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STEP ONE: Select the ideal location

Your reading nook needs to be a place where you, or another family member, can temporarily disappear from the rest of your home to chill with a book in comfort and solitude. Few things are more irritating than being engrossed in an enjoyable book, only to be repeatedly interrupted by other people or house activities.
Turn your eye toward the corner of a guest room or study, or even the end of a seldom-used hallway.
You may want to find a spot with a large window framing a good view. Or you may prefer a darker area so that you can cuddle up with a book like a bear in a cave. It all depends on how you like to read.
Once you have found the best place, create your space.

STEP TWO: Find the perfect chair

Comfort is essential. The best chair depends on how you like to read. You may prefer a daybed, a recliner, a window seat, a wing-back chair with an ottoman, or a rocking chair.
There is no wrong choice. Just be sure that whatever you select is best for you. Your reading nook is not the place for that extra chair you stuck in the garage.
If you don’t already have a favorite chair, invest in one, so you can create the ideal space to enjoy your next book!

STEP THREE: Accommodate the extras

If you prefer reading physical books, you should include bookshelf space in your nook. A tall shelf provides easy access to all your favorites, but a shorter version delivers a convenient surface to hold the book you are currently reading.
If you prefer reading on an electronic device, include a place to store and use your charging cables. You may also want to include a stand to hold your tablet at eye level and keep your hands free.
No matter which platform you prefer, the most enjoyable reading nooks also have space for a drink (water, iced tea, a cup of coffee, hot tea, or cocoa) and enough surface space for a snack. (After all, reading and relaxing is often improved by snacking!)

STEP FOUR: Let there be light

If there’s enough surface space beside your chair, you may want to use a table lamp. Otherwise, consider a floor lamp.
If your nook is tiny, a sconce or an adjustable wall-mounted lamp can keep your reading material illuminated.
Whatever you choose, be sure your light source can be positioned so you can read without eye strain. Your reading nook should be all about comfort!

STEP FIVE: Involve all the senses

If you want the ultimate reading nook, make it a delight for all your senses.
Add a cozy rug and a throw that’s a joy to touch.
Make sure the colors and textures are pleasing to the eye.
Add essential oils or a vase of fresh flowers that smell amazing.
Create a reading playlist and let your favorite instrumental sounds waft through your space.
Sip herbal tea or enjoy another flavorful treat.
Sink into the experience and let yourself cozy up and revel in the luxury of this out of the way nook where you can hide from the world and explore new literary ones. Enjoy!

Chady Melhem | Property Consultant

Call me for any advice you may need!

1. White Towels and Wood

Invest in several uber-thick, over-sized white bath towels and washcloths, plus a cushy white terrycloth robe to wrap yourself in. Nothing says “spa” like luxurious all-white robes and towels.
Heat your towels while you soak. If you don’t have a heated towel rack, try tucking a hot water bottle into the folds and stacking the towels on a wooden stool, placed inches away from the tub for fingertip access. Imagine how good the warm towels will feel against your skin.
In addition to a wooden stool, add a bamboo mat, to improve the spa vibe and avoid soggy rugs.

2. Scented Delights

The spa experience isn’t just for your skin. Delight your nose with bath salts, bath oil, calming essential oil diffuses, or candles in your bathroom. Be sure to select safe,nontoxic candle options.
Consider flowers or an aromatic green plant (eucalyptus, rosemary, cotton lavender, lemon verbena, or chocolate mint). The more senses you involve, the more effective the spa experience will be.

3. Go Natural with Colors and Textures

Take your cues from nature when selecting colors and accessories. Paint the walls soft shades of gray, brown, blue, or green. Add a wooden bowl filled with smooth round rocks that beg to be touched, a large quartz crystal, a simple vase of flowering tree branches, or an orchid.

4. A Luxury Shower

If you have the money and inclination, consider creating a walk-in shower that uses earth tone tiles and includes a glass half-wall or a frame-less glass door to expand the visual size of the shower. Install an overhead rainfall shower-head and a hand-held shower with a massage head.
If you can’t do a complete shower overhaul, there are other ways to move toward a spa-like experience. Start by hanging a high quality, heavy white shower curtain. To step up your spa game, trade an old or basic shower-head for something more exclusive.

5. Legendary Lighting

Bright white lights have no place in a spa. They are too harsh. You need relaxing, “mood lighting.” Install dimmers to your bathroom light switches or improvise with a low-wattage bulb in a lamp. Try draping a cloth over the shade to dampen the light further.
Candles are an instant and portable option that can be placed on your sink or even around your tub! If your bathroom is large enough, try threading a string of white lights through a ficus tree, which can light up a corner and add a soft glow to the whole room.

6. No Clutter, Easy Access

Bathrooms are notorious collection spots for personal care products and related accessories. Clear the clutter from all your surfaces and place the products you need for your spa experience in a wooden bowl, a basket, or a bamboo tub tray. Clutter has been shown to cause stress, and your spa should be a stress-free zone!

7. Tasty Treats

Be sure to offer your sense of taste something delightful to enjoy during your spa experience. Options include a mug (or china cup and saucer) of herbal tea, ice-cold seltzer water with a fruit garnish, a square of dark chocolate, or a glass of wine. Sip, nibble, and soak!

8. Music, Of Course!

No spa experience would be complete without soft, relaxing, meditative music. You can pipe in a full-blown music system to fill your bathroom and bathe yourself in sound.
Or, rely on your phone and use a small, waterproof Bluetooth speaker to bring your music next to the tub, while keeping your phone a safe distance from the water. Create your own spa playlist or try a meditation music app.

Look for ways to envelop all of your senses in a private spa experience. Just be sure to put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the bathroom door and inform everyone else in the house that you are officially off call!

Chady Melhem | Property Consultant

Call me for any advice you may need!