Step into the future of home libraries with sleek and modern shelving unit designs! In this article, we'll showcase the latest trends in home library decor,

Transform your formal dining room to a chic library/dining room combo. Combine design + function with a library dining room with bookcases!

Many people have a dining room that is rarely used so they want to use their dining room for multiple purposes. A library dining room is a great option to use your dining room as a book storage, reading space, home office, homework space, and additional room in your home but still have it available those few times of year when you need a formal dining room. Here are a few interior design tips & tricks for turning your formal dining room into a library dining room.   Design StyleBefore you start decorating your library dining room, you must first figure out the design style that you want in your room. Consider the overall feeling that you want your dining room library to have.  Do you want it to be comfy & cozy where you can plop down and take your shoes off?  Would you prefer an elegant and refined showplace to impress your guests?  How about a dark & moody old library with antique books?  Maybe a coloful & fun hangout space is more of what you want? Your dining room library is most likely open to other rooms in your home, so the style needs to complement those room styles also.  It doesn't need to be the exact same style, but it does need to feel like it is cohesive and belongs in your home. Search for images online of interior design and home decor styles that you like as inspiration for your own home.  A popular place to search is Pinterest where you can save your favorites.  After you have saved many favorites, purge your least favorites until you are left with your best option. Once you have narrowed down a particular style, it will be easier to choose the right furniture, decor, and color scheme.   Choose the Right FurnitureMake sure to select the best furniture for your library dining room so that it is able to serve dual purposes. The dining table is the centerpiece of the room, so it is important to choose one that is both practical to use as a desk and a dining table, as well as looks good and is in the style that you want for the room. Make sure to not choose a table that is too small so you can seat many people for dinner, but also one that is not too big that you cannot move around easily or have room for extra furniture for you to store your books. When you select your dining chairs, make sure that comfort takes priority over style since you might be sitting in those chairs for several hours at a time.  Typically, a chair with an upholstered seat is more comfortable than one that is all wood, and an upholstered back is also better than a wood or metal back. Make sure you allow plenty of room to walk around your table. Of course, you will need bookshelves - bookshelves are a must-have in any dining room library. You can choose freestanding bookcases, built in bookshelves (perhaps with closed storage below for dining room storage or storage of not-so-pretty books), or wall mounted bookshelves.  You could even have a bookcase that opens on a hinge, revealing a hidden room behind the bookcase. Depending on the size of your room, you might want bookshelves on only 1 wall, 2 walls, or maybe even all 4 walls. Arrange books and decor items on your bookcases alternating between vertical and horizontal orientations for a more unique display that doesn't look like a boring and basic public library. In addition to the dining table and chairs, you may also want to include a few extra pieces of furniture, such as a buffet, china cabinet, or sideboard for storage or a comfortable armchair for reading.   Incorporate ArtworkAdd artwork to your library dining room so your room looks like a home and not like a boring and sterile library basement. Your artwork can be original framed art, photography, sculpture, pottery, something you created yourself, or whatever you find beautiful. Don't just select art to fill the space - make sure to take your time finding art that you truly love! Try to have your art cover 60-75% of your empty wall that is not covered by furniture, curtains, or something else. Framed family photos can also be used as art.   If you have smaller pieces of art, cluster them together to create a gallery wall where all of the pieces of art together feel like one larger art collection.  Try to position your art so there is nearly equal spacing between all of the pieces.   You can even display smaller pieces of art on bookshelves to break up the sea of books.   Choose the Right LightingThe best designed rooms don't settle for just one light source in the center of the ceiling. This is especially imporant in a library dining room where good lighting is required for reading. Try to have multiple sources of light in your room to make the room more interesting and allow multiple different activities to work in the same space. You should have ambient light, which is all-over light, that will typically come from a chandelier in the middle of your library dining room.  Don't settle for a basic small chandelier - make it special and unique. Task lighting is second most important to ensure you have lighting for your specific task, which is reading.  Make sure that there are lamps that are focused in the areas where you might read or work.   Accent lighting makes your room look more interesting, so add lights inside your bookcases and/or picture lights at the top of your bookcases & art to highlight featured books and artwork. Color SchemeMake sure to create a well developed color scheme before decorating your library dining room. The easiest way to create a color scheme is to select one large item for your room, perhaps a large rug or large piece of art, that has multiple colors in it and use those colors as your color scheme. You should select at least 3 colors (but you can use more) and repeat those colors in 3 or more places throughout your room. Also use lighter and darker versions of your preferred colors to add depth of color. You can "cheat" a bit by covering some of your lesser important books in a paper jacket that is one of your color scheme colors.  Another idea is to get a can of spray paint in a unique color that you like and paint a few of your older accessories that you no longer like in the new color for a fresh and new look.   Choose the Right TablewareDon't forget that your library dining room also needs to function as a dining room on occasion, so you will need to get all the items you need for a dinner party. Make sure to know the washing instructions of the china you select, since a lot of fine china is not dishwasher safe. Consider mixing and matching sets of china for a custom look.  For a formal mismatched look, everyone should have identical place settings, however each piece of the place setting is from a different china set. You can even swap out a few pieces seasonally or per occasion to set the appropriate mood. For a more casual mismatched look, each place setting can be different, but ensure that the color, pattern, or some other element of the place setting is the same among all of the sets so it creates cohesion. Consider using accent places that have a bold color and/or pattern since everyone has seen basic white china with a gold or silver edge.   Incorporate FabricsFabrics make a room feel more cozy and less sterile.  They can also reduce echoes and make a room more quiet. Select upholstered dining chairs with both an upholstered seat and an upholstered back for optimal comfort during meals and other activities.   Most dining chairs come with a basic white fabric that is rather plain and boring.  Consider reupholstering your chairs for a one-of-a-kind look that complements your design style and color scheme. Also add curtains, an area rug, and maybe even some throw pillows to add softness and style to your room. When you are using your library dining room for dining, you might also need a tablecloth, a table runner, and/or placemats. Don't be afraid to mix and match different colors, textures, and patterns for a unique look that is yours and yours alone.   Add Decorative AccentsTraditional dining rooms typically don't have too many decorative accents, however a library dining room is more like a living room, so it should have decor. If you want a vintage look, consider adding antique globes, vintage typewriters, and/or old-fashioned cameras that no only look good but are also conversation starters.  Bonus points if those items belong to you or a family member with a story to tell about the items. If you want a more modern look, consider adding abstract sculptures or modern art pieces. You can also add decor that ties into your love of books, such as bookends, paperweights, or other book-related decorative items. For added color and to make your library dining room feel less sterile, add fresh flowers and/or plants. Adding a fireplace would really make your library dining room a place that you never want to leave.  

Christiane Lemieux's SoHo Loft

Couldn't it be both---a dining room and a library? I say, uh-yeayer. I really, really like this concept. It feels like a warmer space among those books, much more conversational, made for hang out time. And in a smaller home like mine for instance, combined spaces only makes the best of sense. all images via

Functionality meets fashion in the world of modern home libraries! Join us as we explore trendy shelving units that strike the perfect balance between

interior design blog, Notting Hill, interior design, DIY, interior decorating, dc designers

Don and Gaby Rattner live in an elegant house in Brooklyn Heights, which they have furnished almost exclusively with antiques, old paintings and a few custom pieces. Although it does not […]

A blog about Interior Design with focus on French style and other Old World aesthetics.

Are you dreaming of a perfect reading spot? Look no further! In this article, we'll provide you with inspiration to design your dream reading nook using

It's a wonderful problem for a book lover to have - finding a place to store all one's literature in a manner that is both efficient and beautiful. In this piece I share some ideas for homes large and small that are both functional and stunning.

I love this corner bookcase, the table and chairs and the window seat. Such a cozy corner. Found on Pinterest. Have a great day. xo

Let’s face it: as much as we’d all like to think of ourselves as the sort of people who throw dinner parties all the time, the formal dining room is mostly obsolete. So what’s a modern family to do? You can set up a dining table and chairs in there and then let stuff collect on the table (I’m pretty sure this is the default), or you can take it one step further and transform your dining room into a multi-purpose space that you’ll use every day.

Many people have a dining room that is rarely used so they want to use their dining room for multiple purposes. A library dining room is a great option to use your dining room as a book storage, reading space, home office, homework space, and additional room in your home but still have it available those few times of year when you need a formal dining room. Here are a few interior design tips & tricks for turning your formal dining room into a library dining room.   Design StyleBefore you start decorating your library dining room, you must first figure out the design style that you want in your room. Consider the overall feeling that you want your dining room library to have.  Do you want it to be comfy & cozy where you can plop down and take your shoes off?  Would you prefer an elegant and refined showplace to impress your guests?  How about a dark & moody old library with antique books?  Maybe a coloful & fun hangout space is more of what you want? Your dining room library is most likely open to other rooms in your home, so the style needs to complement those room styles also.  It doesn't need to be the exact same style, but it does need to feel like it is cohesive and belongs in your home. Search for images online of interior design and home decor styles that you like as inspiration for your own home.  A popular place to search is Pinterest where you can save your favorites.  After you have saved many favorites, purge your least favorites until you are left with your best option. Once you have narrowed down a particular style, it will be easier to choose the right furniture, decor, and color scheme.   Choose the Right FurnitureMake sure to select the best furniture for your library dining room so that it is able to serve dual purposes. The dining table is the centerpiece of the room, so it is important to choose one that is both practical to use as a desk and a dining table, as well as looks good and is in the style that you want for the room. Make sure to not choose a table that is too small so you can seat many people for dinner, but also one that is not too big that you cannot move around easily or have room for extra furniture for you to store your books. When you select your dining chairs, make sure that comfort takes priority over style since you might be sitting in those chairs for several hours at a time.  Typically, a chair with an upholstered seat is more comfortable than one that is all wood, and an upholstered back is also better than a wood or metal back. Make sure you allow plenty of room to walk around your table. Of course, you will need bookshelves - bookshelves are a must-have in any dining room library. You can choose freestanding bookcases, built in bookshelves (perhaps with closed storage below for dining room storage or storage of not-so-pretty books), or wall mounted bookshelves.  You could even have a bookcase that opens on a hinge, revealing a hidden room behind the bookcase. Depending on the size of your room, you might want bookshelves on only 1 wall, 2 walls, or maybe even all 4 walls. Arrange books and decor items on your bookcases alternating between vertical and horizontal orientations for a more unique display that doesn't look like a boring and basic public library. In addition to the dining table and chairs, you may also want to include a few extra pieces of furniture, such as a buffet, china cabinet, or sideboard for storage or a comfortable armchair for reading.   Incorporate ArtworkAdd artwork to your library dining room so your room looks like a home and not like a boring and sterile library basement. Your artwork can be original framed art, photography, sculpture, pottery, something you created yourself, or whatever you find beautiful. Don't just select art to fill the space - make sure to take your time finding art that you truly love! Try to have your art cover 60-75% of your empty wall that is not covered by furniture, curtains, or something else. Framed family photos can also be used as art.   If you have smaller pieces of art, cluster them together to create a gallery wall where all of the pieces of art together feel like one larger art collection.  Try to position your art so there is nearly equal spacing between all of the pieces.   You can even display smaller pieces of art on bookshelves to break up the sea of books.   Choose the Right LightingThe best designed rooms don't settle for just one light source in the center of the ceiling. This is especially imporant in a library dining room where good lighting is required for reading. Try to have multiple sources of light in your room to make the room more interesting and allow multiple different activities to work in the same space. You should have ambient light, which is all-over light, that will typically come from a chandelier in the middle of your library dining room.  Don't settle for a basic small chandelier - make it special and unique. Task lighting is second most important to ensure you have lighting for your specific task, which is reading.  Make sure that there are lamps that are focused in the areas where you might read or work.   Accent lighting makes your room look more interesting, so add lights inside your bookcases and/or picture lights at the top of your bookcases & art to highlight featured books and artwork. Color SchemeMake sure to create a well developed color scheme before decorating your library dining room. The easiest way to create a color scheme is to select one large item for your room, perhaps a large rug or large piece of art, that has multiple colors in it and use those colors as your color scheme. You should select at least 3 colors (but you can use more) and repeat those colors in 3 or more places throughout your room. Also use lighter and darker versions of your preferred colors to add depth of color. You can "cheat" a bit by covering some of your lesser important books in a paper jacket that is one of your color scheme colors.  Another idea is to get a can of spray paint in a unique color that you like and paint a few of your older accessories that you no longer like in the new color for a fresh and new look.   Choose the Right TablewareDon't forget that your library dining room also needs to function as a dining room on occasion, so you will need to get all the items you need for a dinner party. Make sure to know the washing instructions of the china you select, since a lot of fine china is not dishwasher safe. Consider mixing and matching sets of china for a custom look.  For a formal mismatched look, everyone should have identical place settings, however each piece of the place setting is from a different china set. You can even swap out a few pieces seasonally or per occasion to set the appropriate mood. For a more casual mismatched look, each place setting can be different, but ensure that the color, pattern, or some other element of the place setting is the same among all of the sets so it creates cohesion. Consider using accent places that have a bold color and/or pattern since everyone has seen basic white china with a gold or silver edge.   Incorporate FabricsFabrics make a room feel more cozy and less sterile.  They can also reduce echoes and make a room more quiet. Select upholstered dining chairs with both an upholstered seat and an upholstered back for optimal comfort during meals and other activities.   Most dining chairs come with a basic white fabric that is rather plain and boring.  Consider reupholstering your chairs for a one-of-a-kind look that complements your design style and color scheme. Also add curtains, an area rug, and maybe even some throw pillows to add softness and style to your room. When you are using your library dining room for dining, you might also need a tablecloth, a table runner, and/or placemats. Don't be afraid to mix and match different colors, textures, and patterns for a unique look that is yours and yours alone.   Add Decorative AccentsTraditional dining rooms typically don't have too many decorative accents, however a library dining room is more like a living room, so it should have decor. If you want a vintage look, consider adding antique globes, vintage typewriters, and/or old-fashioned cameras that no only look good but are also conversation starters.  Bonus points if those items belong to you or a family member with a story to tell about the items. If you want a more modern look, consider adding abstract sculptures or modern art pieces. You can also add decor that ties into your love of books, such as bookends, paperweights, or other book-related decorative items. For added color and to make your library dining room feel less sterile, add fresh flowers and/or plants. Adding a fireplace would really make your library dining room a place that you never want to leave.  

I know, I know. I already revealed the library/dining room in this decorating for Christmas post, but I didn't really reveal it. You didn't see it from all angles and you didn't get a sense of what it actually looks like when it isn't all tarted up for the holidays. Everything looks different when it's...Read More

A blog about Interior Design with focus on French style and other Old World aesthetics.

From the Makerista This is the room to blame. Everything was going fine in my life until I saw this room. Once I saw it? My life pretty much fell apart and I started to develop extreme bouts of throwing up, my living room filled with flies and my toilet started belching black,...Read More

Take a tour of Chris Barrett's 1050 square foot bungalow.

I know, I know. I already revealed the library/dining room in this decorating for Christmas post, but I didn't really reveal it. You didn't see it from all angles and you didn't get a sense of what it actually looks like when it isn't all tarted up for the holidays. Everything looks different when it's...Read More

The modern kitchen in this apartment can be closed off from the living room by black-framed doors with windows.

“I don’t have a lot of normal days,” says design entrepreneur Christiane Lemieux, founder of Dwell Studio. Christine has recently launched her yet another line that is epic and gorgeous called Cloth and Company. And while I quickly added several items to my wish list, it is her dining room office that really caught my eye.

Whether your apartment, condo, loft or house is under 1,500 square feet or you need ideas for a small bathroom, discover tricks in designing for small spaces.

Stylish home libraries in many shapes and sizes, from living room reading nooks to rooms filled with floor to ceiling books and cozy seating.

I have a crush on built-in bookcases in all rooms, home offices of course, living rooms, family rooms, and bedrooms too. Another place I love to see bookcas ...

I like individual rooms for individual purposes. That's why my house is over 100 years old so I can have rooms separated by walls. That being said, I will admit that I get why multifunctional living spaces are the status quo. I may be a dinosaur..... but I get it. We live in an age where space comes at a premium and creating multifunctional rooms is a huge trend. These days it is important to find creative ways to share space that will make your home more efficient. I have to admit that there is one "double duty"space I really do like and that's the topic of this blog post. The Dining Room Library. I think this combination works really well and can be quite lovely. Many of us would like to have a library but very few homes provide the space. Some homeowners use their living rooms as a library but the Dining Room Library could be the perfect solution. They have been around for a few years but have just recently piqued my attention so I decide to create a post about them. I have gathered some images for you to enjoy while we look at pros of having your dining room in your library......or library in your dining room.. Either way, you get the picture. http://thefrencheye.blogspot.com I happen to think this is a gorgeous space. Something about the marriage of these two rooms just works for me. Maybe it is because tables just look at home in a library. Dining room libraries are lovely to look at plus they are extremely practical. verandamag.com When we have a dinner party the guests tend to sit around the dining room table and talk. I can see how being surrounded by walls of books could make it even more comfortable. via Pinterest I suppose a library in the dining room would be conducive for intelligent conversations. Alot of space can go to waste in a dining room, but with library bookshelves this room becomes interesting and super functional. ladolcevitablog.com Why not have a multi-purpose space that you’ll use every day! [email protected] Dining rooms doubling as libraries bring a warm coziness to the traditional formal dining room. elledecor.com Depending on the books you choose, library walls can be a colorful and dramatic backdrop for your dining room. houzz.com I like the way a library wall of book shelves brings texture and dimension to the dining room. lynnsteward.com You can even treat library shelves as your dining room walls and use them for displays of artwork, Charles Faudree collections, thevirtualbuilder.tumblr.com and other treasures that resemble the Victorian cabinets of curiosities. Here is a cozy dining room library that just oozes English charm. hg-images.condecdn.net Library walls just have a way of elevating the design of the dining room. thevisualvamp.blogspot.com Libraries have the tendency to look strictly utilitarian so incorporating a dining room into the mix helps soften the look and makes the library more charming. via Pinterest Bohemian style Library/Dining Room of LouLou de la Falaise. apartmenttherapy.com Remember your dining room library space doesn't have to be massive. victoriadreste.com A small dining room surrounded by books is just as lovely. inspiracionline.blogspot.com The dining room library can create a chic backdrop for intimate gatherings as well as turn the space into the perfect cozy reading room. twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.com A great country farmhouse style dining room library. Loving the mismatched chairs and wonderful old table. christopherburnsinteriors.com If you are not a "neutral interior" homeowner, a library full of books can create a rainbow-like backdrop. Add in some colorful dining room accessories and you are good to go. shelfjoy on instagram.com The next few images will show you another reason dining room libraries just make sense. Every library needs a table to read at or work on. Now we see how functional these rooms can be. gardenhomeandparty.com When you aren't having dinner or entertaining let the library side take over. laurelberninteriors.com The above dining room library is an example of how this combination is the perfect collaboration. What is a lovely room for dining..... becomes an equally attractive library for reading or working, almost serving as an office. thefullerview.tumblr.com athomearkansas.com What a gorgeous space to eat or read in. christinamurphyinteriors.com emilyclark.com If you are considering a dining room re-do and have always wanted your own library, you might give some serious thought to this chic and stylish combination. Click here to see the previous post https://eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2019/05/decorating-with-french-and-swedish.html This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

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Dining Rooms MakeGreat Home Libraries

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I am dreaming of swaying poles and rustling leaves and the deep but soft grey green of a bamboo forest. I have dug deep into the inspiration files as this is not an everyday kind of color, but when…