How to decorate the interior of a home library?

Modern gadgets are slowly replacing magazines, newspapers, books from everyday life. Despite the convenience of the electronic version, there are still many who like to read real books. If this way of spending leisure time is held in high esteem in your family, then it’s time to think about designing a small home library. In this room, you can competently organize the space for the correct storage of the book collection, ensuring a carefree pastime. The attractive design of the library will make the overall atmosphere in the house more stylish and rich. Tips placed in this publication will help you to arrange it correctly..

There are quite a few home library design options.

Where is the best place to store books?

It is not difficult to “carve out” a suitable place for a home library in a large house. Its role can be played by a separate free room, a home office. The ideal option is the study. In it you can read, do business away from the noise.

The home library is usually combined with a living room or study.

It is necessary to organize storage so that the search for the desired book does not take much time

An equally attractive place is the living room. A large living room with bookshelves and a fireplace will look amazing. If the apartment is small, there is very little space, bookshelves can be placed right in the bedroom. Shelves can be built-in, then they will not take up useful space. Many hide them behind the doors of a large wardrobe..

A sliding bookcase will ensure high safety of books and elegantly complement the interior of the room

On open shelves, you will have to deal with dust more often.

Book storage rules: briefly about the main

To keep the design of the library always attractive, it is very important to preserve its content in the best possible way. Books need some care. Storing them at home requires several rules:

Books can be called real dust collectors. The easiest way to keep them from dust is to use racks with doors. Closed racks will significantly extend the time between cleaning.
All items should be wiped with a damp cloth at least once a week. The fabric needs to be wrung out well.
It is best to remove dust from books with a special broom made of feathers..
All closed cabinets and racks should be ventilated once a week.
The ideal temperature for storing books is 18-20 degrees. If the office is cool, you need to install additional heating.
Paper perfectly absorbs foreign odors. The home library should be located away from the kitchen, equipped with a good ventilation system. You cannot smoke in the office. Tobacco smoke absorbs quickly into the paper.
Electric lighting that is too bright has a very damaging effect on paper. Bindings will quickly lose elasticity, pages will turn yellow.

Bookcases with doors protect books from dust and direct sunlight

Use roomy and thoughtful book storage systems that complement your chosen room style

Furniture selection

Having learned the basic rules for storing books, having chosen a suitable room, you can proceed to the next step in decorating your home library – the selection of furniture. Printed publications can be stored in special racks, cabinets, built-in bookshelves, etc..

Bookcases made of natural wood look very impressive

An original bookcase will showcase your uniqueness

Designers’ fantasies regarding bookshelves are simply endless.

Furniture should be chosen based on three main parameters:

the number of printed publications;
design style;
room size.

If there are a lot of books, they were inherited from my grandmother, the best option would be to buy high shelves. They can be made according to individual measurements of the room. Racks are usually placed along one wall..

For optimal filling of the entire wall, you will most likely have to make shelves according to specific dimensions.

You can decorate the interior of the study-library with stylish cabinets with glass doors. Sliding wardrobes can become a modern analogue. They are made to order from natural wood and decorated with original carvings. It is better to choose a tall, compact wardrobe. So it will turn out to carve out more space for installing upholstered furniture, a coffee table..

Wall-mounted bookshelves will be the ideal solution for a young family with a small collection of prints. Shelves can be placed in the living room, bedroom, nursery. The shape, size of such furniture should be chosen based on the general style of the room..

The home library is not only a place to store books, but also a relaxation room.

The atmosphere in the home library should be suitable for all family members

Renovated old bookcases

You can make the interior of the library office original with the help of old, long-unnecessary furniture. Grandma’s wardrobe, chest of drawers, outdated shelves can always be restored, reused in the interior. This is a great way to save money, preserve pleasant memories from the past..

Furniture made in the old days is of high quality

Important! Having chosen the Provence style for your home library, you will have to discard the idea of buying a new wardrobe. Old furniture is one of the main foundations in the design of such a design..

If the value of old furniture is low, you can try to repair it yourself.

The restoration of old furniture requires a certain amount of experience, skills and equipment. If none of the above is present, it is better to entrust this task to a specialist. The restorer will do the job quickly, efficiently.

Sometimes old bookshelves, cabinets do not need a global refurbishment. The owners of the house only need to repair them a little, wash them, replace the glass parts with new ones. If desired, you can add novelty to old furniture. It is enough just to paint the inner walls of the cabinet with paint. The color of the paint should be chosen from the general color scheme of the interior. The paint must be of high quality, non-toxic. Acrylic works well. It dries quickly, is practically odorless, looks amazing.

Installing bookshelves in niches

The best way to save space is to use built-in bookshelves. They can be placed in special niches made of drywall, brick, and other building materials. Decorating bookshelves is a way of expression for the owners of the house. They can display your character, mood, goals. By their shape, color, one can identify a music lover, collector, esthete, lover of modern “lotions”.

Wooden shelves in plasterboard niches

You need to choose the size of the shelves based on the volume of your home library. If a whole room is allocated for printed publications, you can equip a large built-in rack. To add a special charm to it, coloring the back wall of the niche in a bright color will help. For example, light shelves with dark walls are perfectly combined with each other. A large rack will help you place a lot of literature, magazines, collectibles in a convenient order.

Niches can be made in the most unexpected places

And their design can be very diverse.

If it is not possible to select the entire room, then a mini home library can be made in the living room, bedroom using small shelves built into a niche. A compact shelf will allow you to place everything you need without taking up useful space. If the room is tiny, it is better to arrange the shelves in white. Light colors of the shelves will help to visually make the space larger and more spacious.

Books under the stairs are also an option if there is very little free space in the house.

More about styles

It is impossible to design a home library correctly without choosing a harmonious style direction. The most suitable styles, their characteristic features are discussed in more detail in the table:

Style	Specific traits
Provence	Sensitive, gentle, calm style. Ideal for decorating a women’s home library. The color scheme should be light: olive, peach, white, light green. You can use a floral print. It is better to choose antique, antique furniture..
Classic	The perfect style for setting up a large, spacious room. The classics are characterized by a restrained design in light colors. The decor of the room must be expensive, the furniture must be wooden. Curtains will play an important role in the design. They must be multi-layered, heavy.
Minimalism	Minimalism is a great solution for a modern family. This direction is characterized by light colors, simple shapes of shelves, a lot of light, and practicality. Decorative details should be almost completely absent..

A classic interior will require significant financial investments in wooden furniture

Provence also gravitates towards natural, but looks simpler and cheaper.

Modern models of cabinets made of composite materials are quite suitable for minimalist interiors.

Lighting

When arranging a home library, in particular a reading area, an important point is the correct organization of light. Too bright electric light is harmful to books. It is better to leave cabinets, shelves without unnecessary lighting. One ceiling chandelier is enough. During the day, shelves with books should be protected from natural light. Ordinary blinds will do this well..

Convenient reading area with an additional light located on the bedside table next to the upholstered chair

It will always be light on such a sofa during the day.

In a dark corner of the room, you can’t do without additional color sources.

However, the reading area of the room needs to be equipped with additional light sources. A floor lamp is well suited for this purpose. It will illuminate a specific area without harming the books. A floor lamp is usually installed near an armchair, a sofa. His style should be in harmony with the general stylistic direction of the reading area. You need to place a floor lamp behind the reader. It is also important for him to choose the right lamp. It should be ergonomic, light should be soft.