Decorating
Spotted! Booker Prize-Worthy Reading Spaces
It's Booker Prize time, and in celebration of all things bookish, we explore Houzz's most breathtaking reading spaces
Book lovers rejoice – the Man Booker Prize’s 2017 longlist was released a few days ago, and so the frenzy begins to read everything on the 13-strong list. The prestigious British literary prize is one that bibliophiles worldwide have come to love. It was launched in 1969 and aims to promote the finest in literary fiction by rewarding the best novel of the year written in English and published in the United Kingdom. This year’s longlist is led by author Arundhati Roy, whose novel The Ministry of Utmost Happiness marks a return to fiction 20 years after she won the coveted prize for her first novel, The God of Small Things.
In celebration of this special bookish moment, we bring you some of our favourite reading spaces on Houzz.
In celebration of this special bookish moment, we bring you some of our favourite reading spaces on Houzz.
Take in the view
A built-in window seat in the extension of a 1920s clapboard house in Ballarat is the perfect spot to enjoy a good book while soaking up the sun’s rays.
A built-in window seat in the extension of a 1920s clapboard house in Ballarat is the perfect spot to enjoy a good book while soaking up the sun’s rays.
Blurred lines
Can’t decide whether to sit inside or out? Do both! The generous window seat in this Sydney family home makes for an enticing reading spot, and promises to keep you connected to those in both the kitchen and garden.
Can’t decide whether to sit inside or out? Do both! The generous window seat in this Sydney family home makes for an enticing reading spot, and promises to keep you connected to those in both the kitchen and garden.
Space-savvy storage
A double-height library wall, with a dedicated stairway to ensure books are easily accessible – this is a book collector’s idea of bliss.
How to host a book club in style
A double-height library wall, with a dedicated stairway to ensure books are easily accessible – this is a book collector’s idea of bliss.
How to host a book club in style
Colour me happy
Beautifully designed book storage, a comfy sofa and pops of cheery brights make for a delightful reading spot in this Perth family home.
Beautifully designed book storage, a comfy sofa and pops of cheery brights make for a delightful reading spot in this Perth family home.
A bijou reading nook
Because how better to recharge the batteries after a morning’s work than a few minutes with a book on this dreamy little daybed? The soft greys and whites add to the serene vibe.
Because how better to recharge the batteries after a morning’s work than a few minutes with a book on this dreamy little daybed? The soft greys and whites add to the serene vibe.
Visual harmony
There’s something undeniably soothing about the ordered, symmetrical arrangement in this London home, where a sturdy built-in bookshelf runs either side of a doorway and all the way above it. A ladder propped at one end makes it easy to reach volumes stored up high.
There’s something undeniably soothing about the ordered, symmetrical arrangement in this London home, where a sturdy built-in bookshelf runs either side of a doorway and all the way above it. A ladder propped at one end makes it easy to reach volumes stored up high.
A soft, filtered view
Losing yourself in a good book would be easy here, with its deep, cocooning colour scheme and tranquil water views.
Losing yourself in a good book would be easy here, with its deep, cocooning colour scheme and tranquil water views.
Go floor to ceiling
Who needs to hang a piece of art on the wall when a vast selection of books can do all the decorative heavy lifting for you? A floor-to-ceiling library is the main source of colour and interest in this minimalist London home, drawing the eye and revealing much about its architect-owner’s passions.
Who needs to hang a piece of art on the wall when a vast selection of books can do all the decorative heavy lifting for you? A floor-to-ceiling library is the main source of colour and interest in this minimalist London home, drawing the eye and revealing much about its architect-owner’s passions.
A culinary feast
A long bank of built-in storage beneath the island unit in this Perth kitchen gives the owners more than just space for a few cookbooks – think collections of magazines and perhaps even the odd best-seller. A tempting distraction for anyone who has cooking on the mind.
Browse kitchen photos
A long bank of built-in storage beneath the island unit in this Perth kitchen gives the owners more than just space for a few cookbooks – think collections of magazines and perhaps even the odd best-seller. A tempting distraction for anyone who has cooking on the mind.
Browse kitchen photos
Carve out a private space
This little reading nook built into a bank of cupboards is a unique spot for pint-sized bookworms. It’s low enough for little legs to be able to clamber up on to, and there’s even a little window cut into the wall next to the fish tank for a spot of aquatic viewing.
This little reading nook built into a bank of cupboards is a unique spot for pint-sized bookworms. It’s low enough for little legs to be able to clamber up on to, and there’s even a little window cut into the wall next to the fish tank for a spot of aquatic viewing.
Bedtime stories
You’ll never be stuck for something to read before you nod off in this Boston, USA bedroom.
You’ll never be stuck for something to read before you nod off in this Boston, USA bedroom.
Natural appeal
A window seat overlooking the trees, warm timber joinery and dramatic black accents… what’s not to love?
A window seat overlooking the trees, warm timber joinery and dramatic black accents… what’s not to love?
Curves in all the right places
A dramatic curved bookcase with a staircase inside it makes for a dramatic, and rather space-age, feature in this contemporary Portland, USA home.
A dramatic curved bookcase with a staircase inside it makes for a dramatic, and rather space-age, feature in this contemporary Portland, USA home.
Scene stealer
If you’re going to do colour-blocking, you may as well do it well. The owners of this Toronto, Canada home have cleverly limited their books to bold brights (it helps when you have a vast collection of Penguin originals with their distinctive orange covers), and painted the bookcases in a low-key blue-grey, so there’s no mistaking the stars of the show.
If you’re going to do colour-blocking, you may as well do it well. The owners of this Toronto, Canada home have cleverly limited their books to bold brights (it helps when you have a vast collection of Penguin originals with their distinctive orange covers), and painted the bookcases in a low-key blue-grey, so there’s no mistaking the stars of the show.
Creative thinking
Do you and your loved one enjoy nothing more than reading together by the fire? A recessed fireplace with cushioned, built-in seating, as seen in this period Sydney home, is sure to appeal.
Do you and your loved one enjoy nothing more than reading together by the fire? A recessed fireplace with cushioned, built-in seating, as seen in this period Sydney home, is sure to appeal.
Simple and striking
A stunning feature wall in timber veneer, a recessed bookshelf and soft seating – this reading nook in a San Francisco, USA home manages to strike the perfect balance between cosy and minimalist.
Read about 10 quiet reading spots
A stunning feature wall in timber veneer, a recessed bookshelf and soft seating – this reading nook in a San Francisco, USA home manages to strike the perfect balance between cosy and minimalist.
Read about 10 quiet reading spots
Inspiring young bookworms
How better to entice your little ones into the wonderful world of reading than a floor-to-ceiling library-style book display, as seen in this Notting Hill, UK family home. A pair of brightly coloured Panton Junior chairs completes the look.
How better to entice your little ones into the wonderful world of reading than a floor-to-ceiling library-style book display, as seen in this Notting Hill, UK family home. A pair of brightly coloured Panton Junior chairs completes the look.
Take it outside
A cool breeze, a view across the greenery and a comfortable (Jardan’s Seb) chair… all you need is a glass of wine and a good book to set yourself up for an idyllic afternoon of reading on the verandah of this early 1900s Brisbane worker’s cottage.
A cool breeze, a view across the greenery and a comfortable (Jardan’s Seb) chair… all you need is a glass of wine and a good book to set yourself up for an idyllic afternoon of reading on the verandah of this early 1900s Brisbane worker’s cottage.
A cosy set-up
Layering up different patterns and textures, while sticking to a predominantly simple palette of black and white with splashes of paintbox brights, creates a cosy and inviting reading spot in this Brisbane home.
Layering up different patterns and textures, while sticking to a predominantly simple palette of black and white with splashes of paintbox brights, creates a cosy and inviting reading spot in this Brisbane home.
Warm tootsies
A built-in seat next to the fire paired with an earthy colour palette and intriguing textures makes a dreamy spot for any bibliophile to curl up in.
A built-in seat next to the fire paired with an earthy colour palette and intriguing textures makes a dreamy spot for any bibliophile to curl up in.
A novel idea
In a busy family home, the bathroom is sometimes the only spot where you can find a little peace and quiet to enjoy your latest read. The owners of this tiny London, UK home have clearly cottoned onto this fact, setting up a fully fledged mini library in their powder room. Ingenious!
In a busy family home, the bathroom is sometimes the only spot where you can find a little peace and quiet to enjoy your latest read. The owners of this tiny London, UK home have clearly cottoned onto this fact, setting up a fully fledged mini library in their powder room. Ingenious!
Tell us
Have you got a favourite reading spot? Tell us about it in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like it, bookmark it or share it. Join the conversation.
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Have you got a favourite reading spot? Tell us about it in the Comments below. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like it, bookmark it or share it. Join the conversation.
More
Read more lifestyle stories
Softly moving from palest blue through to deep eggplant, blush and burgundy… this artistic book arrangement is hard to resist, whether you’re a fan of colour blocking or not.