Even in the digital age, most of us still have cabinets, bookshelves, and closets filled with books! Home libraries are the perfect way to showcase your favorite volumes, but also add an interesting design element to your home. Libraries don’t have to be in a room exclusively for books, you can create a home library in any space in your home. The 3 essentials to include when designing your home library include storage, seating and lighting. Here are a few library looks to inspire you…..
Library Storage
Without a doubt, the first essential requirement of creating your custom home library is storage. Built in bookcases are the perfect place to store and display your books and collectables. It’s especially nice if they have adjustable shelving and cabinets for extra storage.
Floor to Ceiling Shelves
These books are beautifully organized on the shelves by size and color and the ladder provides easy access to the top of the bookcases.
Modern White Shelving
Bookshelves are not only a place for storage, but they can also creatively tell the story of you. Layering your bookshelves with decorative items, collectables and art will create interest and depth to you home library. You can find inspiration and directions for styling your bookcases in our post Our Top 5 Tips For Styling a Bookcase.
Classic Wood Shelves
Bookcases in a dark wood will fit into your traditionally styled home and create an elegant space for reading and conversation.
Take a Seat
Depending on the size of your home library room, multiple seating options are available. Your seating may be something as simple as a chaise lounge or cozy window seat to a room filled with furniture.
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Let there be Light
When designing your custom library, lighting is key. You will need a combination of lighting to create the atmosphere you want. You can create a soft, relaxing look for the entire room, and use lighting to highlight bookshelves, collectables and the all important task of reading. Consider these 4 types of lighting when making your selections: natural, ambient, accent and task.
Natural Light
Natural light tends to move, and can be especially brighter or dimmer, depending on the time of year. Northern light provides a more steady cast of light into a space. Other forms of natural light are candle light and firelight.
Ambient Lighting
Ambient lighting washes a room with a glow, much like a fireplace on a cold winter evening – but an ambient light source can also come from a wall mounted fixture, such as a sconce. For an assortment of ambient lighting, visit RalphLaurenHome.com – Lighting.
Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is lighting used to highlight an architectural element, art, or in this case, books in a library. Accent lighting is used to draw attention to the object or area. This technique is also known as grazing. For a sophisticated look, accent lighting can also be used within the millwork of your bookshelves. Find these hidden accent lights for your library shelf, refer to PhantomLighting.com.
Task Light
By far, in a library, the most important lighting source is lighting needed for the task of reading. Task lighting can come from a floor lamp set next to a club chair, lamps set on a sofa or end tables and swing arm lamps. A swing arm lamp is an excellent light source for task lighting because you can pivot, swing, and adjust the light source where you need it, and avoid glare. For a beautiful assortment of light fixture options, be sure to visit ArteriorsHome.com – Lighting.
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