Large home library featuring two-story bookshelves with a ladder for access.

Home libraries no longer need to be the dark, wood-paneled, stuffy rooms of the 19th century. Some of today’s most popular home library design ideas feature natural light and the use of white throughout. And while they are definitely artifacts from a bygone era, that also may be their saving grace — as we yearn for breaks from the constant hum of technology, the home library can provide a space separated from the world of gadgets and screens.

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1. The Loft Library

Loft home library with two reading chairs and ottoman coffee table.

Lofts are popular. Home libraries, not so much, but when you incorporate the home library idea into a loft space, it’s a winning concept. This cozy reading nook is an excellent example of that.

2. The Library House

This is an amazing house for home library fans because much of the house incorporates built-in bookshelves throughout it.

This is an amazing space for home library fans because much of the house incorporates built-in bookshelves throughout it. 

3. The Two-Level Luxe Library with Spiral Stairs

When I think of a luxurious home library, this is what comes to mind. It's a stunning design with a two-story wall of bookshelves, four reading chairs and a fabulous sprial staircase to the second level.

When I think of a luxurious home library, this is what comes to mind. It’s an excellent interior design with a two-story wall of bookshelves, four reading chairs, and a spiral staircase to the second level.

4. The Rustic Home Library

This home library is very casual and comfortable. I love all the bright light, white walls and furniture and of course the white bookshelves.  There's also a spiral staircase.

This home library in a living room is very casual and comfortable. I love all the bright light, white walls, furniture and of course the white bookshelves.  There’s also a spiral staircase.  

5. The Multi-Use Home Library

This is an example of a multi-purpose room that includes being a library. There's also a piano and lounge area.

This is an example of a multi-purpose room that includes a library. There’s also a piano and lounge area.  

6. The Minimalist Home Library

This is book-lovers' home given this small space was dedicated to a simple library space.

This interior design is meant for a book lover, given the room ideas in this small space are dedicated to reading.  

7. The Small Home Library Design

Here's a library most homes could incorporate. It's not huge. It's not lavish. It's plain, but nicely done with a built-in shelving wall, small rolling ladder and one reading chair.

Here’s a library most homes could incorporate. It’s not huge. It’s not lavish. It’s plain but nicely done with a built-in shelving wall, a small rolling ladder, and one reading chair.  

8. The Sprawling Sumptuous Home Library

Contrast this library with the one above and this is the mega-mansion version replete with furniture and custom built-in shelving throughout.

Contrast this library with the one above, and this is the mega-mansion version replete with furniture and custom built-in shelving throughout the living space.

9. Mark Twain’s Library 

This is a very cool home library to include because it's from the mansion Mark Twain owned.  Not a huge library but nicely done.

This is a very cool home library to include because it’s from the mansion Mark Twain owned.  Not a huge library, but nicely done.

10. The Lounge Library in a Home

Another large lounge-style room with the walls lined with books making it a de facto home library.

Another large lounge-style room with walls lined with books makes it a de facto home library.  

11. Old World Home Library with Chandelier, Fireplace and all the Fixin’s

Here's a great example of an old-world home library that's custom built throughout with rich wood, over-the-top chandelier, ornate desk, fireplace and overstuffed furniture.

Here’s a great example of an old-world home library that’s custom-built throughout with rich wood, an over-the-top chandelier, an ornate desk, a fireplace, and overstuffed furniture. Plenty of shelving space for book storage.

12. The Contemporary Library

I love this contemporary take on the home library that's open, minimal and filled with light from the floor to ceiling window.

I love this contemporary take on the home library that’s open, minimal, and filled with light from the floor-to-ceiling window.

13. The Rustic Maximalist Library

Here's a massive home library where you could easily spend an entire day. The massive wall is floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelves.  The furniture sits on one of the biggest area rugs I've ever seen.  It's quite the room.

Here’s a massive home library where you could easily spend an entire day. The massive wall is floor-to-ceiling built-in bookshelves.  The furniture sits on one of the biggest area rugs I’ve ever seen.  It’s quite the room.

14. The Full-On Maximalist Home Library Design

Here's a library found in a heritage gothic mansion.  Not for everyone but if you like older, ornate homes leaning toward the goth, this is a beaut.

Here’s a library found in a heritage Gothic mansion.  Not for everyone, but if you like older, ornate homes leaning toward the goth, this is a beautiful home library.

15. A Room with an Infinite Number of Views

Traditional library with a fireplace, hardwood flooring and a rug.

Traditional library with a fireplace, hardwood flooring, wall art and area rug.

16. Home Library Features Floor to Coffered Ceiling Bookshelves

Large home library featuring coffered ceiling and elegant brown leather seating.

Large home library featuring coffered ceiling and elegant comfortable seating. Bookshelves take up the entire room.

17. Book Collection Encased Behind Glass Doors

Home library with an office desk and chair set in the corner. The white bookshelves are protected by glass doors.

Home library with an office desk and chair set in the corner. Glass doors protect the white bookshelves.

18. Home Libraries Have Been Proven to Promote Higher Learning

Large living room with a massive gray sofa and hardwood flooring. The area features a vaulted ceiling and wall of whitebookshelves.

Large living room with a massive gray sofa and hardwood flooring. The area features a vaulted ceiling and a wall of white bookshelves.

19. One Wall with a World of Books in Home Library

Home library, with white tile flooring, contains books to one wall.

Home library, with white tile flooring, contains books to one wall.

20. Home Library Wall Devoted to Books

This chic bedroom offers white multiple bookshelves protected by glass doors lighted by track lights.

Bedroom features wall of bookshelves protected by glass doors with track lighting.

21. Home Libraries are Places of Higher Learning

Modish home library with built-in wooden bookshelves that extend up to the home's high ceiling. There are wall lights all over the place.

Home library with built-in wooden bookshelves that extend up to the room’s high ceiling. 

Related: Living Spaces and Lounge Areas | Home Office Design Ideas | Reading Nook Design Ideas | Reading Nooks for Kids 

22. Information is in the Mind of the Beholder

This home boasts an elegant black bookshelf with a ladder. The white brick walls match the white floors perfectly.

Home library boasts elegant black bookshelves with an access ladder. 

23. Home Library Functions as a Room with a Purpose

Home library features beige and white tones, with a colorful area rug.

Home library features beige and white tones, with a colorful area rug. Designed by: Turnbull Griffin Haesloop Architects

24. Modern Design Turns the Page on Preconceived Ideas

Large formal living room offering a cozy sofa set on top of a stylish gray rug covering the herringbone hardwood flooring. The room also features handsome bookshelves.

Large formal living room features a sofa set on top of a stylish gray rug covering the herringbone hardwood flooring. 

25. Large Windows Bring in Lots of Natural Light

This home library features stylish blue bookshelves surrounded by red walls. The blue and white rug looks perfect together with the hardwood flooring.

Home library features lots of color and natural light through large windows. 

26. Home Library Provides all the Accoutrements for Reading Sessions

A home library with a classy club chair and a rug set on the hardwood flooring. The room also features a built-in desk matching the stylish wooden wall.

Home library features a club chair, area rug, and hardwood flooring. A built-in desk matches the stylish wooden wall and bookshelves.

27. Summer Reading Enhanced with a Home Library Full of Books

A medium-sized home library featuring cozy seats and multiple bookshelves, along with a doorway leading to the private deck.

Home library in a summer cottage features multiple bookshelves and access to a private deck.

28. Home Library Balances Dark Tones and Natural Light

A classy home library with elegant seats and a coffee table set on the hardwood flooring. The walls look perfect together with the built-in shelves.

Home library features elegant seating, dark tones, and lots of natural light.

29. Home Library Features All the Creature Comforts

Large living room with classy multiple bookshelves and a cozy sofa set on top of the hardwood flooring topped by a stylish rug.

Large living room with multiple bookshelves and a cozy sofa set on top of hardwood flooring and an area rug.

30. Growing Up in a Room Full of Books

The living area boasts a large bookshelf and cozy furniture for reading time.

The living area boasts a large bookshelf and cozy furniture for reading time.

31. Home Library Provides an Access for Learning

Spacious home library, featuring stylish brown hardwood flooring, is surrounded by white bookshelves with a ladder for access.

Spacious home library, featuring stylish brown hardwood flooring, is surrounded by white bookshelves with a ladder for access. The modern home library takes up almost every inch of wall space.

32. Home Library Serves as a Creative Hub

Home library and music room operates like a center for creative energy.

Home library and music room operate like a center for creative energy with books continuing right up to the ceiling shelving.

  • Designed by: Roger Wade Studio

33. Home Library Designed with all the Necessities

Elegant brown leather couch sits in the middle of a massive home library. A trunk serves as a table on the hardwood floor decorated with an area rug.

Elegant brown leather couch sits in the middle of a massive home library. A trunk serves as a table on the hardwood floor decorated with an area rug.

34. Bright Shelves Waiting to Be Filled with New Books

Blue area rug is offset by the all-white interior in a large home library with lots of room for new books. 

Blue area rug is offset by the all-white interior in a large home library with lots of room for new books.

35. Home Library Surrounded By Bookshelves

Traditional home library features French doors and crown molding.

Like a cocoon for learning, a home library is surrounded by bookshelves in a room featuring French doors and crown molding.

36. Home Library Designed with Plenty of Reading Room

Contemporary library with built-in bookshelf and a sofa.

Contemporary home library with built-in bookshelves and lots of reading room.

37. Home Library Features Herringbone Tile Floor and Pendant Lighting

Traditional library with herringbone tile floors and pendant light.

Traditional library with herringbone tile floors and pendant light.

38. Ladder Accesses Second Floor of Home Library

Large home library featuring two-story bookshelves with a ladder for access.

Large home library featuring two-story bookshelves with a ladder for shelf access.

Jon Dykstra owns an interior design company in North Vancouver, British Columbia. He's fascinated by architecture and interiors. He also enjoys gardening at his "house in the burbs" and "homesteading" at his off-the-grid boat-access cabin.

Combine all that with a love of writing and Homestratsophere.com was born. He balances his working time between running his interior design company, working on his off-the-grid cabin and publishing homestratosphere.com.

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