Reading between the rooms

Urban living is all about ergonomics and minimalistic designs. It is important to ensure the book cases or libraries merge with the rest of the setting, rather than disturbing it. A little creativity and rearrangement can make space for your books.

   
Take them on the wall
Fixing bookshelves on the wall is a great idea to get the books right in front of your eyes, without having to dig for them when you want them. Placing them neatly as a chic design element in the living room is also a good idea. All you need to do is mount the shelves on a blank wall. “You can choose from different sizes and capacity of book shelves. There are ready-made ones to choose from. Or you may want to get one handcrafted as per your specifications,” says interior designer Sareeka Sethi from Delhi.

A wenge wood shelf or deep, dark-coloured cases can actually add to the look and feel of the room. Akanksha Dixit, an avid reader from Pune, has shelves filled with books that mirror each other, with a floor-based reading space in between, overlooking a window sill. “The window sill was made comfortable with a soft mat and some cushions for resting and reading on a lazy afternoon,” explains Akanksha.

Make your own den
There can be special spaces where you like to read. It could be a bedroom, balcony, living room or a study. Make these spaces a house for your special books. Opt for a covered book shelf that can be hung on the wall of your bedroom, or a sliding drawer in a side table with storage space.

This will ensure you have your besties always by your side, anytime. A side table saves a lot of energy that is instead spent in putting things back in their place.

However, do make sure that you invest in a good bedside light as well. Wall clamped lights and wireless lamps can be excellent decor items and serve purpose too. And nothing beats a sunny room with a lot of natural (or man-made) lighting. Utilise such a space for storing books in shelves and decorated trunks, or may be stack them in style to make for a towering tale.

Any place is good
Many enthusiasts resort to lesser-thought of spots to store their books. “I turned one of my kitchen shelves into a book shelf. All I had to do was remove the racks and make space for my cookery books to fit in. The glass window makes for a colourful peep and I can refer to my favourite recipes at the very time I need them,” says Jasmeet Sharan from Delhi.

Choose any wall in a room and get racks, cupboards or drawers fitted to the wall.

Get lighting of your choice and good seating arrangement next to it, and your reading library is ready. Under the stairs too, there is that wasted triangular space that can be utilised by fitting small custom-made cupboards or a little table and chair with set of drawers attached for that secluded cosy room to read. Balcony is not just for drying clothes. It is a well-lit space that can be utilised for storing your precious books.

Fitting small cupboards onto one of the wall, painting the wall with warm colours and placing a small stool to sit and read can do the trick. An ottoman or a swing is perfect to make it your very own ‘read and relax zone’. Even a closet can be used as an anytime reference library. Fitting lamps onto the closet can help you find the book, even in dark. Bathrooms are always a good place to set up a small magazine holder for reading material. Look for interesting magazine holders or perhaps make one for yourself that caters to your solitary reading needs!

Some points to remember
Measurements are very important before you set out finding the right cupboard or attachment for the reading corner. Ensure you have the right measurements of the shelf keeping in mind the other dimensions and overall design of the room. Make sure you translate your thoughts into tasks well for the carpenter. Many of us repent when the finished product is absolutely different from what we set out for. Briefing and regular monitoring can save a lot of wastage.

Look for collapsible and foldable attachments when space is a constraint.

Wall-mounted tables or work stations can take the load of your books too! Hanging shelves can save a lot of space. They come in wood, fabric, plastics etc. They are handy and can be shifted as per need. Be creative and make your bookshelf or reading nook as exciting as you can. After all, you’re going to spend your quiet moments there. If doing up a reading corner for kids, you can decorate it with their hand-made artwork, frames and accolades.

All it takes is a little bit of careful scouting and creativity to find that spot you deem fit for storing your books. Books serve as inspiration and ignite creativity and positive thinking. Keep them close to you in your new found spots, it’s better than having them all over the place or tucked in a trunk or cupboard.

If you have space, go for multiple reading nooks — bedroom, living area, balcony, stairway! Make them easy to access, functional and quirky. Reading nooks are here to stay!