These 8 Backyard Reading Nooks Are What Bookworms’ Dreams Are Made Of

Name a better combination than a good book and a relaxing, comfortable outdoor space to read it in — I’ll wait. With the sounds of birds chirping and the feel of the soft breeze, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be curled up with a can’t-put-it-down novel during the warmer months. If you’ve been wanting to transform your space — whether it’s a patio, garden, balcony, or even rooftop — into an outdoor reading nook, then keep reading to get inspiration from real homes below. 

One downside of reading outdoors is that you can’t count on natural light 24/7. That’s why battery-operated lamps, like the ones on the private patio of Kate Ruberti’s Manhattan apartment, are a great investment. (Target’s rattan battery-powered lamp was a fan favorite earlier this year, if you’re looking to shop!)

To see more of Kate’s apartment, visit the full House Tour.

If your outdoor space isn’t exactly where you want it, don’t give up! Take Lawrence Leung and Mei Bruns’ backyard in their Brooklyn apartment, for instance. You’d never know it now, but originally the “Zen-like garden retreat,” as Lawrence calls it, was in poor condition with a sad, rusty grill. In two-and-a-half weeks, they fixed the fence, added pea gravel and stepping stones, and filled the space with comfortable furniture.

Check out the inside of Lawrence and Mei’s home in the full House Tour. 

Although Marijn Kruikemeier and Liya Yang’s backyard in their renovated Amsterdam flat had ivy crawling up the side of the home and trees framing the yard, they must’ve still wanted more greenery (who doesn’t!) because the couple added faux grass on top of the pebbled ground, making the space feel softer and more inviting to curl up with a book.

Visit the full House Tour to see how the inside of their flat matches the magic of their backyard. 

If there’s an unused shed in your backyard, it’s time to rethink its purpose. At Kim Johnson’s eclectic Ottawa home, there’s a greenhouse that turned into the coziest reading retreat thanks to an enveloping green paint color and soft furnishings. “I think being able to work out in the greenhouse on days I don’t have to go to the office is pretty awesome,” Kim said at the time of the House Tour. “Bug-free, sheltered, I can be out there in a storm or when the mosquitoes are in full force.”

See more of Kim’s magical backyard in the full House Tour. 

One of the best places to read a book, IMO, is in the bathtub. On Amy Renou’s rooftop of her Melbourne apartment, she has a vintage clawfoot tub that looks like the dreamiest spot to pop on a bathing suit and read a book.

Check out the full House Tour to see more of Amy’s gorgeous apartment. 

Speaking of unconventional seating, outdoor reading nooks are all about experiencing the utmost comfort, so what about a daybed? In the backyard of Caroline Ohannessian’s rustic Barcelona house, she has a daybed situated among her pool loungers.

See the rest of the House Tour to glimpse at Caroline’s vintage-filled home. 

We all have different reading positions, so it’s OK not to be strictly matchy-matchy when it comes to the seating arrangements in an outdoor reading nook. Alissa Ashcraft combined two different chairs — one vintage-looking peacock chair and a modern, low pink seat — in the backyard of her stunning Barcelona home. Now, your guests or partner can choose the best seat for optimal reading.

Go to the full House Tour to see the rest of Alissa’s inviting home. 

When I think of the dream seating option for an outdoor nook, I think of a cocoon-like swing, like the one in the backyard of Angel Munro’s renovated house in Australia. Let the slow rocking motion put you at ease while you’re diving deep into a literary adventure.

Check out the full House Tour to see more of this lush backyard (that has an outdoor bathtub, too!). 

Whether your outdoor space is a spacious backyard or narrow apartment balcony, these homes prove that you don’t need to take on a major renovation to create a comfortable reading retreat.