, as well as your reading experience, will be significantly influenced by the placement of the furniture. Although you should plan this step out in advance, it’s unlikely that you will find the right location for your reading chair or nook before you get the chance to test it out. You will quickly discover the location in the room where the natural light falls precisely, and the artificial lighting creates the ideal glow through a little trial and error.
Add Art
One of the most crucial elements in every environment is art. And the personal home library is no different. Additionally, the correct art selection can give the space a more intimate feel, and a home library should be private and represent your interests and personality.
To make the books stand out even more, try incorporating art and sentimental mementos inside the volumes on the shelves. If you want to balance out the many colors and textures on the shelves, keeping things calm on the walls is preferable. For example, get one sizable artwork and perhaps some lighting to avoid leaving your walls barren.
Alternatively, consider framing motivational quotes or other interesting quotes on your wall to make the room look more bookish. This will help you stay inspired and gather motivation whenever you look at your walls.
Consider Different Ways to Arrange Books
How you arrange books is very important. While some people like to arrange books based on genre, authors, or alphabet, arranging books by color in a home library can look very organized and stylish. One of the best ways to achieve this clean look with color-organized books is by getting white shelves. It looks super clean, makes the books pop, and grabs everyone’s attention.
Final Thoughts
Designing a functional and stylish home library is a big challenge, much like any other home project. However, we hope that, with our guidelines, you found it a little easier. In the end, what’s most important is that you don’t skip any steps. Start by picking out the best possible spot for your home library. Then work towards decorating it and fitting it all in perfectly.
