Reading Chair. Bookcase. Drawing easel. My own little space to do with as I please! Help!

[NiceWineDow]

Hello

I have the opportunity to create a small space for myself in my living room, which is L shaped.

It's not big, the floor space is about the size of a double mattress.

I have a love of books and a love of art. All my books have been in storage for about g years. I'm dying to get a bookcase and get them on display.

I have just started to get into drawing and painting, after a 20 year hiatus. I'd like to incorporate this into my space, if I have enough space that is.

Just wondering if anyone had any bright ideas so that I use the space well. I like the idea of an old rustic bookcase and a lovely comfy reading chair. Not sure what kind of chair. I already have one of those winged chairs and it's not comfy enough for reading. I hate it!

Also a lovely lamp and maybe a little table would be nice.

Not a lot of money to do this with, will probably try and eBay it all.

It's weird. I have dreamed of doing this for so many years. Now I have the opportunity, I feel indecisive and wary as I don't want to get it wrong. Any ideas would be gratefully received.

I'm excited for you! And quite It sounds wonderful.

My books need to come out of storage but can't seem to decide how or where to put them so I'm keeping an eye on here for ideas.

I bought a cuddle chair from Argos - it's like an extra big snuggy armchair and is perfect for reading!

I'd do one bit at a time really beautifully as and when you can afford it. So, I'd start with the book shelving on the back wall and have it made professionally and paint it and then arrange the books. Then I'd save up and buy the chair in a design I really liked (perhaps compromising in the meantime with a beanbag or fishing chair). After that would come the little table and the lamp. I'd think about having wooden flooring set into the floor in that area so I could paint in there with abandon without worrying about the carpet. It wouldn't bother me if it took two or three years to get the end result I wanted but it would have to be perfect eventually.

I really like the look of those cuddle chairs, Jonty.

I think I might just stick with one bookcase, a sort of large antique-y looking one, rather than getting it built in. Reason being is that I am a sucker for moving stuff around and I don't think it would work for that reason, although the idea is a good one. Also I think if I had wall to ceiling across the back wall I wouldn't have much room left. If I have a single bookcase I will have more room for a bigger, more comfy chair.

If needs be, I can then buy another bookcase at a later date.

Looking forward to payday so I can buy my first piece! I will spend the weekend getting my books out and fawning over them

If space is a premium, could you have a main bookcase elsewhere in the home with most of your books on and then a smaller one in the snug for your favourites? Or is it that you want all of the books surrounding you? Maybe you could get a big tall bookcase as a room divider like in libraries if you have the space and put your reading chair/small table/art things hidden behind it.

I want all the books surrounding me so I can just look at them and smell them

Might be an idea to put it as a room divider, for the extra privacy. Once I get the bookcase into the space, I can move it around to see which looks best.

Can't wait for payday!

I've recently sold my easel as it took up too much space, and just have a small one for outdoor use, which lives in the garage.
Previous house had what was meant to be a breakfast bar, under window, and I had shelves made for most of the next wall and called it my studio, as good light and plenty of storage, with chest of drawers under part of breakfast bar. Using paints and pastels had messed up previous flooring, so this area (about same size as yours) had a machine-washable rug, which I really recommend if you're planning to paint.

I know you don't like Ikea furniture but once it's got your books in you wont see much of it...Could you put ikea Kallax all along under your window and then stand Billy book cases on top either side of the window? (Billy comes in different widths and you can get glass doors too - they also come up on eBay a lot)
The kallax under the window bit will give you a bench that could be sat on (cushions on) for an extra seating space in addition to your comfy chair and the Billy is narrower so you'll have cup space in front of that too

Ikea fold down tables are still on sale and could easily adapt to make an easel

Have you also looked on Houzz - there was an article recently and everyone admired her craft space - was small but fit a lot in without being cluttered

Sometimes it's good to just get going with simple pieces and tweak from there. The advantage of buying from eBay is that you can re-eBay if your taste has evolved and pretty much know it will sell

Would love to do something like this!