My Dream Reading Space

Posted May 23, 2017 by shooting in Uncategorized / 32 Comments

This time of the year, I do most of my reading in one of two places. First, there is my front porch. This is great when the weather is not too hot and overbearing. I love to sit out there and read because my dog often cuddles next to me. It’s relatively quiet, and it’s definitely comfortable. If the weather is way too hot for sitting on the porch, then I like to read in the pool. Yes, I said in the pool. I love being in the pool during the summer, but I’m not a sunbather. I don’t really like to sit outside and burn. I’d much rather cool off within the actual water. I have a round, above ground pool, so it’s the same height no matter where I go. Therefore, I can take a book and simply walk around the perimeter of my pool, reading. Yes, your arms might get tired after awhile, since you’re holding up a physical book. Just take a break, and then go back to it! It’s probably the number 1 way I get most of my reading done in the summer months.

However, like any lover of books, I have definitely thought about my dream reading place, so I was excited when Arhaus suggested this post idea. Maybe you have something set up in your home already; a place to go, relax, and dive into a good book. For me, I don’t have such a place, but I can certainly imagine the one I’d love. I think something akin to a home library would be suitable. There would be no TV, so there isn’t a chance of disruption or someone else in the house trying to watch said TV while you want to read. There would definitely be a window that I can gaze out of, so that natural light can come into the room. This is also nice when it’s raining, because I personally enjoy the sound and look of rain on the windows and it’s not distracting at all.
Furthermore, I would need a really relaxing reading chair. It would need to be soft and comfortable, so that I could lose myself in a good book without shifting back and forth every five minutes. A possibility is this Swivel Glider chair.  Along with these two things, I would need the room to feel like the library I so want it to be, and that means lots of bookcases stuffed full of books. Personally, I have a lot of bookcases in my room already but it would be great to have a larger room to really display them. It would also give me the chance to have certain bookcases or shelves for particular book series or themes. I’m a collector of Funko Pops and almost anything related to Harry Potter, so these would be the sort of things I’d also like to have around the room, whether in the bookcases or hanging on the walls. And of course, I’d love to have special editions of certain books like this Hunger Games set from Juniper books (link leads you to my current giveaway).
While not particularly imaginative, my dream reading space is realistic and something that I feel like I could actually attain someday. There would be soft rugs and plush blankets. The colors would be soft and pastel. There would be literary posters on the walls and of course, some nice lighting, perhaps a nightstand with a fun reading lamp like this bicycle desk lamp. This would be a place to get away from the real world for a bit and find myself lost in a good book. It would be a distraction from the technology that almost always surrounds us. Sure, I’ll be blogging and reviewing about all the fun books I’m reading, but I don’t need to think about that while I’m reading. This room would give me an outlet to de-stress and to whisk myself away to Hogwarts and beyond!

What about you? Do you have a dream reading space? Perhaps it’s realistic like mine, or maybe you want something a bit more fancy and imaginative! It’s up to you- but please do share below in the comments. I’d love to hear all about them!

32 responses to “My Dream Reading Space

  1. RO

    This is a phenomenal post, and on the bucket list of another blogger called Lissa from Rainswept. If I could, I’d love to have a nook with a circular library, a small table, and a super plush red chair to read in that’s far away from everything else in the house. Right now, I usually read in the living room, but there can be a ton of distractions. I also take the book with me so I’m ready for long wait times. Hugs…

  2. I used to read in my pool in Phoenix until the day I got stung by a wasp, ruined my pool reading. I love reading outside in my chair. So relaxing. I also do a lot of reading/ listening really while walking.

  3. I used to love reading on the train — I read a lot when I was commuting every day! Now, I depend on bedtime for a few minutes and snuggling up on the couch. Either way, I know I need to read more.

  4. I would love my own dedicated reading space, or at least someplace to store all my books. Enough shelving is a definite must, and I would love to fill it up with little bookish touches!

  5. Ooh a dream space! Mine would be on the couch with a soft throw and a lamp throwing off just enough light to read by. Lots of cushions and surrounded by floor to ceiling bookshelves.

  6. I wish I had a dream reading space in my home. It’s kind of hard with 4 kids, though! My favorite place to read, however, is at the beach!

  7. I get almost 90% of my reading done in the morning when I’m running on the treadmill! Isn’t that crazy? But, it makes the miles go by fast! I should read outside more, but it does get so humid here quickly unless I go outside early (and later there is mosquitos, so no thanks!). I would love a comfy reading place inside!

    Carrie
    curlycraftymom.com

  8. The image of you walking around a pool trying to keep your hands up trying and trying to read is making me chuckle. I would love a library room with losts of bookcases. I would have a nice, pretty chair/couch thing? for one person. I’d have a table with snacks beside me and a dog next to me or next to my feet.

  9. I think a home library would be awesome… I imagine something like from Beauty and the Beast! But in reality, I enjoy reading by the pool or in the pool (on a sun lounge, or on a large floaty – there is a particular spot in our pool where I can hook my feet onto the handle bars of the ladder so I’m in the shade and not moving…. I also enjoy just floating around and reading too though). Otherwise, I have one of those “egg” chairs hanging near the back deck. Sitting in there on a nice day is really comfy for reading too!

  10. Wow, I love it. I love reading in a bedroom with not TV and any electronic (phone, laptop). Just me and my iPad. It helps me concentrate and not constantly distracted by anything else. Reading while raining is perfect too. ?

  11. I usually just hang out on the couch, futon, or in bed to read. I like to read while watching TV (weird I know!) so I guess my ideal reading space is in the living room!

  12. I have been doing a lot of reading as in Audible ‘reading’ with my ears while I shelve books in the school libraries where I work as a substitute librarian. Makes shelving bearable.
    Loved the image of you holding a book and meandering around your pool reading. I have a loft that is my hide-away for reading, crafting and devotional time. I don’t do a whole lot of reading there but it is my favorite place to be.

  13. I can pretty much read anywhere as long as I have a good book so I haven’t really thought about a dream reading space. I guess mine would just need to have a comfy chair that I could also use for lying like a sectional – I generally read on my bed, shifting between sitting up but more often either lying on my tummy or back – with a pillow.

  14. YES. Ever since I was a young girl, I’ve always wanted one of those kitchen nooks. A space to lay out next to huge windows. And some added pillows and blankets for comfort. <3

  15. My favourite spots to read are in bed, the bath, the couch and in our study. I’ve dropped a few bookmarks in the bath but never any books 🙂

  16. Jen

    I love your dream reading space! I want one just like it 🙂 Right now anywhere cool and with air conditioning is my fave space!

  17. I had to laugh at the thought of reading in the pool. I can’t imagine doing that, mostly because I’m too paranoid about getting my book wet. (And my kids are usually in the pool—it’s all I can do to keep my books dry while reading on the pool deck, much less IN the pool!).

  18. Good question! I would love a really comfy chair and a good light source. I would also love good stereo system to go with it. I love to play music in the background as I read.

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