How To Create The Perfect Small Home Library Design

This article is all about small home library design ideas.

Sometimes, we have to make do with the space we have, whether it be a rented studio flat, a student home or even a tiny home. The good news is, that even if your space is quite limited, it by no means means you can’t have your dream home library.

Really, as long as you have a cute shelf, a good, comfortable reading chair and some good ambient lighting, you can make anything dreamy.

I have only ever rented (which i’m praying will change in the next 2 years)! Because of this, I’ve really had to make do with very limited space, and very impermanent structures. When you rent there are certain limitations on what you can do with your space, for the most part drilling bookshelves into your walls a big no.

Luckily, most of the places I have lived have had built in storage ready for me! But, I have become somewhat of a pro at making a space feel like a bookish heaven.

This post is all about small home library design ideas for the perfect reading home.

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Why Have a Home Library

What a crazy question, but let’s get to it anyway.

It may seem like home libraries have always been, and maybe this was true for the very elite of society. But, for most, the upsurge in home libraries arouse from The Grand Tour- a feature of aristocratic education that was popular from the 17th- 19th centuries. During this, young, upper class men embarked on a tour through Europe with an itinerary focusing on art, architecture and literature.

Think of it as an old fashioned gap year, but swap the hostel dorms with gorgeous hotels, and the seedy 3 am excursions home for tours of museums. That said, The Grand Tour included a range of ‘undisclosed, extra curricular activities’, which is to say, perhaps gap years have followed some traditions.

From there, like any good collector, the young men returned with an assortment of trinkets from their travels. Many of which included books, rare and new. Thus came the need for rooms to display their books from around the world.

As this became more popular, a home library began to represent culture, knowledge and status. From this, architecturally designed libraries became popular. The boom of publication made home libraries accessible not just to the upper class, but also to the middle class. In fact, Jane Austen’s father (belonging to the middle class) had over 500 books in his study.

Now, home libraries have evolved. Books are much more accessible, and a ‘good home library’ no longer needs to be architecturally designed or filled with hundreds of expensive books. They have shifted from being a public display of wealth and culture to becoming personal spaces that celebrate a person’s individual love of reading.

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What do you need for a small library at home

Any good library has certain fundamentals.

1. Book storage

Being able to see and appreciate your books is such a motivator for reading more and making a space feel truly cosy. I like to pile up my TBR so I can see exactly what i’m working towards, I find it makes getting through slower books so much easier when I know what’s on the other side.

Decorating a rental apartment on a budget?

When space is limited, and when you’re on a budget, it can feel slightly harder to find effective book storage. For affordable home library ideas for smaller rooms (when mounted wall shelves aren’t an option), try temporary structures such as ikea bar carts for a very cost and space effective solution.

2. Comfortable seating

A good reading chair can be one of those things people seem to put off for as long as possible. But it can make all the difference in transforming a space from a place you store books to a library at home.

Check out this post! How To Choose The Best Comfortable Reading Chair

My dream reading chair is a comfy armchair, but it’s not super space easy to fit into a small library at home. Instead, for really small spaces, try a bean bag or a floor chair.

3. Good lighting

Literally any excuse for a trip to home bargains for fairy lights and candles. You can’t go wrong with that. If you are opting for a lamp, try replacing the bulb with a warm orange light bulb– you can get these relatively cheap from most home stores such as Dunelm, B&Q, and Amazon. This will make your small home library design feel so much more effortlessly cosy.

4. A cosy atmosphere Personal touches

Home library ideas for small rooms are so much more charming when they are incorporated with items that are personal to you. Little library design ideas rarely require a room to itself. Instead, most home libraries share a space with the bedroom or living room.

By leaning into this, you can create the small home library design of your dreams. If you love lego, add some to your shelves. Or if you collect items such as pop figures, they can really bring your small home library to life!

Where to place your library at home

Knowing where to place your new home library can be a challenge of it’s own. But finding a bit of unused space is key here.

An empty corner of the living room
A small home office
A bedroom corner
An alcove
Under the stairs
A hallway
A landing
A window nook
An unused wall
The space beside your bed
I’ve even seen people stack books on the ledge ABOVE the stairs!

Really, there are so many spaces you can sneak a library into. Some are better and more convenient than others. Think about what you want from a home library- if it is a place to sit by your books then under the stairs or an alcove might not be for you. But if you are wanting a space to organise your tomes so you can take them and read them around the house, then you obviously won’t need to consider where you can also fit a reading chair.

Choose what works for you and your home!

Bookshelves That Work For A Small Space

If you are just starting out, a full wall shelving unit with a rolling ladder might not be the direction to go. Think about space effective and budget friendly shelving options for your small home library design.

Narrow bookshelves
Ladder shelves
Wall-mounted shelves
Built-in shelving
Modular shelving
Corner shelves
Low bookcases
Bar cart

Or even, making use of structures that already exist, such as utilising spare floor space, window ledges or larger desks.

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Small Home Library Decorating Ideas

After you have chosen a space for your reading nook, chosen lighting, and found a comfortable place to sit, you can begin to think about decorating.

The aim is to create a space you want to constantly return to, and that makes you WANT to read more. Create a space you would happily spend a cosy evening in, that is the trick to reading more books.

1. Add a gallery wall

Adding bookish wall decor is such a fun way to upgrade a space. It doesn’t have to be expensive either. Download these FREE book themed wall art prints that I created (using canva) specifically for your budget friendly reading nook. You can print these for free using FreePrints (you can find this on the app store or google play).

I don’t want you to have to break the bank to create a space you want to return to again and again. And I love that FreePrints makes this a high quality option. For a super cute finish, thrift some frames for the ultimate home library decor.

Click here to download | Bookish wall art prints

Download Here

2. Display book covers

Mix and match how you organise your bookshelves. Try mixing up vertical and horizontal organising for interesting bookshelves.

Check out this post! How To Organise Your Bookshelf So It’s Not Boring

3. Use decorative bookends

I’m so obsessed with decorative bookends. I personally have never had a need for them as I have always had very crammed full bookshelves. But if you have floating shelves, this is such a cute was to ensure they stay up.

There are so many really stunning book ends you can find in vintage shops and craft stalls for unique and affordable options. Similarly, you can use household items, such as refilling old wine bottles with water for weight.

4. Add plants

Plants add so much life to a home space. I would recommend opting for dried plants if you are keeping them on the bookshelf itself, to avoid any books getting damp. However, if you are decorating the floor around it is okay to put your big plants- as long as you move them when you water them.

5. Hang up reading challenges

This is such a fun way to stay motivated, push yourself to read new books and decorate your library at home!

At this point I have created quite a few free reading challenges, click here to check them out.

The aim of book bingo is to explore new books that you might otherwise have missed! It’s an opportunity to find new 5 star reads, and a challenge to step out of your comfort zone.

6. Add a rug

I had always dreamed of having a reading space that felt luxurious. We got our rug from Dunelm, and I really think it brings the space together nicely.

They had such a huge selection, and I would definitely recommend investing in a rug you know you’ll love for a long time.