Decor Portfolio

What luxury – a room dedicated to quiet contemplation, to academic pursuits, to more pleasure!  Even in these days of information technology, the book remains our vital link with history and other worlds, and whereas books are considered our ‘friends’, it is rare indeed to ear of anyone having a similar relationship with a personal computer.  Although a library may be considered a workroom where serious research, study and perhaps writing are carried out, the title ‘library’ also conjures up a picture of an altogether more pleasurable space: warm and welcoming, a comfortable cocoon in which to while away the hours.
Your choice of color scheme can do much to contribute to this feeling of cosseting. The selection of traditional, deep, jewel colors, – ruby, sapphire and emerald – or warm earth tones – terracotta, sand, clay and volcanic rock – will give your room an intimate feeling as well as suggesting security and tradition.  Lining the walls, the books themselves may well provide the starting point to inspire your scheme. By echoing the colors of the book spines you will give your room a cohesive feel and you will create the illusion that the books are part of the structure of your room.  The books themselves will provide plenty of interest, so you may opt to forgo strong patterns that may fight for your attention and distract from the ‘stars’ of the room.  Instead you may like to concentrate on incorporating an interesting variety of textures.  Imagine your shiny book spines against a background of dark green felt walls; rough natural sea grass flooring is underfoot, green-and-red plaid, heavy linen curtains grace the window worn, glossy, red leather chairs stand in an inviting group.  A log fire blazing brightly in the grate completes the picture.
Lighting can so easily enhance or spoil this wonderful ambience that you have gone to such trouble to create. The central pendant light is to be avoided – it will flatten all the textures and you will lose all feeling of intimacy. Instead choose several individual lights positioned in the lower portion of the room – table lamps, desk lamps, standard lamps – all these fittings will create polls of light that will impart a warm feeling.  It is also important for the shelves to be well lit so that books can be located, removed and examined on the spot.  Ceiling-fixed recessed wall washers will bathe the shelves in light or, as an alternative, you might consider library lights fixed to the uprights of the shelving units themselves.  Strip lights behind baffles, fixed within the bookcase will highlight attractive books but are to be avoided if the bookcase is antique as the routing of wiring is likely to cause damage.
Of the furnishings in your library, a comfortable chair is paramount.  This could be upholstered in either fabric or leather and needs to provide arm rests at a good height for reading comfortably.  A high-backed chair (such as a wing chair) is wonderful for resting the head and for shielding the occupant from draughts.  Positioned near a window, it will have the benefits of good natural light for reading and perhaps a pleasant view for idle moments.  A footrest will ensure perfect relaxation.  It is also useful to include a desk and a more upright chair (possibly on castors) in your furniture arrangement.  Other items that might be added include library steps to reach high-up books, a side table by your favorite chair to hold a lamp and possibly a drink, a coffee table to display decorative books and a magazine rack for current periodicals.
There are numerous methods of storing books and much will depend upon the layout and size of your room.  By locating shelves around the perimeter of the room (not forgetting the dead area above the doorways) you will maximize the space, but in a larger room bookcases can be utilized to divide the space into different zones for varying activities.  When planning storage, remember that books come in all shapes and sizes, so allow for some extra-deep/tall spaces.  For a more decorative look include ornaments on some shelves.
What style or theme could you choose for your library? Most popular is the ‘gentlemen’s club’ look – lots of antique or reproduction furniture, club fenders before an open fire, leather upholstery with brass nailing, heavy velvet curtains and rich dark colors.  Victorian style includes many of these elements and would be a most suitable theme, especially if your house is of the period.  But there is no reason why a more modern style could not be adapted for this room.  Lighter colors, streamlines shelving and modern light fittings could give your library a totally different yet no less attractive appearance.