Guides
Creating a reading room or library
A reading room is shelving, light and quiet in one space. The renovation starts with where the books go.
A reading room or home library is usually made from a spare bedroom, a landing or a corner of a larger room. The essentials are shelving that actually holds the books, a comfortable seat with good light, and enough quiet to concentrate. The layout follows from how many books there are and how the room is used.
Room guides follow one space from how it should work when finished back to the hidden work that makes that possible.
Books are heavy, so the shelving has to be fixed to hold the load, and the room needs light that reaches the page without glare. In a Dubai home the room also needs cooling that does not dry out the books or blow straight at the reading chair.
What matters most on this page
Shelving that holds the load
Books are heavy; the shelves are fixed to the wall and sized to the collection.
Light for reading
A reading light at the chair, plus background light, without glare on the page.
Quiet and calm
A room away from the busiest part of the house, with soft surfaces that absorb sound.
What a library room includes
Shelving
Fixed shelving sized to the books, with enough depth for larger volumes.
Seating and light
A comfortable chair with a reading light, and background lighting for the room.
Sound and cooling
Soft finishes to quiet the room, and cooling that does not blow at the seat.
Before planning the library
Count the books
The running length of shelving follows from the collection.
Choose the room
The quietest room, or the corner of the house that can be made quiet.
Fix the reading seat
Where the chair goes decides the light and the cooling.
Putting it into practice
Measure the running length of the books and add room to grow, then plan shelving to hold the weight and the larger volumes. Put the reading chair where the light is good without glare, add a reading light on its own switch, and choose a room that is quiet or can be made quiet. Keep cooling away from the chair and the shelves.
Common mistakes
Shelving that will not hold
Books are heavy, and shelving fixed to plasterboard only will sag or pull out. Fix to the wall and size the depth to the books.
Glare at the reading chair
A light that glares on the page makes reading uncomfortable. Put the reading light to the side and slightly behind the shoulder.
Questions we are often asked
How much shelving do books need?
Measure the running length of your books and add room to grow. Shelving is usually planned from that length, not from the wall space.
Can a landing become a library?
Yes, a wide landing or corridor can take shelving along one wall, and it often becomes the quiet reading spot the house was missing.
Does the cooling matter for books?
Yes. Books keep in a stable, dry room, so cooling that does not blow directly at the shelves or the chair keeps both the books and the reader comfortable.
Related guides
- Storage utility roomAnother room that is often planned at the same time.
- Living room renovationAnother room that is often planned at the same time.
- Master bedroom renovationAnother room that is often planned at the same time.
- Matt vs polished floor tilesA choice you will face while specifying this room.
Start from villa renovation or apartment renovation, browse the guides, or see all renovation and fit-out services. We work on homes and commercial premises across Dubai.
Tell us about the property
Tell us the room, how it is used today and what you want it to become. A few photographs and rough measurements are enough to start.
Phone
+971 58 846 4007Good for talking a job through and arranging a visit.
WhatsApp
Send a messageUseful for photographs, floor plans and measurements.
Next step
Plan a reading room around your books
Tell us how many books and which room. We will plan the shelving, the reading light and the quiet.