Finally I Created a Cozy Reading Spot in a Room That Had No Extra Space

For years, the corner beside our living room mantel felt like a space I didn’t quite know what to do with. It wasn’t large enough for a piece of furniture, yet it wasn’t small enough to ignore. It sat there quietly. 

For a long time, I used it to hang narrow floating shelves for books and a few small houseplants, mostly because I didn’t know what else belonged there.

It looked charming at first, but the setup didn’t last. One afternoon, while the girls were playing nearby, a book slipped from the top shelf and fell straight down. It startled everyone, and even though my little one wasn’t hurt badly, it was enough to make me rethink the entire arrangement. 

I realized I needed something safer, warmer, and more thoughtful. That moment became the first nudge toward what would eventually turn into my favorite reading spot.

For months I thought I didn’t have extra space for a reading corner. I imagined cozy nooks only existed in bigger homes with guest rooms, bay windows, or wide unused corners. 

But the more I looked at that awkward spot beside the mantel, the more I wondered if maybe the space I wanted was already right there.

Letting Go of the Old Setup and Starting Fresh

The shelves came down first. Once they were removed, the corner felt almost bare, but in a welcoming way. The empty wall, the clean floor, and the quietness of the space felt like a blank page. 

I sat on the rug one evening, watching the way afternoon light touched the wall, and suddenly the idea became clearer: this could be a reading spot, not a storage space.

The goal was simple – a corner where I could sit for a few minutes each morning with my coffee or at night after everyone went to bed.

Choosing a Bean Bag Instead of a Chair

I wanted seating that felt soft and flexible, something that didn’t crowd the living room or add sharp edges. 

A traditional armchair would have made the space feel tight, so I chose a cream-colored bean bag with a slightly textured fabric that feels warm but not heavy. It molds perfectly to the body, and once I sat in it for the first time with a book in hand, I knew it was the right choice.

The girls now take turns borrowing it, and even Milo curls up beside it whenever he senses that someone is settling down to read.

A Small Side Table That Fits Just Right

Next to the bean bag, I added a small round table just large enough to hold a cup of tea or coffee. The table is about 14 inches wide and 22 inches tall, and the simple wooden top sits on three slender legs that give it a light, airy look. 

It doesn’t overpower the corner but gives me just enough room to keep what I need like a warm drink, a small notebook, and occasionally a plate of afternoon cookies the girls sneak to me.

Also, on the table stands a tall floor lamp with a soft linen shade. It gives off a warm glow that pools gently across the corner, making it feel like its own little world, even though it sits only a few feet from the main living area.

The Wooden Shelf That Changed Everything

The biggest change came when my husband, Daniel, surprised me with a wooden shelf he found at a small local shop. He knew I needed a safe place for my books – something low, steady, and stable enough for the girls to play around without worry.

The shelf is made of light oak wood, polished just enough to keep the grain visible. It stands 32 inches high, 28 inches wide, and has three open shelves that feel perfectly sized for my favorite novels, decorating books, and a few journals I keep nearby for notes.

The color blends beautifully with the rest of our living room, giving the corner a calm, natural feel. The shelf’s edges are rounded, something I appreciated more than I expected, and the legs are solid enough that the entire piece doesn’t wobble, even when the girls run past it during their games.

I stacked my books by size and added a small ceramic vase with a single faux flower stem on the top shelf.

This Small Corner Became My Daily Escape

When everything was finally in place, the whole corner shifted from an unused gap to a quiet retreat. It isn’t hidden away, but something about the way it sits beside the mantel makes it feel separated from the rest of the room, almost like stepping into a small pause in the day.

In the mornings, I sit with my coffee while the girls get ready for school. In the afternoons, I sometimes read just a few pages between chores. 

And in the evenings, after dinner and dishes and bedtime routines, I slip into the corner again, letting the warm lamp and the quiet of the room help me unwind.

Daniel laughs because he says he can always tell when I’ve been in the reading spot – the mug sitting neatly on the table, the bean bag shaped from where I sat, the faint scent of my tea still lingering.