topic "READING ROOMS" in Home

"READING ROOMS"

Oznell — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 22:38:44 GMT

Love this depiction of a cozy library in a house with stately architecture:

Vivien Albrecht blogs about rooms and styles, and she talks knowledgeably about rooms with a "light academia" style. Rooms with a 'library' vibe, but, unlike "dark academia", these are done with mostly paler tones and more emphasis on natural light coming in.

She finds the most beautiful images. The painted box paneling here, brings character to the space--

The typical English country manor, the look refined between the two world wars-- art and comfort combined. A place of beauty and curated treasures to enjoy.

But a lot of the principles here can apply to any space. Not everybody has one-of-a-kind portraits and landscapes, but even the smallest room can benefit from the principles of balance and symmetry here.

Love also: 1) Rich gilt picture frames co-existing with a humble woven basket for firewood ( presumably). The refined with the rough.

2) In a room with massive paintings, the book case has been scaled down, appropriately.

3) Squishy, down-filled couch gives maximum comfort.

4)The rug is large enough for all seating pieces to have their legs fully on it, a key element in producing that cozy, conversational feeling...

Oh, yeah, reading heaven below! Even the smallest nook can have all the key elements...

A colorful, library-like living room, but with a pale neutral envelope and light streaming in via French doors...

Creamy, off-white walls still glow at night with candle and soft lamplight.

Battered, patina'd leather, yum. Metal apothecary lamps of all kinds are typical of this design style. Globes also tend to be found in "academia" type rooms, but here they have a round map print on the wall, that gives that globe look...

Hey, speaking of globes, here they bring their world -traveller's glamor tucked in the cabinet in a sunny dining area---

Dreamy settings are always so enhanced by the presence of books...

Re: "READING ROOMS"

Goldengate8361 — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 22:46:36 GMT

Love the first photo....but I couldn't help thinking how much better that sofa would look with a couple of cats sleeping on them! Good books and cats pretty much define my "heaven on earth."

Re: "READING ROOMS"

Mz iMac — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 22:49:33 GMT

@Oznell A lot of NYC apartments have built-in floor to ceiling bookcases which I have always loved.

Re: "READING ROOMS"

Puppy Galore — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 23:02:09 GMT

I need a spot which is comfortable and has good lighting.

In all the photos there isn't one chair or sofa that looks comfortable.

Re: "READING ROOMS"

Citrine1 — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:04:04 GMT

@Oznell Once again, you've found the best of the best! Each room is lovely! Some of the spaces are so comfy that I have a feeling instead of reading, I'd be snoozing!

Re: "READING ROOMS"

DSD2 — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:15:32 GMT

More wonderful pictures @Oznell and your commentary is so insightful and helpful. I learn so much from you.

My favorite is the beautiful velvet chaise lounge in the nook. So inviting especially with the window for sun and warmth plus a heater for the winter. Beautiful flowers; what a perfect spot to read AND to doze...

That big, sumptuous, comfortable looking couch in front of the box paneling is a close second.

The "blue" room is an amazing color.

Re: "READING ROOMS"

CarolinaGirl88 — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 01:49:29 GMT

Those are some gorgeous spaces! The one with the French doors is my favorite, I think.

Re: "READING ROOMS"

AngelPuppy1 — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:52:47 GMT

I would love a reading room or a small library. Some of these pictures are so nice. I am envious!

Re: "READING ROOMS"

Judaline — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 13:22:03 GMT

Ahhhh....that's for me!

And the radiator cinches it!!

Re: "READING ROOMS"

shoptilyadropagain — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 13:50:52 GMT

I've never been drawn to libraries in a house because all the open shelving filled with hundreds of books and other "stuff" looks cluttered and actually leaves me feeling anxious. That, coupled with an abundance of other decor items in these rooms, wouldn't be for me. I like a restful, calming vibe in a room whether I'm reading or just living and I don't get that feeling with these library type rooms or others I've seen here or elsewhere.

I will say, there are some beautiful pieces of furniture or decor items here but I would have to scale back A LOT in order to enjoy them.

As always, thanks for all your efforts in posting these, @Oznell !!

Re: "READING ROOMS"

faeriemoon — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 16:15:27 GMT

My favorites are the first one and the candle lit one. I love reading rooms.

Re: "READING ROOMS"

Oznell — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:30:02 GMT

Aww, thank you, kind @Citrine1 , but I didn't have to find them on my own, thankfully. Vivien Albrecht brought them all together-- her blog is a visual delight. My reactions to them are all my own though.

@DSD2 and @Judaline -- you both mentioned the radiator next to the chaise, which for some reason I didn't see. Good catch-- you both must have a honed eye for warmth and comfort! I like a radiator for the nostalgia factor too.

Re: "READING ROOMS"

AuntG — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 17:36:34 GMT

Aren't they something? I'd be happy with a the reading nook offered on The Price is Right - comfy lounge chair, reading lamp, bookcase with some best-sellers)

Re: "READING ROOMS"

Judaline — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 20:47:12 GMT

@Oznell wrote:
Aww, thank you, kind @Citrine1 , but I didn't have to find them on my own, thankfully. Vivien Albrecht brought them all together-- her blog is a visual delight. My reactions to them are all my own though.

@DSD2 and @Judaline -- you both mentioned the radiator next to the chaise, which for some reason I didn't see. Good catch-- you both must have a honed eye for warmth and comfort! I like a radiator for the nostalgia factor too.

@Oznell I can't tell you the times I've missed things you've pointed out. I have to say to myself, 'now just wait. Read what oznell says and then look closer at the picture!' I usually answer myself with a 'ooooh, I love that-totally would have missed it!'

Re: "READING ROOMS"

wilma — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:20:39 GMT

Our third bedroom is a "reading room". We call it the "book room". It's the smallest bedroom in our house so it's not as grand as the rooms pictured, but it serves us well. We have 2 floor to ceiling bookcases on one wall and another medium bookcase on the opposite wall. We have 2 recliners, one on each side of a table with a lamp that sits in front of a window. There's also a ceiling light in the room. My husband's restored Marantz stereo is also in the room for playing CDs.

Happy Reading!

Re: "READING ROOMS"

spiderw — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:33:39 GMT

I love each and every reading room shown in the photos! I have always been a fan of having a library room in the house as I love books and reading! I find the chaise lounge lovely and that is where I would spend my reading time! Everything is so comfortable and cozy and so appealing to me!

Re: "READING ROOMS"

Enufstuff — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 15:23:10 GMT

@Mz iMac

In my living room, I do have a built in bookcase and it is packed. I wish that there was enough room for another one.

I have way too many books and also have stacks of books on the floor in front of the bookcase. On the second floor, is another filled bookcase, but not built in.

In recent years, I have given away at least six large cartons of books. One went to Savers last week and I have another one in the trunk of my car, ready to go.

I love my books and it is hard for me to get rid of them, plus

many people don't care to read books anymore. I've offered them to friends and family and only a few have been accepted.

Mz iMac, I think that it was you that recommended "Valide"

a few years ago. I did purchase and read the book. It was and is a keeper. I will read it again sometime.

My books are mostly non-fiction on many topics and I love them all.

I guess that the love of books runs in my family. My brother and his wife have two rooms that are lined with filled bookcases.

Many are academic books, since they spent many years

working on their PHD's. They also have books on many topics of varied interests, more than 10,000 books.

Now they don't know what to do with them all. They have no children. He was a Latin professor before he retired last year and the school he taught at doesn't want any of his books. The public library and schools don't want them. So much is digital now.

Salvation Army no longer takes book donations, so I have taken my sister in law to Savers to donate books and we will go again next week. My five children don't want most of my books. I'll just keep donating a box or two at a time, until Savers stops taking them. It is sad.

Re: "READING ROOMS"

CANDLEQUEEN — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 16:04:08 GMT

Oh I could get lost in that 1st room with that comfy looking couch and all of those books!!!

They all look super nice and comfy!!!

Re: "READING ROOMS"

Mz iMac — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 23:08:51 GMT

@Enufstuff Yes, that was me who recommended the book "Valide." Yes, it is a keeper. I re-read it for the zillion time last month. I've often wondered why some "cable" network or movie company never optioned to film the book sinced it's "based on facts."

Where I use to live, I had a floor to ceiling bookcase (not built-in) in my apartment. The "community room library" had no room, the library didn't want any, the used book stores were all closing. Friends & my children didn't want any so I trashed them all but the 7 books I keep re-reading now & then.

I even had to trash my pride & joy Britannica Encyclopedias.

Re: "READING ROOMS"

QVCisFun — Sat, 22 Nov 2025 23:17:26 GMT

Unfortunately, after a little mishap in the kitchen, Dudley learned the hard way that putting the First Aid Manual on the top shelf of the bookcase maybe wasn't such a good idea.

And since his ladder was in the repair shop, his landline service disconnected, the battery on his cell phone depleted, his wife at work, the maid's day off, the best he could hope for to get the first aid manual down was an earthquake. Or hoping his cat manages to climb way up there and do a deliberate knock-off of the manual, but with his luck it would probably be one of the unread books next to the one he needs, about Overcoming A Fear Of Heights, or the other tome Success Is Within Reach.

Epilogue: It turns out his injury wasn't as severe as it first appeared, just a superficial papercut from his recipe book. So he had no need for the first aid manual afterall. Exhausted from the trauma, Dudley decides to abandon the Shipwreck Casserole he was making, call it a day, get a cup of coffee, and go sit on a comfy couch and watch TV, where the chance of another injury is a remote (pun intended) possibility.