1
combine two rooms
Leslie Unruh
If you have limited space but want to have a designated area for books, combine two rooms into one. Designer CeCe Barfield Thompson integrated his dining room and library in this Manhattan apartment to maximize space. “It's more of a night room,” she says. “This room is the least sunny in the apartment, so by painting it a dark color, the contrast actually helps the space feel brighter.” Plus, it's even more comfortable to read late into the night. It will be.
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2
perfect study space
Regan Wood/Regan Wood Photography
It makes sense to have a work desk next to a bookshelf, but what about inside the bookshelf? Designer Drew McGuckin added a desk, cabinet, and bookcase to this small nook to create an ideal work zone. is created.
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3
Adopt the trellis trend
Jonathan Bond Photos
Make your bookshelf a little more appealing by adding a traditional design feature, such as a painted trellis at the bottom of the shelf. Elizabeth Hay, a British designer based in Singapore, needed her base when visiting her relatives, so she converted a neutral English cottage into a colorful retreat. A trellis adds beautiful character and dimension to a space.
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Four
make a hideout
Durston Saylor
Architect Eric Smith created this gallery of bookshelves lined with 1,700 poems. It opens to a writing room surrounded by nature, providing a calming space for escape and reflection. The goal, Smith explains, was to “create a structured expression of the artist's creative process from start to finish.” He added, “The poet's desk is at the center of his 180-degree view (and) at mid-tree height the forest surrounds you.”
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Five
Choose a calming palette
Cutty Teague
Greens, blues, and other cool shades are perfect for use in relaxing rooms. Follow in the footsteps of designer Gina Sims and create your own library, choosing a muted green for the walls and a stylish yet cozy pale blue sofa.
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6
add gold accents
julie sofer
This Texas renovation features touches of gold along the shelves of this built-in bookcase, adding a surprisingly unexpected pop of brightness to a dark, moody room. In addition to shelving, Sidney Manning of interior design firm Marie Flannigan also added gold picture frames and sconces to the space, connecting the finishes throughout the room.
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7
be unconventional
Alison Gooty
Embrace your quirky and unexpected desires at home. Traditional libraries tend to consist of dark woods and moody accents, but this vibrant space by Katie Ridder challenges that vision. Although many aspects of this project were unconventional, such as discussing paint colors with the client during the first design meeting, Ridder's client knew from the beginning that they wanted a bold green library. .
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8
incorporate a tv
Joshua McHugh
If peace and quiet isn't your ideal reading environment, place a TV along with a bookshelf to provide constant ambient noise. Designer Elaine Santos created this communal family room perfect for avid readers and those who prefer screen-based media.
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9
Let's put it in the corner
Katie Newbern
Don't have room for your entire library? No problem. You can also create a styled reading corner to store books and a comfy vintage chair. Flashes of white on rugs and blankets tie together white bookshelves in this moody, dark space by designer Shavonda Gardner.
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Ten
Incorporate sports memorabilia
michael hunter
Whether you're rooting for your favorite team or reminiscing about your past college football career like Cherelle Neal's clients, consider rooting for your team in your home library too. “By providing a floor-to-ceiling work-from-home solution personalized to our client's needs, we transformed this previously untouched front room into a space the whole family can enjoy and create their proudest moments. ” said the designer.
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11
sprinkle on heirlooms
sean litchfield
One way to make new furniture a better fit for your home is to incorporate old furniture. For Tiara Borges' client, a large portion of the design budget went toward creating custom built-ins for the library, but she made the brand new shelving more meaningful by adding heirlooms throughout and to the surrounding area. I helped make it what it is.
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12
make the most of it
douglas friedman
Balance your books with playful patterns, layered art, and a variety of accessories to create the ultimate cozy and interesting space. Melinda and John Thomas James of M. James Design Group created this gorgeous living room that doubles as a library.
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13
Choose a pastel palette
stacey zarin goldberg
Part living room, part home library, pastel lilac hues were used to differentiate the old and new parts of this 1930s home. Designer Melissa Colgan wanted the newly reconfigured section to feel lighter and brighter than the home's original brick section, which was more saturated and traditional. “We asked (the client) for a custom bookshelf to highlight rare and first edition books like Winnie the Pooh and Pinocchio. So I suggested they paint the room purple. She said, “Let's try it!'' Colgan says.
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14
Please put the book away
Trevor Tondolo
Don't let the idea of clutter stop you from creating the home library of your dreams. Just install some shelves where you can store your books inside a glass case. Designer Gareau Kedizian installed these new built-ins in his Parisian pièce de résistance to store novels and accessories, creating an antique look with vintage hardware he found in Parisian flea markets.
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15
create a luxurious corner
Kevin J. Miyazaki
In the Whole Home 2023 guest room, designer Rashida Gray of Gray Space Interiors added a calm and elegant reading nook with two seating options. With natural light from the windows and a glossy ceiling to reflect it, this nook is the ideal place to curl up and read a good book.
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16
Make it versatile
Kevin J. Miyazaki
Treat your library as a multipurpose room, like designer Kate Marker did with her Whole Home 2023 library. Not only can this room store your favorite books, but it's essentially a second family room with a craft area, screwdriver, game table, and plenty of seating.
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17
hang artwork
Lisa Romaine
“This room doesn't get a lot of light, so I wanted to make it cozy, so I turned it into an English-style portrait room. It's silly, but it's fun,'' says celebrity chef Alex Hitz. Masu. He lined his study from floor to ceiling with books and hung a portrait of his friend Nan Kempner by Peter Rogers. Opposite the armchair is an impressive wall upholstered in Gaston y Daniela's Tree of Life fabric.
18
make it modern
fiona lynch
From the black-stained wood to the modern side chair and clean-lined ladder, this Fiona Lynch-designed home library is a gorgeous contemporary space.
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19
hide
studio zyren
Designed by Studio Seilern, this library is full of great hidden quirks. This room itself is actually a secret, and you enter through a door disguised as a bookshelf. Although it's two stories high, the mirrored ceiling gives the illusion of a never-ending tower of books.
20
Choose a wallpaper that matches your theme
tim street porter
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