Recently, reading nooks have emerged as a popular interiors trend, captivating interior design enthusiasts, homeowners and even social media influencers. Just as we saw with home offices, the demand for cosy spaces to curl up with a book is rapidly rising. Luxury bedroom retailer Feather & Black have been inspired to conduct a study via OnePoll to understand the appeal of reading nooks and how people use books in their interior design.
A study of 2,000 respondents revealed that one in ten use books for decorating and aesthetic purposes, which increases to almost one in five for the 25-34 age bracket (18%) and 14% for 18-24-year-olds. This trend is most likely inspired by the growing popularity of reading among younger generations, the rising bookshelf wealth trend and expanding ‘BookTok’ communities.
It was also revealed that nearly one in ten (8%) plan to invest in a reading nook soon. Younger generations are also more likely to be swayed by this interior trend, with 24% of 24-34-year-olds and 16% of 18-24-year-olds planning to create a reading nook.
As to why people are using literature in interior design, one in three (31%) said they use books to reflect their personality and taste. 28% of people think that books add much-needed texture and colour, while 14% believe having books on display makes them appear more intelligent. One in ten (10%) people admitted they use books as part of the latest fascination with old money aesthetics, as a way to elevate their decor.
When it comes to the most popular place to cosy up with a book, 62% of people claim they prefer to read in bed, with Gen Z (18-24-year-olds) being the most likely to indulge in this habit (76%). The sofa (44%) was named the second most popular spot to read on by bookworms, while one in three (29%) prefer reading in a cosy chair.Feather & Black luxury bedroom expert Steve Payne said: ‘’It’s refreshing to see that reading is coming back into fashion, especially among younger generations – and it’s pleasantly surprising that this trend has manifested itself in interior design. There is something so timeless and sophisticated about being surrounded by books. The results also highlighted that beds and bedrooms are also serving as reading nooks for people, emphasising the importance of creating a tranquil sanctuary in your bedroom where you can spend cosy evenings curled up with your favourite book.’’
