by Laura Lee Winger

Created on: November 11, 2010

Like with any room, your furniture and décor for your personal library should reflect your style and preferences.  There are, however, some considerations and recommendations you can use to tailor the personal library to fit your needs.  Specifically, you want to make sure it is comfortable, well-lit, organized and motivating. 

The furniture choices for a personal library are all about comfort.  Style is important too, but when you plan on reading for long periods of time, style must take a back seat to functionality and comfort.  Avoid furniture with sharp edges or stiff structures, as these will be harder to get comfy in.  If you tend to get sleepy while reading, it is a good idea to look for furniture that does not recline or cause you to slouch too much, but rather supports a good reading angle.  You also want to look at what fabrics you prefer, since you will be spending a lot of time in the furniture. 

Light is key to being able to read comfortably.  Natural light, when available, is always the best.  If you are home during the day regularly, you may want to consider installing sky lights or solar tubes to bring more natural light into your personal library.  For the rest of us, nothing replaces a good reading lamp.  Gooseneck lamps or other task lights are good for reading because you can position them to shine directly on your reading material.  The source of light should be slightly behind your head, and there should be no extra light in your field of vision.  Even the choice of light bulbs is important to reduce eyestrain.  Regular incandescent bulbs are the best for reading. 

It is easy for a lot of people to get distracted while reading.  To encourage and maintain focus, it is best to have an organized, clutter-free personal library.  Personal libraries might seem like a great place to showcase all your collectibles from around the world, but they may cause a distraction, especially if they are in your line of sight while you read.  To reduce this effect, choose only a few symbolic items, or put up more shelving around the room so there isn't clutter in one specific location.  Organization not only applies to things, it can apply to your thoughts as well.  Having a small whiteboard in your personal library can help you organize your big thoughts, like what books you want to read next, what ideas you want to research, etc.  You also want to have a small side table near where you plan to do your reading, with a pad and pen to jot down notes that come to you while you're reading, either related to what you're reading or what is distracting you from reading (like, "I have to remember to get milk at the grocery store tomorrow"), a drink and maybe some small snacks. 

Finally, a personal library should be, well, personal.  It should incorporate what inspires you.  Framed quotes, pictures from your travels, or objects you've picked up that just give you a sense of pleasure are all good to use in your décor.  Pictures drawn by your kids can find their place in your personal library, maybe on a magnetic board or clothes-pinned to a string to change them out easily.  They key here is to decorate it with colors that make you happy, and items that inspire you, but not to let it get too cluttered or overwhelming. 

With these tips on what to think about and consider, your personal library can be comfortable, motivating and conducive to reading and learning.

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