Our canyon house is pretty big, but you don’t need a lot of space to create a corner oasis in the form of a reading nook. Every home has corners, and a corner is the perfect spot for a reading nook!
One of my favorite corners in our canyon house is in my home office. The office is on the lower floor and, though the office is canyon-facing, the trees directly in front of the window block the canyon view. As every other room in the house has an expansive canyon view, I like this cozier, bright green view for my writing space.
We have books all over our house, and every room has a spot to flop down with a book. In the case of the office reading nook, the chair is situated directly to the left of my writing desk, so I can always play hooky from writing and sit down and read for a while. While I have a lot of color in other rooms of the house, I’ve kept the office a neutral palette–ivory, gray, and white, against pale yellow walls. The built-in bookshelves have a walnut finish.
The colorful exception is the teal side table. I originally bought it for the living room, but as it’s light enough to carry with one hand, it tends to travel from room to room depending on where I want to set my coffee.
Of course, the wall of books adds a lot of color. I absolutely would not dream of arranging my books pages-out just to get a wall of white. I need to see the spines when I’m browsing! I treat my bookshelves like a library or bookstore; I cherish coming upon something unexpected that I haven’t gotten around to reading yet.
Furniture
The gray leather armchair is from West Elm. It’s the perfect size for me, and the leather has gotten prettier and softer over time. You can find a similar gray leather armchair at a lower price point on Wayfair. The swivel armchair in gray leather is also nice. If you’d like a pair, these leather swivel armchairs are a bargain at just $689 for the pair on Amazon.
The teal side table is from Crate and Barrel. Although the exact table is no longer available, they have a wide selection of side tables. I got these in a pair, and I use the other one upstairs next to my teal velvet sofa from Article. If you like the idea of a colorful, moveable side table, these tray tables are practical, cute, available in several colors, and just $35 on Amazon.
Textiles
The blanket is from one of my favorite stores in the world, FinnStyle, which offers a beautifully curated selection of Scandinavian goods (I’ll show you my Finnstyle dinnerware and glasses in another post).
What’s a reading corner without a rug? The number one requirement of a reading corner, other than light, is that it be so cozy you can’t possibly imagine wearing your shoes. Needless to say, you need a soft rug underfoot. This patterned ivory shag rug is also from Overstock. It’s by the brand Safavieh. I’ve had a number of Safavieh rugs over the years and have never been disappointed.
You’ll also find the ivory knit pillow and the ivory window panels on Overstock.
Mixed Metals
The curtain rods are also from Overstock! (Caveat: I rarely buy furniture from Overstock, but it’s great for rugs and textiles, as well as for smaller items and anything easy to return. It’s also a great place to shop if you already have a trusted brand you’re looking for). For the curtain rods, I chose a bronze finish to contrast with the pale yellow walls.
I kept the original brass switch plate, which was probably installed with the house. I love the old patina. You can find a variety of brass switchplates on Amazon from Baldwin.
You’ll notice I’ve mixed metals quite a bit in this corner: brass switch plate, polished silver lamp, bronze-finish curtain rod, and silver finish on the ivory curtain panels. I like the way different metals play together, especially when paired with softer elements like the Finnish wool rug, the buttery leather chair, and the knit pillow.
The lamp is from Pottery Barn.
Personal Details
For a space to feel special, it needs personal details. This can be in the form of art, reading materials, a favorite mug, or really anything that just takes you to your happy place.
The canvas photo print on the wall is of my son when he was small, reading a book at the Mana Launi in Hawaii. (For the past decade, we have booked almost all of our Hawaii travel through Expedia. I think it’s by far the easiest way to find discounts on hotels and flights.) I found a photo on my phone, edited it with a painting filter, and had it printed at Art.com.
The book is Frantumaglia: A Writer’s Journey, by Elena Ferrante. As a writer, I love reading memoirs about the writing life. When I’m stuck and trying to move forward on whatever novel I’m writing at the moment, reading a writer’s memoir helps me regain the connection with creativity and inspiration.
So there you have it, how to style a reading corner to provide yourself a calm, cocooned space in the chaos. I’m going to quit writing now and go settle in to my reading corner with a book!