Are you an avid reader and book collector dreaming of creating your personal home library? But you feel like you don’t have the space for it in your home?
Well, we’re here to show you exactly how you can make your dreams come true even with limited space.
Gather all your books together to get a visual idea of how big your home library space will need to be. Then follow these 5 tips to create a multifunctional home library.
Consider Your Combination
A multifunctional home library doesn’t necessarily require you to create a whole new area. What rooms in your house do you already spend a lot of time in? Combine your comfortable space with a home library as a way to give it an update of sorts.
Multiple room combinations may suit your preference. The office/library combination is popular, as you can imagine. Reading, studying, and working all go hand-in-hand.
Maybe you’d prefer to combine your home library with a relaxing, comfortable space such as your bedroom or a lounge. Create an entertainment area by placing a television amongst your books on one of your shelves, and some soft, sinking sofas and armchairs.
Combine a formal dining area and rows of bookshelves for the utmost elegance and sophistication.
Introduce Flexible Furniture
Regarding furniture, your keyword is functional. A multifunctional home library calls for multifunctional furniture.
Adaptable furniture such as extendable tables can be used for studying, writing, reading, dining, board games, etc. Extendable furniture items also allow you to adapt the room depending on how many people are present.
Tables and seating elements are ideal items that can be multipurpose. An ottoman can act as both a seat and a coffee table. A sleeper couch can be a comfy place to read your book and a lovely napping spot for a kid or a pet.
Be mindful of how mobile your furniture items are. One of the best parts of a multipurpose room is that it can be adjusted depending on the circumstance. Consider foldable furniture that can easily be slid into a cupboard or under a table or sofa.
Maximize Every Nook and Cranny
Maximize the room you’ve chosen to its fullest. This means occupying the awkward corner spaces and minimizing clutter at all costs.
Install bookshelves that span the entire length and height of your walls. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves are a fantastic way to use the vertical space up to your ceiling that is often ignored. Invest in a fun and playful traditional library ladder to reach the books on the highest shelves.
Make your home more clean and tidy with innovative storage solutions and decluttering. You want your books to be on display, but not at the cost of having the less attractive elements in view all the time.
Use multipurpose furniture to maximize storage as well. Invest in ottomans, chairs, tables, and sofas with hidden under-seat open or closed storage spaces. You can also customize the furniture items you already own with this useful feature! Some tables and seats come with built-in pull-out drawers that are invisible until used.
Transform an Unutilized Area
Maybe combining your library with your bedroom, dining room, lounge, or office isn’t an option. If this is the case, there are other ways to introduce a home library into your house.
Take some time to consider all the empty, unutilized spaces in your home that you tend to gloss over.
How about that space under your staircase? Or the bare walls of your corridor? Or even the dusty attic or basement you’ve using as a storage area?
All of these seemingly unusable spaces can indeed be used to make a quaint home library.
Nestle customized storage units and a small armchair underneath your staircase for a cozy space to curl up with a good book. Those corridor walls are inviting wall-to-wall bookshelves. High-traffic areas allow your precious collection to be looked upon and appreciated frequently.
Do a massive clean out of your outdated belongings in your basement or attic. Then transform these areas that are often avoided into somewhere much cozier.
Personalize the Space
Once you’ve chosen your multifunctional home library space and decided on all the necessary elements, it’s time to consider the design.
The right lighting is crucial to a peaceful, cozy reading space. Place seating and desks next to windows to capitalize on natural light. When day turns to evening and you’re still stuck in your book, ensure you have ample moveable table and floor lamps that you can adjust depending on your preference.
Color has a huge influence on mood. Paint your walls with light calming, neutral colors that make the space appear larger. Add pops of color and personalize with bright, patterned furniture.
If your goal is to visually separate your home library from the rest of the space, color can also play a role in this. Paint the walls around your chosen home library nook with a color different from the rest of the area. This creates a visual divide that announces that that area is specifically for reading.
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