Where do you like to read the most in your home? Do you have a specific chair, corner, blanket? Paint me a picture. What are the ingredients that matter?
(And, what are you currently reading? My review of Land is coming soon, but I was waylaid by travel and a lot of romance books — lol.)
I was realizing the other day I mainly read in my bed (photo above from the library room at Keswick Resort in Charlottesville, VA) — and not because I want to, but because I don’t really have another spot in the house that feels like an inviting reading nook, with enough privacy, quiet, or good light. Do we all agree that an ideal reading perch involves proximity to a window where you can watch the rain or snow come down, or let the sunlight in? I’ll read on our family room sofa in the winter since it’s right by the fire, but for some reason, I really prefer to read alone, undistracted, and our family room is right off the kitchen, prone to foot traffic and “mama, can you…?”, so this is not my universally preferred spot.
I think I’m going to challenge myself to outfit a corner of our primary bedroom into a reading nook I love for this fall/winter. I have this boucle arm chair, this gorgeous lamp (currently 20% off — the same discount I used when I bought it last Black Friday / Cyber Monday!), and this handy side table already situated, but it’s not yet reached “come read here” status in my book, even though it is right next to a window!
I’m thinking I need bookshelves, a basket full of throw blankets, and a wide area rug beneath it to demarcate the area. Also, maybe long linen curtains like seen below? More lighting? More overall softness. Honestly maybe I will swap out the boucle arm chair (put it upstairs in the guest bedroom for extra seating/coziness) and order myself one of these chairs and a half (other good options here and here) for true reading comfort. I am thinking seriously about this rug for the area. It looks perfect — neutral but textured.
Inspo below:
CRATE AND BARREL REMI LAMP (20% OFF!)
THUMA SIDE TABLE (GREAT FOR SMALL SPACES)
BRASS CANDLE SNUFFER AND WICK TRIMMER SET
Even more finds for a cozy reading nook here!
Another essential ingredient to a good fall reading session: Mem tea (my Boston-based sister-in-law sent me a bunch of their herbal teas two years ago and now I’m hooked on this Boston company’s tea! I order a fresh shipment every few months!). Use this to keep the hot water at the ready!
Post-Scripts: What to Read This Fall.
+Books we love reading in the fall! Comments are fantastic. More recs in the dark academia genre in the comments here. R.F. Kuang’s Babel came up a few times and I believe Magpie reader Kelly has recommended this to me enthusiastically several times before. On my list for this season!
+Books that calm the nervous system.
+Sestinas and Septembers — an analysis of an exquisite poem by Elizabeth Bishop that feels right for the season we’re heading into.
+As we head towards fall, having a hankering for re-reading WDS. Can this be made into a movie already?!
+To me, this Lily King is a fantastic fall read. The opening chapters of falling in love while at college…! It’s pitch-perfect for September.
And a Couple Shopping Notes.
+Gorgeous Tuckernuck new arrival.
+Did we know that Rhoback launched youth sizes?! I am on that site all the time and somehow missed this. I just ordered this one for my nephew/godson for his birthday as he’s a big golfer! Tempted to snag this UVA one for Hill…! I also got my hands on one of the new Rhoback sweaters and continue to be deeply impressed by everything this company puts out. The material is really soft and cozy / not itchy or wiry in the least ; it has the look and feel of something you’ve had and loved for awhile. I love the academic vibe.
+I was just reading recently about how important peptides are to maturing skin as they boost the production of collagen (which we produce less of as we age). Kiehl’s just sent me their new collagen product and I cannot wait to test. I also snagged their calendula face wash — I really don’t overthink or overcommit to face washes because they’re on your skin for such a short amount of time. They just need to wash everything off without overdrying. But I do really like a good lather and this one had the following description: “a dense foaming lather that replenishes skin.” YES.
+Cords to contemplate for fall: these Frames (trending among Magpies) and these barrel-leg pull-ons.
+Have a feeling Magpies are going to love these new striped tees from Faherty, given how many of you ordered this Soldout!
+New in at La Ligne: Colby cargos in olive green and a perfect striped sweater. Use code MAGPIE10.
+Oooo these new M. Gemis in the calf-hair! So good.
This content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
I borrow my kids’ reading nook quite often! Their meow baby boucle play couch is tucked behind their armoire, so if I sit there you can just see my legs, there’s bright sunshine and I can see the sea and the castle.
Love – this sounds so cozy!
I switch up where I read mainly because like you I want quite uninterrupted space where I can savor what I’m reading. Lately with the cooler it’s been outside on my patio with a cup of tea and my dog, Lewis. Sometimes in the morning it’s in my grandmothers mustard yellow velvet chair( it’s just the right size), and some nights the couch or in bed too with lots of pillows. I do love reading while traveling on planes and trains. Or while my husband and son are fishing I’ll read tucked under a tree somewhere or sometimes while I’m waiting at an appointment ( but that’s not always the quietest place. Wish I could hole up in Nancy Meyers cottage beautifully decorated comfy chair or couch or reading nook with lots of pillows, comfy pjs (Elby brand) a fire going and massive snow falling outside the window. Yes this is my dream reading place if I had endless time
I’m sooo into the Nancy Meyers cottage vignette! Let’s manifest this…
I often read in my chair in the living/family room… that is my preferred place when everyone else is in bed. I do like to read in bed as well. One of my fave places is in the pool! I have a floating chair and i love to float and read!
Pool float while reading sounds divine! How do you handle wet pages? Or do you just shrug it off?
xx
I do not have a designated reading area though it sounds lovely. I mainly read in bed or on the couch though I did finish a book this week standing up at my kitchen counter so perhaps it depends more on what the surrounding day looks like than my actual physical location.
I just finished Shampoo Effect for book club, much more enthralled by the location as I have family on Cape Ann than the actual storyline which I felt let itself down in the second half. I would recommend ‘The Great Wherever’ by Shannon Sanders, which I found deeply enthralling. Hoping to start ‘Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt’ and ‘Canticle’ soon (library holds depending).
“I did finish a book this week standing up at my kitchen counter” — do tell what was this book?! Must have been gripping. I love the image of being so enthralled you just stand to finish! Was it “Shampoo Effect”? PS – Funny you mention that, my mom rarely DNFs but she DNFd that book and said it just felt like it was trying to do too much / be too much to all things (?) at the end. I’m about 3/4 of the way through…
xx
I don’t have a reading nook right now. If i do read it’s laying in my bed with the bible open, or possibly one of my herbalism books. Although I do have a media nook that is made up of cds and cassette tapes. Listening to a moody blues cassette or a yanni cd is how I relax.
Love a moody cassette moment!! Sounds delightful!
xx
I, too, mostly read in bed. Occasionally on the couch in the evening while my husband watches tv. But I almost never sit down during the day (eating and driving excepting!) so I don’t have a reading nook…although I’ve thought about claiming a corner of our finished basement for a chair and lamp. It’s not a high traffic area, but I’m guessing the children would drift down to chat/request/argue when they noticed my absence on the main floor!
I’m just finishing My Friends which was highly recommended but I found to be a bit of a slog. So I’m also reading Miss Read’s A Storm in the Village for something more cozy. Also listening to The War That Saved my Life and The War I Finally Won with my girls. I recommend for Emory if she hasn’t read yet! The narrator is a favorite.
I had forgotten about Miss Read…that sounds like a perfect thing to pull out in the turn toward fall.
Ooh thanks for these recs! Love. Yeah, isn’t that funny? So many of us are big readers but don’t necessarily have a dedicated space for it…
xx
November by Rosamund Pilcher I read it almost every fall.
Oo love this! (And always admire seasonal repeat readers — a woman who knows her own mind!)
xx