Top 5 Home Library Decor Ideas to Help you Build One at Your Home

A dark wooden room with towering shelves spilling with books of all shapes and sizes, with that faint, warming smell of old paper lingering in the air - if you share as ardent a passion for books as we do, you must have at some point in life fantasised about having such a room in your house. From being a well-organised space to store all your books to being the room you escape to when you need some alone time and wish to be in no other company but that of your books, there are many advantages to having a home library. And the best part is that you no longer need a large room for housing your library. With the right kind of planning, you can have just the sort of library anywhere you want, with space hardly being a constraint. Here are our top 5 home library decor ideas to help you build a one you will just not want to step out of.

Shelf life

While traditional libraries are most often housed in spacious rooms with a high ceiling, we’re here to tell you that your library at home can be a simple cosy nook in the living room or bedroom or a room in its entirety, depending upon the size of your home. If you wish to dedicate an entire room to your vast collection of books, opt for tall, standalone wooden library bookshelves or recessed ones, especially if you want to save on floor space. If you wish to create a small library in one of your existing rooms, you can still opt for a shelf recessed in one of the room’s walls. However, a more economical option would be to buy detachable home library bookcases that you can simply nail to the wall. The best part about these shelves is that you can change the look and feel of the room whenever you want without having to entail any high costs. This is also a good option for those who live in rented apartments, as you can easily detach them and take them with you to your next home.

Choose the right colours

Traditionally, libraries were meant to be a closed, luxurious space and hence rich colours like brown, burgundy and maroon became top contenders when it came to picking the right colour for them. However, modern decor design vocabulary provides ample scope for taking a detour from convention, so don’t be apprehensive about choosing colours that bring you joy. For a more soothing, informal feel, opt for pastel hues of lilac or blue for the walls. If your home library is your happy place, you can also use colours pertaining to a particular theme, such as bright greens and yellows for an easygoing tropical vibe or rich browns and reds for a dash of Victorian opulence. The only thing you need to keep in mind is to not let the space become too busy with colours as that may interfere with the peace and quiet you wish to have in your home library.

Pick the right home library furniture

A home library is not just a place where you keep your books. You can also build it to be a room where you relax and unwind, be it while reading your favourite book, watching a movie or simply listening to some music. The furniture you choose will then depend upon what you plan to use your home library for. If you wish for it to be a just a reading-cum-study room, all you need is a writing desk and a few comfortable chairs—consider simple chairs with exposed wood and upholstered seat and backrest. If your library also doubles up as a home theatre, a couch, a centre table and a couple of love seats will make for a laidback space that is also high on utility. Make sure you pick the right upholstery and cushions covers to make sure your furniture ties in with the rest of your library decor.

Go natural

There is something about spaces replete with natural elements, something that makes them warm, inviting and truly soothing to the senses. Dark wood is a common feature in traditional libraries, but for your home library, it is better to opt for light coloured wood to make the space more breathable. If wooden walls and flooring is not an economical option, good quality faux wood wallpapers and floorings work just as well. If your library is rather spacious, use lightweight bamboo partitions to segregate the area as well as to infuse some breezy Oriental charm in the room. Adding indoor plants is another way of enlivening the home library with a touch of nature. If you often use the library during daytime, allowing ample natural light in will make the space lighter, brighter and warmer, so opt for linen curtains or blinds in soothing colours like white and cream.

Art attack!

Just like in your living room or bedroom, the walls of your home library are the perfect canvas for portraying your favourite artworks. Also, if you use your library often for work, the right kind of art can not only have a pleasing effect on your mind but also positively impact your creativity and productivity. While walls in neutral colours are best to showcase artwork, dark walls in colours like blue and purple in a glossy finish can often work as a pleasant contrast to vivid paintings. You can also use sections of your bookshelf to display small art pieces like sculptures, figurines, Chinese porcelain dishes, artistic photo frames and embellished boxes.

Suggested collection:

Ezra: https://www.ddecor.com/collection/ezra