Set your budget.
The first step in any home renovation project is to set a budget. Look at your finances and determine how much money you can set aside to bring your home library vision to life.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a huge budget! There are things you can do to save some money, like repurposing furniture and décor that you already have in your home. We also recommend checking out thrift stores and scouting local garage sales for used furniture, décor, and books. Facebook Marketplace is a great place to look for cheap (and sometimes free) stuff.
Determine the where.
Step two is to find the perfect location within your home for your library. Are you one of the lucky few with an entire room you can dedicate to your home library? Or maybe you have an empty area in your living room, an underutilized corner of your home office, or a bare attic.
If you are having trouble finding a space, look for an unused closet or open area near a window where you can build out a window bench seat to create a cozy reading nook with some built-in shelving. And if you don’t feel up to a construction project, a book nook can be as simple as a comfy chair, side table, and lamp in the corner of your bedroom.
Choose your shelving solution.
The star of the show in any home library is, of course, your book collection. You’ll need to decide what type of shelving/storage solutions make the most sense to display your books: built-in or freestanding.
Floating shelves are a great option if you don’t have many books. A corner shelf is a good solution for book collectors with so much inventory they need to utilize every square inch of wall space to display their books. Check out this article from Architectural Digest for some serious shelving inspo.
Decide on a book organization technique.
There are a few different ways to organize your books. You can sort them alphabetically by title or author, by genre, in chronological order by publication date, or by color. Or you can opt for no organization style at all! We are partial to the rainbow color-coding of books that the ladies from the Home Edit have recently brought back into popularity. But do whatever makes the most sense for you.
Proper seating is key.
What is a home library without comfortable seating? The amount of space you have will determine what type of furniture you have room for. Consider pieces like a loveseat, chaise lounge, bench, or accent chair. This tete-a-tete chair from West Elm is a great option, as is this oversized bean bag chair from Wayfair or this chaise lounge with built-in storage from Target.
Once you have your furniture picked out, it’s time to design the layout of the space. Your library should feel welcoming. So, try arranging your furniture pieces at an angle for a casual and comforting vibe.
Set the mood with lighting.
Lighting is a crucial element in creating ambiance in your library space. A good rule of thumb is to include both natural and artificial lighting in your area. When deciding where to set up your home library, try and pick a space with windows and/or skylights that bring in good natural light.
If this isn’t possible, there are ways you can fake natural light. For example, you can paint the room with a neutral color, use a neutral palette for your décor, or add mirrors in the areas surrounding your library.
As far as artificial lighting goes, there are many options available. We suggest a mix of ambient lighting, such as recessed lighting or wall-mounted fixtures, accent lighting, such as sconces or track lighting, and task lighting, such as desk lamps or floor lamps.
Add cozy accents.
The final step in creating your home library is adding all the cozy accents. Here is where you can let your personal style shine. We’re talking throw rugs, side tables, blankets, throw pillows, wall art, and small decorative accents like bookends, plants, picture frames, vases, candles, and figurines.
A home library is an excellent place for a gallery wall or a blanket ladder. Maybe you have a collection of mementos from your travels. Or memorabilia from your favorite movie or book series that you want to display. You could even add an electric fireplace for the ultimate cozy vibes.
If you find yourself needing extra storage space while creating your perfect home library, Prime Storage has you covered! Prime has storage facilities across the country, so chances are there’s a location near you.
We have a range of storage unit sizes available. If you’re unsure how much space you’ll need, we have a size guide and space calculator to help you out. Plus, our month-to-month leases mean no long-term commitment on your end. Check us out as a solution for all your home storage needs today.
