The first thing you need for a window reading corner is somewhere to sit. Find a comfortable chair with armrests and a soft back that you can sit in for hours. Place it next to your window and try different angles to get the best light. Don’t worry if the sun comes in too strongly at certain hours of the day – the right window treatments will help with this. You may want an ottoman as well to put your feet up. While you’re at it, add a side table where you can place a hot drink and your bookmark.
Some lucky readers have built-in window seats that make a perfect reading nook. If you don’t have a window seat, try building one under a window in an alcove or under a bay window or for a window. Or create a nook around any window by placing floor-to-ceiling bookshelves on either side of it and your window seat between them. Finish it off with a firm pillow and soft cushions, and you have the perfect reading hideaway.
Many people enjoy reading with natural light but find that the sun can sometimes shine too brightly or come in at the wrong angle. You can control the sunlight in your reading corner with internal shutters. Interior hatches have solid wood or faux wood panels with rows of louvres. You can swing up the louvre panels when you want full light or keep them closed and tilt up the louvres for partial light. You can even use the louvers to direct sunlight away from your book when it’s blinding. At night, just close everything for privacy while reading before bed.
Interior shutters are supplied custom-made, so they fit any window you want to read next to, from a large panoramic window to the many panes of a bay window. Their sturdy construction allows you to lean against them if you’re relaxing on a window seat. And their cordless design makes them a safer option for a child’s reading nook than corded blinds and window shades.
