Create a Reading Nook at Home.

Imagine a window seat with a little built-in bookshelf, a quilt and an overstuffed cushion. Add some bright but not glaring natural light and you're in heaven, right? That perfect little spot will probably look adorable, too.

Let's take a look at a few ways you can transform an ordinary space into a bibliophile's dream space by creating your own reading nook at home.

Creating Your Reading Space

Even if you don't have a window seat -- or a fainting chair, you can create a reading corner worthy of your next romantic (thriller, horror or fantasy) indulgence. The trick is to annex a space and to segregate it naturally within your decor. This is usually accomplished by anchoring the space. Here's how it works: Imaging placing an area rug in front of a couch in a conversation area by, say, your fireplace. Now that space looks like a natural grouping within your living room (or family room). The rug anchors the space and the nearby furnishings. It's a different way of looking at furniture placement. Any number of items can act as anchors to define a space. Here are a few:

• Rugs
• Room dividers
• Sofa tables (containing lamps, plants or other accessories)
• Wall art groupings like prints, quilts or tapestries
• Task lighting like track lights or floor lamps
• Furniture groupings set apart from other spaces (like a chair and ottoman turned toward a window and away from the interior space)
• Wall shelves or other architectural elements
•  File cabinets or desks (within an office)

All of these tricks define smaller spaces within larger rooms. They can work in combination to create an effective reading nook within a larger space.

The Little Things Make a Big Difference

Defining the space for a reading corner is just part of task. A space will only work if it possesses most of the following elements:

• Quiet
• Comfort
• Adequate light
• Peripheral privacy
• Storage

Of the elements on the above list, quiet is the most important. Although it's probably possible to concentrate on the last chapter of a great book while someone has your flat screen or sound system blaring, a little quiet does make for a more satisfying reading experience. Placing a reading nook in a family or media room may sound like a viable option, but consider when and how the space will probably be used. If there are likely to be conflicts with noisy activities, choosing an alternative location for a reading nook is a good idea.

Peripheral privacy is a nice "extra" you'll appreciate. It makes it possible to concentrate (smile, get misty eyed, grimace) without being observed or having to tolerate someone invading your space at the wrong moment.

Lighting

We mentioned the importance of lighting a moment ago, but it bears repeating. Comfortable reading always requires adequate illumination. The conventional wisdom is that a reading friendly light bulb should be around 100 watts to avoid eyestrain. Your bedside lamp may be less than that at about 60 watts (and you read by it, right?), but for prolonged reading, go with better light -- you'll avoid headaches that way. Incandescent bulbs or full spectrum light bulbs that mimic natural light offer less glare too.

Here's another tip: Try placing your reading nook in or near a window. Natural, indirect light is easy on the eyes and helps elevate mood and promote a sense of wellbeing. You'll enjoy your book more and probably tackle your post book chores with a better attitude, too.

Shelving

When you love books, storage always becomes an issue sooner or later. Having a place to store your book treasures will keep you from donating all your favorites to a community book drive prematurely -- and regretting it later. Actually, modular wall shelving is very economical and easier to install than ever before. From floating shelves made of wood or glass to wire shelving that looks refreshingly modern and efficient, adding shelves near your nook will keep your collection close, where you can sneak a peek at your favorite poems ( or old love letters) every now and then.