Modern gadgets are slowly replacing magazines, newspapers, and books from everyday use. Despite the convenience of the electronic version, there are still quite a lot of people who like to read real books. If this way of spending leisure time is held in high esteem in your family, then it’s time to think about designing a small home library. In this room you can properly organize the space for proper storage of your book collection and ensure a carefree pastime. The attractive design of the library will make the overall atmosphere in the house more stylish and rich. The tips in this publication will help you format it correctly.
There are quite a few home library design options.
Where is the best place to store books?
Finding a suitable place for a home library in a large house is not at all difficult. Its role can be played by a separate spare room or home office. The ideal option is an office. It will be possible to read and do business away from the noise.
A home library is usually combined with a living room or office
It is necessary to organize storage so that finding the right book does not take much time
An equally attractive place is the living room. A large living room with bookshelves and a fireplace will look amazing. If the apartment is small, there is very little space, bookshelves can be placed right in the bedroom. Shelves can be built-in, then they will not take up useful space. Many people hide them behind the doors of a large wardrobe.
A sliding bookcase will ensure high safety of books and elegantly complement the interior of the room
On open shelves you will have to deal with dust more often
See also: How to use shelves in the interior; photo.
Windowsill
If you are lucky and suddenly have wide window sills in your small apartment, then they can also be used as book storage. You can arrange books there according to the principle of a niche, or you can add a few details and build a real reading corner near the window.
By the way, such a window niche can also be equipped with baskets or even drawers to accommodate the maximum number of volumes. Don't forget about a warm blanket! It will warm you up on long cold evenings spent reading with a cup of tea in your hands.
Rules for storing books: briefly about the main thing
To ensure that the library design is always attractive, it is very important to maintain its content in the best possible way. Books require some care. Storing them at home requires following several rules:
- Books can be called real dust collectors. The easiest way to protect them from dust is with racks with doors. Closed shelving will significantly extend the time between cleaning.
- All items should be wiped with a damp cloth at least once a week. The fabric needs to be wrung out well.
- It is best to remove dust from books using a special broom made of feathers.
- Once a week, all closed cabinets and shelves should be ventilated.
- The ideal temperature for storing books is 18-20 degrees. If the office is cool, you need to install additional heating.
- Paper perfectly absorbs foreign odors. The home library should be placed away from the kitchen and equipped with a good ventilation system. Smoking is not allowed in the office. Tobacco smoke will quickly absorb into the paper.
- Too bright electric lighting has a very detrimental effect on paper. The bindings will quickly lose their elasticity and the pages will turn yellow.
Bookcases with doors will protect books from dust and direct sunlight
Use spacious and thoughtful book storage systems that highlight the chosen style of the room
See also Corner shelf for the kitchen, photo.
Action plan for creating a rack
1. Glue a decorative strip made of MDF board, 4 cm wide and serving as a frame for the rack, end-to-end on the sides of the shelves. During gluing, do not forget to also check its location using a square so that it is flush while maintaining a right angle.
2. Using a white chipboard board as spacers, mark the position of the shelves in the rack.
3. Using a drill, make the necessary mounting holes, countersink from the outside and connect the shelves using screws.
Furniture selection
Having learned the basic rules for storing books and choosing a suitable room, you can proceed to the next step in decorating your home library - selecting furniture. Printed publications can be stored in special racks, cabinets, built-in bookshelves, etc.
Bookcases made of natural wood look very impressive
An original bookcase will demonstrate your uniqueness
Designers' fantasies regarding bookshelves are simply limitless.
You should choose furniture based on three main parameters:
- number of printed publications;
- design style;
- room size.
If there are a lot of books, they were inherited from your grandmother, the best option would be to buy high shelves. They can be made to individual room measurements. Shelving is usually placed along one wall.
To optimally fill the entire wall, you will most likely have to make shelves to specific sizes
You can decorate the interior of your library office with stylish cabinets with glass doors. A modern analogue can be sliding wardrobes. They are made to order from natural wood and decorated with original carvings. It is better to choose a tall, compact wardrobe. This will allow you to carve out more space for installing upholstered furniture and a coffee table.
Wall-mounted bookshelves are an ideal solution for a young family whose collection of printed publications is still small. Shelves can be placed in the living room, bedroom, children's room. The shape and size of such furniture should be chosen based on the overall style of the room.
A home library is not only a place to store books, but also a relaxation room
The atmosphere in the home library should be suitable for all family members
See alsoExecutive office design
Bed
We all love something to read before bed, so why not keep your favorite novels at arm's length? Your bed can hold much more items than meets the eye.
When arranging books, use not only the space under the bed, but also the headboard area: you can equip it with functional secret drawers and store books there that you do not read too often. Well, or those whose covers you don’t want to put on public display...
Restored old bookcases
You can make the interior of a library office original with the help of old, no longer needed furniture. Grandma's closet, chest of drawers, outdated shelves can always be restored and reused in the interior. This is a great way to save money and preserve pleasant memories from the past.
Furniture made in the old days is of high quality
Important! Having chosen the Provence style for your home library, you will have to discard the idea of buying a new wardrobe. Old furniture is one of the main bases in the design of this design.
If the value of old furniture is low, you can try to repair it yourself
Restoring old furniture requires certain experience, skills, and equipment. If none of the above is present, it is better to entrust this task to a specialist. The restorer will do the work quickly and efficiently.
Sometimes old bookshelves and cabinets do not need global restoration. The owners of the house only need to repair them a little, wash them, and replace the glass parts with new ones. If desired, you can add something new to old furniture. Simply paint the inside walls of the cabinet with paint. The paint color should be chosen from the general color scheme of the interior. The paint must be of high quality, non-toxic. Acrylic works well. It dries quickly, has virtually no odor, and looks amazing.
See alsoWhite interior: lighting, advantages, photos
Installing bookshelves in niches
The best way to save space is to use built-in bookshelves. They can be placed in special niches made of plasterboard, brick, and other building materials. Decorating bookshelves is a way of expressing the owners of the house. They can reflect your character, mood, goals. By their shape and color, you can identify a music lover, collector, esthete, and lover of modern gadgets.
Wooden shelves in plasterboard niches
You need to choose the size of the shelves based on the volume of your home library. If an entire room is dedicated to printed publications, you can arrange a large built-in shelving unit. Painting the back wall of the niche in a bright color will help add a special charm to it. For example, light shelves with dark walls go well together. A large shelf will help you place a lot of literature, magazines, and collectibles in a convenient order.
Niches can be made in the most unexpected places
And their design can be very diverse
If it is not possible to allocate the entire room, then a mini home library can be made in the living room or bedroom using small shelves built into a niche. A compact shelf will allow you to place everything you need without taking up useful space. If the room is tiny, it is better to decorate the shelves in white. The light color scheme of the shelves will help to visually make the space larger and more spacious.
Books under the stairs are also an option if there is very little free space in the house
See alsoFuchsia color: combination with other colors in the interior
More about styles
It is impossible to design a home library correctly without selecting a harmonious style direction. The most suitable styles and their characteristic features are discussed in more detail in the table:
| Style | Character traits |
| Provence | Sensitive, gentle, calm style. Ideal for decorating a women's home library. The color scheme should be light: olive, peach, white, light green. You can use a floral print. It is better to choose aged, rare furniture. |
| Classic | The ideal style for arranging a large, spacious room. Classics are characterized by a restrained design in light colors. The decor of the room should be expensive, the furniture should be wooden. Curtains will play a big role in the design. They should be multi-layered and heavy. |
| Minimalism | Minimalism is an excellent solution for a modern family. This direction is characterized by light colors, simple shelf shapes, a lot of light, and practicality. Decorative details should be almost completely absent. |
A classic interior will require considerable financial investment in wooden furniture
Provence also tends to be natural, but looks simpler and cheaper
Modern cabinet models made of composite materials are quite suitable for minimalist interiors.
See alsoBlue color in interior design
Lighting
When arranging a home library, in particular a reading area, an important point is the correct organization of light. Too bright electric light is harmful to books. It is better to leave cabinets and shelves without unnecessary lighting. One ceiling chandelier is enough. During the day, bookshelves should be protected from natural light. This function can be performed well by ordinary blinds.
Comfortable reading space with an additional lamp located on the nightstand next to the easy chair
On such a sofa it will always be light during the day
In a dark corner of the room you can’t do without additional sources of color.
However, the reading area of the room needs to be equipped with additional light sources. A floor lamp is well suited for this purpose. It will illuminate a specific area without harming the books. A floor lamp is usually installed near an armchair or sofa. Its style should be in harmony with the general stylistic direction of the reading area. The floor lamp should be placed behind the reader. It is also important for him to choose the right lamp. It should be ergonomic, the light should be soft.
See alsoFeatures of rustic style in the interior
Colors and materials
No variegation. When decorating a bedroom-library, it is better to use soft, gentle colors: beige, blue, green, olive. They are comfortable for both sleeping and reading. You should not overuse white: this color is associated with a hospital ward, in addition, it reflects rays - and the light “hits” the eyes. Dark shades are also not welcome: on the contrary, they absorb light, and in reading areas you will have to increase the lighting (that is, waste extra electricity).
The preferred materials are the following:
- Walls: traditional wallpaper, without large patterns and shiny elements, so as not to tire the eyes.
- Floor: laminate or parquet board. It is better to avoid carpeting: they, like books, quickly accumulate dust.
- Ceiling: preferably suspended or suspended. This option will allow you to competently organize spot built-in lighting, in which the light will be directed to the right places.
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