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Interior designer Emily Henderson of Emily Henderson Design created a simple, streamlined home library with a view on the far end of this sunny living room that's also a perfect spot for studying. A round white tulip table and a pair of natural wood Scandi-style chairs are nestled in the floor-to-ceiling bay windows that provide natural light and a pretty view of the outdoors. The space is defined by a pair of sconces on opposite walls, and a small bookshelf houses reading material. Deep chocolate paint on the walls makes the shelving look custom built. Crisp white trim on the high windows and ceiling creates a polished look, and the spacious room is decorated with art, objects, and a central glass and brass table that holds vases of flowers. This dedicated home library from interior designer Kara Mann has classic appeal with its palette of black and shades of white.
But if you do have some discretionary money in your budget, spending it on the construction of some custom built-in bookshelves is a good choice. And if you are a DIYer with modestly good skills, built-in shelves can be more affordable than you think. If there is any unfinished space in your home, such as a basement or walk-up attic, this can be an ideal spot to place a home library. Ideally, the space you choose should have good lighting or at least plenty of wall outlets for plugging in lamps.
Desks
Now, that might go against everything you’ve been told but some books like on home interior or on DIY’s you actually have to judge them by their cover. In a few instances, a room is all three in that the home office has extensive book storage and a reading area. White home library featuring multiple white shelves and a cozy seat with a footrest. A jaw-dropping home library with circular bookshelves and a very attractive spiral staircase. Flea markets sometimes have sellers who specialize in books, both newish and old.
A large rug can both make the space feel warmer and deaden sound transmission. If you live alone, or if you're creating your home library as a private retreat, combine a cushy chair with a soft ottoman for your feet. You can add a second chair and use a larger, shared ottoman if you plan to share the space with another reader. If you prefer to curl up with your legs to the side, opt for a loveseat or sofa instead. Equally important to the shelving is comfortable seating where you can spend hours happily reading. You can't concentrate on your book if your back is aching and popped springs are poking you.
Small Bedroom Library Ideas
In fact, the room itself is a secret, as you enter through a door disguised as a bookshelf. And though there are only two levels, the mirrored ceiling gives the illusion of a never-ending tower of books. Most libraries will offer a few seating options with recliners, loungers and even a sofa or love seat. Larger spaces will require more energy to keep at a comfortable temperature and protect the books.
Bookshelves form the core of a home library—their presence often is what defines a room as a library. Your dream library may include walls lined with built-in bookcases with glass doors. But such custom built-ins can be quite expensive, so they may not be possible if you're renting or if your budget is tight. So it probably isn’t too surprising that I have a lot of books.
Place a Quote Over Your Bookshelves for Inspiration
For example, sunny yellow, bright orange, bold fuchsia, and lime green encourage activity instead of inviting you to relax and read. Most warm neutrals look cozy enough for the cocoon-like library effect. With cool neutrals, such as gray, stick with medium to dark shades to avoid an icy effect.
Rich, deep green is such a soothing color, perfect for the quiet environs of a home library. Try painting walls and shelves the same color — try Billiard Green — then do the rest of the room’s trim and the ceilings in white. Use this trick if your shelves aren’t built in but you want them to look like they are. Pairing green with cheeky leopard-print accessories keeps any room from taking itself too seriously. For lighter finishes, opt for a muted version of your favorite color, ideally with a brown, gold, or gray undertone. Cool pastels, in particular, tend to look too sweet for a home library.
Book lovers with extensive collections dream of having a dedicated home library where they can store all of their books. Even those who primarily read on digital devices appreciate a quiet, cozy, and designated place to curl up with a good book. If you've got a spare room to devote to reading, the sky is the limit.
Woodwork is painted a deep, saturated color, Farrow & Ball's Hague Blue, and the ceiling is tented with a Michael S. Smith Indian block fabric, Jasper. Upholstered in a blue Schumacher silk velvet very close to the color of the walls, the tufted U-shaped sofa is where her two teenage children watch movies. From the inky stained wood to the modern side chair and clean-lined ladder, this home library designed by Fiona Lynch is a gorgeous contemporary take on traditional design. Desks come in many sizes and styles that will match your design theme for the library. You can choose from wood or metal and have flat top or artist easels that lift or separate.
You'll find the best prices at yard sales, where it's not uncommon to find stacks of recent bestsellers for less than a dollar apiece. Many thrift stores have sections just for books, where you can browse the titles just as you would in a retail bookstore. You don't have to fill your shelves with first editions, and you don't have to buy recent releases at retail prices. Flea markets, yard sales, antique malls, estate sales, and thrift stores are all fantastic sources for books.
Having a mixture of built-in and freestanding shelves will allow you to redecorate if you decide to do so. Built-in only will limit the areas for other items and features, and you may grow tired of having your chair in the only spot in the room it will fit. Designing a home library can be an exciting, if not trying, time. Most of us have visions of the elaborate library in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast where we will ride tall ladders around a humongous room full of books and magazines. Moreover, your home library can be crafted in any style you seek and so it can be designed to fit whatever interior design style your home is. Accordingly, you’ll find that some of our library design examples are also in our reading room and home office galleries .
Except this time, I installed the book cases over the settee and TV. And the table provides a great surface for spreading out your books or placing a cup of coffee while you’re reading. If you have a TV wall in your living room, that could be the perfect place to create your home library. It will act as the focal point in the room and provide the feeling of a living room library at the same time.
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