Hey friends! Thank you so much for stopping by to check out our modern reading nook with built in bookshelves. I completely re-did this space over the course of the last six weeks as part of the One Room Challenge.
We started out with this space at the top of our stairs It had a poorly positioned linen closet, lots of yellow paint, dingy carpet, and served no function in our house. If you’re new, here are the posts from the last six weeks, that should get you caught up to now, reveal week!
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We tore down the linen closet, built a laundry closet for a stackable washer and dryer, and then created this built in reading nook using Ikea bookshelves. 
We also moved the light fixture and installed this amazing modern light.
I’ve been loving the trend of buffalo check, and was pumped to find this rug for a bold geometric pop in the space.
All of the pillows for this space came from Minted. I Love the combination of the floral, the marble, and the confetti pillows.
Along with providing pillows for the space, Minted also provided this gorgeous artwork and typography. I just love the pairing of the watercolor with the typography. I also love how the thin black frame looks against the deep green wall.
Speaking of that green wall, if you’ve been following along throughout the challenge you know that it was a final hour decision! Just days ago after finishing the green door for the laundry closet, I decided to carry the same color over to the nook. I’m so glad I did because I love how it unifies the spaces and adds some bold drama, without making the whole space too dark.
Styling these bookshelves was hard, because I need them to be functional, and hold lots of books, but I also wanted them to look pretty. I ended up fitting all of our books on both sides. So that the shelves wouldn’t be overtaken by books, I hid some in the baskets and bins on the shelves.
My good friend Amber from Averie Lane makes custom signs, and created this “Home is the Nicest Word There Is” sign for me. I love that it’s a Laura Ingalls Wilder quote because her books have always been some of my very favorites.
Over on the other side of the built ins I broke up the books by stacking them horizontally and vertically. I love how this green marble tray holds all of the Little Golden Books that were my husband’s when he was little.
I also used quite a few different bookends that I’ve collected over the years. I love that I finally have a place to use bookends! We actually realized that it’s been YEARS since all of our books had been unpacked! It’s nice to have them all at an arm’s reach now.
Through the entire challenge I had a green sheet on the twin mattress, but after painting the wall green it was just too much. I ended up grabbing this pale pink jersey sheet and I love how it looks. I’ve used a lot of coral in my home, but never pink! I’m loving the feminine touch! We are about to have another girl around here after all!
I feel like every space needs a good pop of greenery, and this faux fiddle leaf fig is just perfect. I also love that I don’t have to remember to water it!
In the first week of the One Room Challenge I painted all of the spindles on our staircase black, and I love how they well they go with all of the black details in the space.
Even though this space is just a hallway passthrough, creating this space was able to give it so much function. Now rather than an eyesore at the top of the stairs, we’ve got a laundry space, book storage, and a place to read as a family. In a pinch it would also work as an additional sleeping space.
This space has already gotten tons of use! It’s inspired all of us to read more. It’s also great to have such a cozy space that we can all sit together in at night.
I know that not everyone has an extra space they can convert into a reading nook, but I hope that this post inspired you to look at the unused space in your home and make it your own!
Source List
**Some of the items on this list are affiliate links**
You are Loved Print & Stormy Sunrise Print (Minted)
Midnight Florals Pillow, Fields Pillow, Modern Marble Pillow (Minted)
Buffalo Check Rug (Overstock- Sold OUT) (Similar one here)
Home is the Nicest Word Sign (Averie Lane Boutique)
Paint Color- Benjamin Moore Hidden Falls
I am so thankful to LampsPlus and Minted for sponsoring portions of this space. Without sponsors like these I wouldn’t be able to bring great room makeovers like these to you.
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Jess, this is such a cozy, wonderful, and beautiful space. Where do you get your fitted sheet from?
Thank you so much Jess! It’s just a cheap Target jersey sheet. I linked to it at the bottom.
Jess, that is such a great space! So clever. I love the pink with the dark green, it’s perfect. ~Sonya
This turned out amazing Jess! Love the colors you used and that light fixture! OH and the rug — I think I may need that rug… Such a great makeover!!
Isn’t the rug amazing?! I’m so bummed that it’s sold out. I’m obsessed with all buffalo check lately!
Jess – it looks great and so, so cozy! What a perfect little spot. You must be so excited and very ready to enjoy it!
Thank you so much. I’m so relieved to be done with it and be able to enjoy it! Your space is SO amazing too!
Love your mix of pillows/patterns and your color scheme, especially! This looks so cozy – I’m sure you will get a lot of use out of it now for those important snuggles and story times. Congratulations!
Thank you so very much. It is a great family spot. I think we’ve snuggled and read more this week than a typical month!
Looks amazing!!!!!! I could snuggle up and read all day in that spot!!!
Thank you so much. I’m thinking after working so hard I might just take your advice and spent a weekend relaxing here!
oh jess, this is so lovely! i love your mix of textiles and moody and pastels! just beautiful! i wanna curl up there!
Thank you so much. It is pretty darn cozy. I’m loving it for reading when my hubby is sleeping too so that I don’t keep him up.
Oh my gosh!!!! What a precious space!! I love it 🙂 And I want to be there right now!!
Thank you so much! It’s already gotten TONS of use and is the spot everyone wants to hang out before bed!
This space is 100% true to you and I love it! The colouring, the textures, the execution! Totally in love with it from head to toe. Great job girl 🙂
Thank you so much. That is one flattering comment! It really does feel like “me”. Except you’ve sure got me craving color and pattern!
Such a great space!
Thanks a million!
That tiny bit of shiplap is SO COOL. I can’t get over how perfect it is with the space. And the blush. You rocked it. What a cozy perfect space!
Thank you so much! I built the door just like how I built my closet doors for the last ORC. It is so cheap and simple!
Oh YES! The green wall was the perfect finishing touch! I love everything about this makeover! So good, Jess!
Thank you so much Brynne! I love it too, it feels so cozy and home-y. Perfect for going into winter!
I know you took up more space with the W/D built-ins, but this space actually looks bigger! Such a gorgeous transformation! Excellent job!
Doesn’t it? I can’t wait until we actually purchase a washer and dryer and get to use that new space! Thank you so much.
I’m SO glad you decided to bring in that jewel tone wall! Makes all the difference in the world, don’t you think! GREAT space!!
I totally agree, I’m so glad I took advice from such talented ladies and didn’t play it safe! I love it!
it turned out incredible! Seriously, you made a useable, fun (and gorgeous!) space out of a weird area… so good girl!
Thank you so much! Our house has SO many awkward spaces. I just need to find vision like this for the rest of them!
What a perfect cozy space! It’s going to be so awesome to have during cold winter days. And that light fixture! I can’t get over it! Great job!
YES! It is so cozy. Thank you so much! The light fixture really makes the space!
Holy cow this is so good! I would be napping in that space every day!! I love it – absolutely stunning.
Thank you so much! It has turned into the perfect napping spot.
Oh my gosh, amazing! Such a fantastic use of space and I love the colors and styling! Well done!
Aw thank you Britt, you are so kind. Your comments mean so much coming from someone who is so good with color.
Jess, you did such a wonderful job with this space! I looks like an amazing place to curl up, relax, and read a book. Enjoy!
Thank you so much for your sweet words.
What a clever use of space. So cosy, and it’s such a lovely-looking space too. Great job! 🙂
Thank you so much. It was a ton of work but it was well worth it. Thanks for stopping by!
You’ve earned a nap in that cozy nook! I love the colors so much! It turned out great!
Finally getting around to checking out some of the one room challenges. Your nook turned out so pretty and I love that light fixture!!
THANKS! The light really makes the entire space!
I love this. Can you tell me which IKEA bookcases you used please?
yes thanks a ton! They’re the Hemnes bookshelves. Here’s the post with the details: https://www.brightgreendoor.com/diy-ikea-built-ins/
Hi Jesse, OMG, love, love, love. This is exactly what I wanted to do for my nook. How did you do the bottom portion? It looks like a custom platform built to put the bookshelf and the mattress on it. What type of wood or thickness do you use for that? Can you share the dimension/diagram? I’d love to copy your amazing idea and design. Thank you.
Thank you so much! Check out this post for all of your answers: https://www.brightgreendoor.com/diy-ikea-built-ins/ After reading let me know if you have any questions! Hopefully this helps answer all of your questions.
I couldn’t find it in the comments but where is the bed from? It looks like the bookshelves stack perfectly on top.
Here’s the post with all the details on how we built it: https://www.brightgreendoor.com/diy-ikea-built-ins/ Thanks!