Have you ever heard of a tiny library room? It’s kinda like a reading nook, except it’s a whole room. If cozy vibes and curling up with your favorite book is your thing, you might be ready to learn about this new trend.
Whether you have the space for a tiny library room or you need to consolidate to a reading nook (like me) this post is full of inspiration to create a cozy spot to curl up and read.
This post is all about how to make a tiny library room.
What is a tiny library room?
I first learned about tiny library rooms when I was reading Pinterest Predicts 2022. One of the biggest parts of my job with Garland Collections is to share my blog posts on Pinterest, so I’m always trying to keep up to date with the platform. It’s always really fun to read the Pinterest Predicts for the year because they talk about exactly what people are searching on Pinterest โ and some of it really surprised me!
One of those things was the section about Emotional Escape Rooms (which I had never heard of) and under that category it listed tiny library rooms. My mind was instantly filled with images of rooms filled with cozy spots to curl up and read. With books from the floor to the ceiling. It sounded heavenly. So I looked into it more, and I’m here to share everything I’ve learned!
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Tip #1: The first thing you need for a tiny library room, is books.
These are 5 book recommendations that I couldn’t resist sharing with you. They’re all books that I have read and loved (well… except for the last one. More on that later!). Some of these even went viral on TikTok, so I’m not the only one who thinks they’re great ๐. If you’re more interested in the design and less interested in the book recs, skip to Tip #2!
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Buy Now on Amazon
This is one of my favorite books that I’ve read in a long, long time. It’s full of so many twists and turns, and it is a captivating read. I finished it in a few days, and I’m normally quite a slow reader. The story is romantic and thrilling, and you fall in love with the main characters.
This book went viral on TikTok and I can totally understand why. It’s also really interesting to think about the retelling of this ancient myth and how it compares to a more traditional version of this historical story.
While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory
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This book is fun, flirty, and so beautifully written. It’s generous towards the reader, looping you in to how the characters feel and think, and you will be on the edge of your seat the whole time.
If you’re someone who needs an easy read, this book is perfect for you. I read this book when I felt like I needed to fall back in love with reading, and it completely did the trick.
Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid
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This book is written in a way that’s approachable, funny, witty, and so real. I could relate to every character (even the ones I didn’t want to relate to). The author, Kiley Reid, took on the topic of race in a way that was refreshing to me and helped me learn a lot as white woman. I’d recommend this to anyone who has an open mind and who wants to read something that’s both funny and thought provoking.
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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This is one of the best books that I’ve ever read. I remember feeling so many different emotions as the characters that I fell in love with had to face harsh realities and truths around every corner. It’s a book about the Nigerian Civil War that takes you through the daily lives and struggles of war and division. Historical fiction is always one of my favorites, and it’s a genre that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie does so well.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Buy Now on Amazon
This is a book that went viral on TikTok and that I’ve been seeing all over social media. I am in the middle of reading it right now, and I’m not sure exactly how I feel about it yet. That happens a lot to me in the middle of books, though. I wanted to share it with you so that you can read along with me if you want to! Then we can discuss what we liked and didn’t like.
Tip #2: You’re gonna need a cozy spot to curl up with the book you’re reading.
Whether it’s a beanbag, your bed, an armchair, or a squishy floor pillow, you need a cozy spot to curl up with your book. These are a few of my favorite ideas for making that cozy spot extra special.
Get a Cozy Armchair (this one is from Amazon!)
This chair has that beautiful modern bohemian vibe. It would fit perfectly in a small space because it’s not super bulky. You really can’t beat this price, either!
See on Urban Outfitters Home
Definitely a pricier option, but this chair has so many amazing reviews and it is simply adorable. It looks so comfy and cozy for reading a book in, as if you’re reading on a cloud โ๏ธ
See on Urban Outfitters Home
This funky chair is for those of you who love something a little bit bold. It is full of personality and will attract your attention to it so that you always have your next reading opportunity in mind.
Tip #3: Design your space with books at the forefront. You need a way to display your books!
One of the most affordable shelving options also happens to be one of the COOLEST. Don’t thank me, guys, I didn’t come up with it, I’m just happy to be a part of it.
Have you seen books floating on seemingly ~NOTHING~??? Have you been curious about what an iNviSiBLE bookshelf might look like??? LOOK NO FURTHER. Ok, sales pitch aside this is a new trend that I have been really enjoying.
These Umbra floating shelves look like weird office supplies, but they actually blend in with your wall and you can stack books up on them to make it look like the books are floating on your wall. It’s so cool.
Buy Now on Amazon
It looks like Amazon is sold out of the white in the smaller size right now, but you might be able to get away with the larger size, and gray also would look better in some spaces. It depends on what would blend the best with your wall color. Also, it’s the type of thing that will come back in stock quickly (it might even already be back in stock when you’re reading this).
Just this past weekend I bought this super cute and inexpensive bookcase from Target and I love how it looks in the corner of my room. If you’re like me and you don’t necessarily have a whole room to dedicate to becoming your tiny library room, then make a reading nook!
There are also so many cute bookshelves on Urban Outfitters Home. Here are some of my faves (in order from least expensive to most expensive):
- Levi Storage Shelf (cute wooden look)
- Alana Bookshelf (curvy funky look)
- Ria Bookshelf (rattan boho look)
- Roma Storage Shelf (symmetrical modern look)
- Isobel Bookshelf (funky funky and more funky look)
Tip #4: Let’s get even cozier. You need throw pillows and blankets galore.
Throw blankets and pillows make any space feel so much softer around the edges. If you’re going for cozy, you need to have these around!
See on Amazon
This is one of my favorite blankets from Amazon because it’s sooo comfy and sooo inexpensive. I love so many of the different colors that it comes in, and this dusty purple is one of my faves.
See on Amazon
This throw pillow adds a fun touch because it’s circular and unique, but so cozy at the same time. Which is essential, because I’m not getting cuddly with a scratchy pillow, and I’m sure you’re not either!
Tip #5: Everyone knows that reading is more fun with a special drink or snack. You need somewhere to put it.
Having a side table is crucial. Where else will your drink or snack go? These are some cute ideas that I think will fit right into the cozy atmosphere you’re creating.
See on Amazon
This one comes in so many different colors and is one of the few side tables that is such an affordable price point (under $50). It also has a surprisingly large surface area to put things down on, which is awesome. I also love this funky blue side table and this retro side table with rattan around it! So pretty.
Tip #6: A bookmark wouldn’t hurt ๐
There’s something about having a cute bookmark that makes it so much more enticing to come back to your book and keep reading. Especially if you’re at a slower point in the plot, you need that extra little bit of motivation to keep you reading (at least I do).
Here’s a list of some of my favorite bookmarks:
- Sprout bookmark (this looks like this ๐ฑ emoji and it’s so adorable)
- This isn’t a bookmark, it’s a thumb ring page holder to help you keep your book open while you’re reading! And it is SO CUTE.
- Pressed flowers bookmarks
Tip #7: Enjoy your tiny library! It’s your new cozy escape.
That’s it for these tips! If you want even more inspiration, check out my board all about tiny library rooms on Pinterest. I hope that this helped spark some inspiration for you, whether it’s for your own tiny library room, a reading nook, or even just a thinking about those possibilities for you.
P.S. โ Some plants would look good in a tiny library room, too. You can see some of the best plants for beginners (that are easy to care for) here!
Whether you use these tips to create your own tiny library room or reading nook, I hope that you’re as charmed by this new trend as I am. Reading is such a pleasurable way to unwind while learning something new. Having a space dedicated to cozying up with a good book just makes sense.
This post was all about how to make a tiny library room.
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