Did you know? Children who grow up in a home with at least 80 books have better than average literacy and numeracy skills. Moreover, having a modern home library can reduce your stress levels by up to 68%. Now, those are two pretty good reasons for celebrating one of our favourite days of the year, World Book Day.

During the last 12 months, and as many of us rediscovered our love of literature, reading habits (and the purpose of garden rooms) have changed. After all, people tend to find comfort in a good book. Those who were furloughed, or working from home, have escaped the daily commute under the gaze of a gripping novel. Parents’ reading time with children has expanded, and with that their knowledge of how their child’s imagination plays out.

You could say it’s been a rather special year for the written word. Although The Conversation’s research suggests there was an initial spike in interest for books on pandemics, this has changed. The modern home library is being restocked by those seeking ‘security’ in their favourite and new genres, including romance, thrillers and science-fiction. Bloomsbury, the publishing house best known for its Harry Potter books, reported profits jumping 60% from February to August 2020! Now, that’s quite impressive and no wonder we saw an increase in the number of clients purchasing a garden home library.

Benefits of a Home Library

As avid readers ourselves, we know exactly why having a modern home library is top of the list for many of our clients. The very smell of paper pages, the satisfaction of a sunken spine, and the weight of a book in hand, are what dreams are made of. Well, they are for those who love a cosy retreat to delve into their literary world, no matter how big or small.

Self-indulgence aside, there are some very real benefits to the mind, body and soul in having a modern home library, and here are just a few.

Reading is a form of meditation.

Actually, reading is a great opportunity to practice mindfulness and gain a renewed sense of calm. After all, reading unlocks your imagination and states of mind in much the same way as meditation. If you have your very own small and cosy modern home library, free from the distractions of everyday life, your mind’s eye will be focused purely on the activity of reading. It’s quite liberating and why the average home library houses 400-500 books.

Your knowledge will grow

Scary we know, but the average reading age of an adult in the UK is just 11 years old. However, those who have a vast collection of books – whether that’s stashed away in cupboards or in a modern home library – are higher achievers. Unsurprisingly, The Guardian found that children who frequently read books at age 10, and read more than once at week at 16, achieve higher academic results. So, if you need to convince your other half of the value of a garden room as a modern home library, this is a pretty good reason.

An escape for all the family

Quite simply, building a modern home library gives your children and grandchildren access to books, especially while home schooling. They don’t have to wait to visit the library (something that’s been impossible just lately). They can step outside and into a literary world whenever their mind fancies – reading to their own agenda!

Having a well-organised, cosy and inviting space from which to select different books will encourage children to learn new things. Best of all, you can help influence those choices – something a small town library might not be able to offer.

Your own choice of books

The beauty of having a cosy modern home library is that you get to choose the books adorning the shelves as you take on the job of librarian and reader. This is perfect if you’re somebody who likes to purchase books on a whim, visits second-hand book shops, and car boot sales for tantalising reads.

A place to study and work

Libraries are notorious for creating just the right space for uninterrupted concentration, even if you’re not reading. Yes, we realise this sounds a bit bizarre but just being around books can inspire creativity. In fact, many of our clients choose to use their modern home library as a home office too. The two have been synonymous with one and other over the past 12 months, as we seek a break from working and studying remotely.

If you have teenagers who are on break from University or simply need to continue with remote learning for a little while longer, a small modern home library could be really useful. They’ll be far less distracted from the usual digital interruptions.

Why have a Library in Your Garden Room?

When people think of a home library, the temptation is to think of a study or reception room brandished with books. However, there’s a growing trend for modern home libraries, by which we mean the garden home library. If your book collection has outgrown your home, or you want a far more relaxing space to relax and enjoy your favourite authors, a garden home library is perfect. Purposefully separated from the distractions of everyday living and nestled in the surroundings of nature, you couldn’t ask for a more peaceful space. With natural light a key feature of a SMART garden library, with floor to ceiling glass, your eyes will never struggle to read under the spotlight of artificial light again.

As books are also very sensitive to humidity, heat and damp, every SMART garden home library is ideal for storing books. All our garden rooms are designed for 365 days a year, regardless of the weather. Therefore, industry-leading insulation is placed into all elements of the building; the floor, the walls and the ceiling to ensure excellent thermal retention to prevent the internal space becoming damp or humid. As an internal outdoor space, a SMART garden home library is as safe as houses when it comes to keeping your book collection pristine.

Best of all, with our robust and beautiful custom-made shelving, you can easily maximise your book storage space from floor to ceiling. This is particularly important if there are books that need to be kept upright and out of direct sunlight.

Discover Your New Garden Office Now

If you’ve decided that a garden home library is a wonderful way to head into those long Spring and Summer months, you’ll be delighted to know that we have 7 beautiful ranges for you to choose from. With over 64 different sizes, 13 colours and multiple ways to design your interior space, we’re confident you’ll find a garden home library that feels bespoke to you.

Our team of garden home library designers are constantly on the road, travelling to see clients across Suffolk, Essex, Norfolk and London for a complimentary design consultation. You could say that the entire design process is as indulgent and personalised as your book collection. We consider how many books you own, who will use the space, where the natural light falls and how to maximise your budget.

When we leave you, you’ll be awash with excitement and full of design inspiration. In the meantime, and as a great starting point, please download a copy of our brochure. It’s packed full of real-life photographs of garden rooms along with full specifications.