Reading is an inherently cosy activity. It’s about losing yourself in a novel’s world, or by enjoying the process of learning about a real-world person or event.
But there are various ways we can make our reading more cosy and comfy, playing into the romanticised sentiment that seems to be all over social media nowadays.
Lots of Natural Light
If you tend to read in the mornings and afternoons, you want to take advantage of all the natural light streaming in through your windows.
In an ideal and perfect world, we’d all have lovely sunrooms to laze in and read till our hearts are content, but modern economies have snuffed that hope for the majority of us. Still, you can always try the living room or your bedroom and position yourself so that the light perfectly hits the pages of your book.
A Warm Lamp
Most LED lights give off-white light, which is horribly unnatural. What you want for reading in dark environments is a lamp or semi-dim ceiling light with a warmly coloured bulb.
It’ll not only be a lot gentler on your eyes, but also give the room a peaceful and slightly moody atmosphere.
Candles
If you really want atmosphere, then candles are the way to go. Centuries ago, this is how anyone read after sundown, but it’s a very old-fashioned way of doing things now. Still, if you don’t mind the flickering and lacklustre amount of light that one candle emits, then you may find reading by candlelight rather cosy.
If that doesn’t work, you can always keep a light on, too. Keep in mind that candles can improve comfort through scent and by introducing a little bit of warmth to your reading environment (visually and literally).
Fireplace or Heater
On those extremely cold days, you might want to curl up by the fireplace or an electric heater (or even the radiator). Sometimes warmth is all we’re seeking, and in the case of a fireplace, you can almost consider it as an extremely large candle or the most natural and warmly coloured lamp you could ever have.
A Drink
Although paper and liquid, or even digital devices and liquid, don’t get along — you should keep a drink close by for your own comfort.
What that drink is depends on you, the weather, and sometimes the time of day. You should consider a warm drink, like tea, coffer, or hot chocolate on colder and dark days; tea and hot chocolate are also good when reading at night, as they soothe your body, unlike coffee and cold drinks. Of course, you can enjoy whatever you like, but maybe save chilled water and other drinks for the warmer weather and at earlier points in your day.
Something to Eat
Whether it be a snack, your lunch or dinner, or even dessert, there’s nothing wrong with eating as you read. This wouldn’t be my sort of thing, I’d be far too concerned about smearing something over the pages, but it’s still an option for those who feel particularly comforted by eating.
Blankets
More ideal for the colder days, a blanket can be a snug way to enjoy a book. Personally, a blanket would annoy me more than it would comfort me during reading, but there are plenty of people who go out of their way to buy thick or weighted blankets for comfort purposes.
Cushions, Pillows & Comforters
If you tend to get numb or sore from reading, a cushion or other source of soft comfort is a great addition. For those of you who have one, a decently sized stuffed animal will also work.
Equally, when you’re not cold, you can always bundle up a blanket and use it as a makeshift cushion if you don’t have any proper ones around.
Suitable Clothing
Maybe you’re a pyjama person, or perhaps you stick to a certain style of fashion. Either way, you should try to read in whatever clothing makes you the most comfortable and suits the temperature. I can’t really tell you what to wear, or even give advice, as I’ll read in basically any outfit. Just make sure that you’re wearing some clothing…
A Range of Locations
Whether it be different rooms, or simply swapping between your bed, seat, and sofa, it’s good to have a range of locations to read at in your home.
Regardless of how minimal the change seems, the room and position you are in does play a role in your comfort. Your brain will take note of the amount of space and light, as well as the temperature and scent, in each room.
As for you and your physical comfort, different locations to place yourself in each room help. As a general rule, you should stick to rooms where you have spots to lay down, sit upright, or put your feet up. Little things like this increase your comfort and let you impulsively shift yourself around, adding another layer of cosiness to your reading experience.
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