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How to Create a Cosy Reading Nook

Jan 31, 2025by Jasmine Savery

Do you dream of a cosy reading nook? Sitting with a cup of steaming hot tea, looking out the window whilst the rain pours down outside? Dream no longer! Building the reading nook of your dreams is easier than you think - whatever your DIY skills! So then, I hear you ask, how do you build a cosy reading nook?

You can create a simple but cosy reading nook in a number of ways, but for beginners we recommend either:

Hacking a piece of furniture, such as the IKEA Kallax, and adding some cushions or padding to create a window bench.
Source a comfy chair and a number of cosy decorative items to create the ultimate no-build reading nook.

Read on to learn more about building a cosy reading nook, as well as our top tips for décor and organisation.

How to Build a Reading Nook

Whether you’re a DIY expert or have no idea where to start, building a reading nook couldn’t be easier. Here are a couple of foolproof options that will work, regardless of your DIY skills.

Window Bench Seat

You may be able to buy a ready-made bench seat that perfectly fits your space, but that is rarely the case. As such, you might have to get out your DIY skills (or call your Dad!) and make it yourself. There’s a couple of ways you could go about this:

Buy a suitable piece of furniture and “hack” it to suit your needs.
Build it from scratch.

If you decide to take the first option, a great base that can be hacked into a bench seat is the IKEA Kallax. We’d recommend starting with the 4X1 unit used horizontally. Depending on the size of your space, you could add other Kallax units to the side for more storage options (or as a bookcase!) Measure your space and compare it against the Kallax measurements to see what you could create.

Next, you’ll need to add some cushions or DIY a perfect-fit foam cushion. You don’t even need to have sewing skills to make this work.

Simply:

Source some foam that suits your preferences. You may need to cut it to size.
Source a sheet of plywood or MDF and cut it to size.
Source some fabric that suits your space.
Place the foam on top of the wood and arrange the fabric on top.
Using a staple gun, tightly fold the fabric to the underside of the wood and fix in place.

If you want to make it extra cosy, take a look at our top tips for decorating a reading nook below. Or, if you’re more concerned about storage and organisation, skip to our advice on organising a reading nook.

No-Build Option

If you’re not sure about DIY-ing your reading nook, how about a no-build option? This option requires some interior design skills, but is a much simpler option (plus, you might already have everything you need!)

A few things you’ll need for this:

A rug
A cosy chair
A side table
Soft lighting
Cosy pillows
Blankets
Décor options such as art or plants
Books!

Here’s how to make cosy reading nook with no DIY or building required:

Find the perfect space in your home. We’d recommend somewhere with good natural lighting.
Find a rug to anchor the space (without it being too busy). This is especially important if you don’t have carpet in your chosen space.
Find the perfect cosy chair that you can sit in comfortably for hours.
Add a side table for drinks and snacks.
Add a lamp with soft lighting or, for the ultimate cosy vibes, bring in some candles.
Make it yours with some décor options such as wall art or plants.
Double up on cosiness with blankets and pillows. This is another great way to express your style!
Move your TBR (to be read) pile to your cosy reading nook. You might finally get around to finishing them!

How to Decorate a Reading Nook

Now you know how to build a reading nook, you need to figure out how you’re going to decorate it. We briefly touched on this above in the no-build option, but here’s a rundown of our top items for decorating a reading nook:

Cushions - you want your reading nook to be super cosy so be sure to find a couple of cushions that invite you to stay and read all day.
Blankets - the last thing you need when enjoying your reading nook is to get cold. Grab your favourite blanket and keep it nearby for when the temperature drops.
Soft lighting - Ideally, you’ll have good natural lighting in your reading nook, but nothing says cosy like a warm lamp or candle. For younger readers, consider fairly lights on the wall.
Side table - Find a cute side table for your cup of tea and biscuits. You could also put your lamp or candle on here too!
Storage boxes - If you go down the Kallax hack route, we recommend buying some storage boxes to put in the holes in the unit. Depending on what you buy these can be décor as well as storage, but more on that below!

How to Organise a Reading Nook

You’re going to want to keep your cosy reading nook tidy and organised to ensure that it remains the inviting space you initially envisioned. Here’s a few tips on keeping things organised from our organisation experts at Northern Willow:

Storage Boxes & Baskets

If you go down the IKEA Kallax route, it’s super easy to simply buy some nice storage boxes and slot them into the holes in the Kallax unit. Here at Northern Willow, we stock a range of beautiful wicker storage boxes perfect for Kallax units.

If you went down the no-build route, you might want to consider some bits of furniture to help organise your space. A bookcase makes obvious sense, but you might also want some small storage options for cushions, blankets and other bits and bobs. Here’s some of our favourites:

Organise Your Reading Nook with Northern Willow

Once you’ve got your reading nook set up and ready to go, you’ll need a few storage baskets to keep everything neat and tidy. Take a look at our wide range of wicker storage baskets online today; you’re sure to find something that perfectly suits your space.

Browse Storage Baskets

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