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Thursday, May 29, 2008

How To-29: "How to Make a Reading Nook in Your Room"


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Reading has always been an important part of learning and an enjoyable pastime. Reading nooks provide comfortable, quiet places to retreat to and curl up with a good book. They aren't just for reading, either. A nook is great for talking on the phone, drawing, and listening to music. Almost anything you like to have a peaceful spot for doing you can do in your very own reading nook.

Steps


  1. Find a good spot for your nook, such as a corner, alcove, or even a place in a closet. You may find it necessary to rearrange your bedroom furniture. Doing so will open up spaces that are good potential nooks. Pick a spot that's as quiet as possible. You do not want a lot of loud noises, such as a radio or street traffic, to disturb your peaceful little getaway.
  2. Pull up a seat. A good chair is very important. Decide what kind of chair you want. Do you want a big fluffy chair that swallows you up? Do you want a chair that you can curl up in sideways? Do you prefer a bunch of pillows on the floor instead? Or do you like to sprawl across a long seat that buoys you up as if bobbing on a salty sea?
  3. Get a table or nightstand for your nook. This will help keep it organized and give you a place to set a glass of water or hold your book when you're away. It is also helpful to include a little holder for pencils and a small notepad, for those moments of inspiration that may hit as you read.
  4. Lighten things up. A simple lamp will do, as long as it is adjustable. Another option is to buy a desk lamp. You do not want anything too bright, but having a light that is too dim will make it that much harder to see the print. For daytime reading, nothing beats glorious daylight but if it is too bright, pull across the curtains or some other barrier which can prevent the direct sunlight from beaming onto your reading matter and sending you into a snoozy daydream.
  5. Make it comfortable. The most important part of a reading nook is comfort. It must be something that appeals to you and encourages you to curl up in it time after time. Think of softness and textures that delight you. Surround yourself with the things that make you the most comfortable, such as a plushy throw or soft pillows. Use colors, patterns and textures that make you feel safe and warm. Do not use anything that you do not like or gives you an unsettling feeling.
  6. Seclude the reading nook from other parts of the room if possible. This can be as simple as putting a low dresser perpendicular to one wall to give the impression of division, or it can be as complicated as hanging curtains around the nook. The division will give you a sense of ownership of the nook and keep others from invading your private space.
  7. Have a small-size room and you have no idea where to put such a nook, or you just put this down as hopeless? Don't! If you don't have a lot of room, experiment with moving around your furniture. Once you get into the world of a book usually you don't mind the space. a little corner you can curl up into is great. No room for a chair? Then get a huge pillow, or a bunch of normal sized ones!
  8. Feel free to improvise to accommodate your space and your needs. Have fun using your imagination to create new ideas. Enjoy your nook!


Tips


  • Comfortable chairs and nightstands can be purchased very cheaply from Goodwill or another used goods store. Large, oversized chairs are very nice for reading purposes. You usually can buy cheap oversized pillows at the same sorts of places.
  • don't forget to keep a few bookmarks with you.
  • use cool colours like blue and green for cushions they help in keeping a quiet mood.


Warnings


  • Don't make your nook near the TV or an area subject to high levels of pedestrian traffic - you'll never get any peace!
  • Let others know that when you're in your reading nook, they're not welcome to interrupt until you've finished. This is your space; don't let others invade it.
  • Put a sign on the door of the room your nook is in saying ' DO NOT COME IN!'


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