Bedroom

Start young. No one is ever too young to be read to. For the disciples of Jim Trelease, a good bookshelf is a mandatory touch in a budding reader’s bedroom.

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Headlining the room. If reading by osmosis has merits (we hope it does), then above-bed bookcases are a compelling option for the effortless assimilation of intelligence. Be a woodsmith: For bookcases you plan to paint, consider using poplar wood. It’s light and affordable; you can drill and nail it easily (then fill the holes with wood filler, which eliminates the need to use a finish nail gun); and it takes paint nicely.

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Books in blue. A bookshelf is more than a place for books. Shelves provide space for your own expression, letting you pair favorite titles with personal photographs and symbolic objects.

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Add a headboard. A bookcase can also function as a dividing feature, anchoring a centrally located bed and placing a read within reach.

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A shared space. Whatever side of the bedroom-TV debate you take, there’s always a way to find middle ground. Bound books are a tasteful nondigital touch to counterbalance an electronic bent.

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Great wall of inspiration. Floor-to-ceiling shelving gives ample opportunity for expression, and, with the classic look of a good book, why stop with the walls? Here some big spines also take the bench at the foot of the bed.

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The bay window area and couch

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