Our Top Tips For Creating A Georgian At-Home Library

Reading has long been a serious source of pleasure for many and there’s really nothing quite like losing yourselves among the pages of a storybook, transporting yourself to another world for a brief period of time.

During the 18th century, reading really started to come to the fore as an activity that could easily be enjoyed at home, both on your own and with friends and family, with novels starting to become commonplace for entertainment, education and self-improvement.

This, naturally, gave rise to the installation of private libraries at home – a serious signal of wealth and status, with floor-to-ceiling libraries increasingly seen among the upper echelons of fine Georgian society.

These days, the vast majority of people have a personal collection of books at home, but quite often they’re stacked up on the floor, on tables or even hidden away under storage beds, waiting patiently to be organised and put on display.

Books themselves make for a beautiful arrangement when shown off properly, with their spines lined up invitingly, calling for you to pick one up and leaf through its pages… and if you’re wondering how best to go about showcasing your collection of worthy tomes, a Georgian-inspired library could be just the ticket.

This is something that can be achieved no matter how big or small your home. If you have the space, you can pick a dedicated wall to serve as your library, having bespoke bookcases designed specifically to fit. 

Get the look

To achieve the Georgian aesthetic, aim for elegant and luxurious mouldings, cornices and panelling, with rich colours and textures used to great effect… but make sure you don’t be overly ornate in your approach. Georgian architecture is all about symmetry and angularity, subtlety and classicism.

If you don’t have a spare wall for your bookcase installation, look out for unused or awkward spaces like nooks, crannies, alcoves, the space beneath your staircase and so on. You can easily have bespoke furniture made to fit these parts of the house, making the house more practical and giving you somewhere to show your books off at their best.

In terms of colour and design, the Georgian style tends towards more traditional tones, so bring in muted shades to complete the look. Think the likes of sage green, burgundy, pale blues and greys, avoiding anything too fussy or bold. 

As for pattern, simplicity is key for a Georgian look and feel, with geometric shapes borrowed from ancient Greece and Rome your go-to choices in this regard.

To add a more modern touch to proceedings, consider including objects other than books on your newly-made shelves. Plants, family photographs, your favourite works of art and candles will all make wonderful additions to the bookcase.

If you’d like any further help or advice relating to at-home libraries and how you could design one at home for yourself, get in touch with the Bath Bespoke team today.