Creating Cosy Reading Spaces: How To Have The Perfect Library Shed For Your Family
Need a fun and clever way to reduce your family’s screentime and create more memories together? Think about building a library shed to encourage your loved ones to read for pleasure. Library sheds are all the rage these days as these home reading spaces are going viral on social media, and content creators such as Jess Ciesla have earned a huge following on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook for their creative takes on their sheds. In an interview with Business Insider, Ciesla said that she wasn’t always a voracious reader, but she picked up the hobby after giving birth to her daughter. “It kind of took over,” she explains. “Reading became something that I really love to do.” Once the Virginia native ran out of room to store her books, she had the brilliant idea to create a library shed, and her husband was completely onboard with this plan.
Reading is the perfect pastime to boost your child’s concentration skills and it fosters a lifelong love for learning. Also, when done as a family, it can strengthen emotional bonds as you spend quality, distraction-free time together. Having a cosy and well-designed home library encourages reading as it creates a haven wherein books are valued and central to daily life, so here’s how to build and design the perfect library shed for you and your loved ones.
Build the Shed
If you’re confident in your DIY skills, do what Instagram user @amystinylibrary did and build your reading room from scratch. In a pinned post, the bookstagrammer said that she and her dad built the shed from the ground up from 2023 to 2024, and she curated every aspect of the shed by herself. The DIY project has gone viral as it has become a source of inspiration for many book lovers, and her followers can’t help but rave about the floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, gallery wall, and plush reading chair that are always featured in her posts.
Before building though, make sure that any structure built in your property satisfies all planning rules and building regulations in your area. Permitted development rights in the UK allow you to build additional structures without having to get special permission from planning authorities, but the shed or extensions need to comply with size and height restrictions. For instance, you have to make sure that the library shed’s floor area does not exceed 30 square metres and it should be at least one metre away from any boundary. Ideally, the shed shouldn’t take up more than 50 percent of your garden or backyard. You may also need to consult an expert, like a painter and decorator, for advice on selecting building and finishing materials. Doing so allows you to have a safe, durable, and aesthetically-pleasing reading space that will last for many years.
Start with a solid foundation, such as concrete slab, when building the shed, then assemble the floor frame, walls, and roof. Ensure proper insulation and moisture control to protect your books from humidity, which can cause mould growth. Add electricity and install a fan or an air conditioner unit to keep cool during the summer months.
Consider a Prefabricated Shed
For an easier way to build a dedicated reading space, think about getting a prefabricated shed and set it up in your backyard. It’s a quick and cost-effective way to have a library shed, and you can start using it immediately upon delivery. Although most prefab structures are already painted and weatherproofed, it’s likely that you’ll have to add the shelves yourself, so pick a prefabricated wooden shed kit since this is easier to customise and drill into for shelving. You may also want to pick a model with large, operable windows for ventilation and to let natural light in. Choose a shed that fits the size of your book collection, and see to it that it’s large enough to accommodate the whole family since there may be times when you’ll all want to read together.
Decorate and Personalise
The shed is up, the shelves are in place, and now, it’s time to decorate and personalise your reading room. Fill the shelves with your book collection, and add a few items like framed photos, small sculptures, and other meaningful objects. Next, incorporate comfortable seating for cosy reading sessions. Consider a big cushioned chair for yourself, then add a convertible chair bed for your children. You can also have some beanbags, but if your kids prefer to read on the floor, place a foam mat under a rug, then add a few floor pillows to make the space more comfy.
Install ambient lighting and focused task lighting, plus some string lights for a sense of whimsy and charm. You may also want to install hidden speakers so you can listen to soft music while you read. Finish by decorating the walls with some artwork or prints, then place a medium-sized potted plant in one corner of the shed to give the space a feeling of freshness.
Having a dedicated space for reading allows your family to have a special place for learning and relaxation. Build a library shed, and spend quality time with your loved ones as you explore fantastical realms and real-world destinations together without leaving your home.