8 Bedroom Reading Corners That Fit Beside the Bed
On this page10 sections
Reading in bed sounds lovely until you try it for an hour. Your neck aches against the headboard, the pillow keeps slipping, and your partner wants the light off. A small chair beside the bed, with a good lamp and somewhere to put a cup of tea, changes that. It gives you a place to read that is still in the bedroom, still quiet, but not in the bed itself.
Most bedrooms do not have room for a big armchair and an ottoman. The good news is that a reading corner can be small. A narrow chair, a slim lamp, and a tiny table can fit in the gap between the bed and the wall or window. The eight ideas below show how to find that space and make it comfortable. If your bedroom is tight overall, the small bedroom that feels bigger post has more space-saving ideas.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
1. Find the gap first
Before buying a chair, find the space. The most common spots for a bedroom reading corner are beside the bed on the side away from the door, in the corner by a window, or at the foot of the bed facing the window. Measure the gap: width, depth, and the clearance needed to walk past.
A small bedroom chair needs a footprint of about 24 by 28 inches. Add another 10 inches for a side table or lamp. If the gap is 34 inches wide or more, you can fit a compact reading corner. If it is less, look at the wall-mounted lamp and floor cushion ideas below.
Look at the light too. A corner near a window gives you daylight for weekend mornings. A corner away from the window will rely on a lamp, which is fine for evening reading but less pleasant on a gray afternoon. If you have a choice, pick the spot by the window.
Check for outlets. A reading lamp needs power, and a cord stretched across the floor to the far wall is a trip hazard in a dark bedroom.
Keep at least 24 inches of walking space between the chair and the bed or dresser. In a bedroom, paths are used in the dark, so a chair that sticks out is a stubbed toe waiting to happen.
2. A slipper chair
A slipper chair is armless, with a low seat and a fairly upright back. It takes less width than an armchair and suits small bedrooms beautifully. Without arms, you can curl up sideways with your legs tucked, which is how many people actually like to read.
Choose a slipper chair with a seat about 17 to 18 inches high and a back that supports your shoulders. Upholstered in linen, velvet, or a soft cotton, it adds texture and a little color to the room.
Angle it slightly toward the window or the bed, rather than pushing it flat against the wall. The angle makes the corner feel more inviting and helps the light fall over your shoulder.
3. The right reading lamp
A reading lamp in a bedroom needs to do one thing well: put light on the page without lighting up the whole room. A floor lamp with an adjustable arm, or a slim lamp with a directional shade, is ideal. Position it behind and slightly to the side of the chair, so light comes over your shoulder onto the book.
Use a warm bulb, around 2700K, for evening reading. It is easier on the eyes and helps you wind down for sleep. A dimmer or a lamp with brightness settings lets you adjust it as the evening goes on.
If floor space is tight, a wall-mounted swing-arm lamp is even better. It takes no floor at all. Plug-in versions need no wiring. Run the cord in a paintable cover down the wall to the outlet, and it nearly disappears.
Get the look
4. A tiny side table
Every reading corner needs somewhere to put a cup, a phone, and the book when you stop. In a small bedroom, choose a tiny side table: a C-shaped table that slides over the chair arm or seat edge, a slim round pedestal table, or a small stool.
A C-table is especially useful, because it slides close to you and takes almost no extra floor. A stool can double as a footrest.
Whatever table you choose, make it stable. A tippy table with a hot drink on it beside a chair is a spill waiting to happen. A weighted base or three-legged design stays steady on carpet and rugs. Keep the top at about the height of the chair seat or slightly higher, so you can reach it without leaning.
If you share the bedroom, the table is also a good place for a small tray that holds glasses, a bookmark, and a pen. Everything you need stays in one place and does not migrate to the nightstands.
Get the look
5. A cozy corner bedroom window seat
If there is a window in the corner, a window seat makes a perfect reading spot. You do not need to build anything. A long bench or a deep upholstered ottoman under the window, with a cushion and pillows against the wall, works almost as well.
Daylight is the best reading light there is, and a window seat gets plenty of it. Add a small lamp nearby for evenings.
If you rent, a freestanding bench is easier than anything built in. Choose one with storage underneath for blankets or spare pillows, and you get a reading spot and a closet in one piece. Measure the window width and choose a bench that fills most of it, leaving a few inches on each side so curtains can still close.
In winter, windows can be cold. A thick cushion and a heavy curtain you can pull behind you keep the window seat cozy.
Get the look
6. A floor cushion corner
When there is no room for a chair at all, a large floor cushion or a pouf against the wall makes a reading nook. Add a wall-mounted lamp above and a small basket for books. It suits children’s rooms, teenage rooms, and anyone who likes to sit low.
Choose a firm, thick floor cushion, so you are not sitting on the floor through it. A cushion with a removable cover is easy to wash.
Put a small rug or sheepskin under the cushion to define the corner and add warmth. Lean a couple of firm pillows against the wall for back support. It is not a chair, but for a child or a flexible adult, it can be just as comfortable for an hour of reading.
7. A small shelf for the current pile
A reading corner looks and works better with a small shelf for the books you are reading now. A single floating shelf above the chair, or a narrow bookcase beside it, keeps the pile tidy. Do not use it for your whole library. Five to ten books is enough.
Picture ledges work well here, because they let you display books face out, which makes it easy to choose the next one.
Rotate the pile as you finish books. Return finished ones to the main bookshelf elsewhere in the house, and bring new ones in. The reading corner stays fresh and never becomes a second storage shelf.
8. Soft layers to finish
The final touches make a reading corner cozy: a soft throw over the chair, a small rug underfoot, and maybe a plant on the windowsill. These layers make you want to sit down and stay.
Keep the colors calm, in line with the rest of the bedroom. A reading corner should feel like a restful part of the room, not a separate space.
A small rug under the chair defines the corner and keeps feet warm. It does not need to be large; a 2x3 or 3x5 rug is enough. Choose wool or a thick cotton, so it feels soft on bare feet first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
A plant on the windowsill or a small vase of flowers on the table adds life to the corner. Choose something easy, like a pothos or a small snake plant, so it thrives even if you forget to water it for a week.
Tips Before You Start
- Measure the gap beside the bed before buying a chair.
- Keep 24 inches of walking space clear.
- Choose an armless chair for narrow spaces.
- Put the lamp behind and to the side of the chair.
- Use a C-table or stool to save floor.
- Keep the book pile small.
FAQ
What is the best chair for a small bedroom reading corner?
A slipper chair or a compact armless chair with a supportive back. It takes less width than an armchair.
Where should a reading lamp go?
Behind and slightly to the side of the chair, so light falls over your shoulder onto the page.
Can I make a reading corner without a chair?
Yes. A floor cushion, a window seat, or a bench works. The one-closet bedroom storage post can help you clear space.
What color should a reading corner be?
The same calm palette as the rest of the bedroom. The calm bedroom paint colors post has ideas.
How do I read in bed without disturbing my partner?
Move to the reading chair, or use a clip-on book light with a warm, narrow beam. A reading corner beside the bed gives you a nearby place to read without keeping the main light on.
A reading corner beside the bed is one of the nicest things a bedroom can have. Find the gap, choose a small chair and a good lamp, and you will have somewhere to read that is calm, quiet, and only a few steps from sleep.