{"id":398,"date":"2025-01-23T14:06:09","date_gmt":"2025-01-23T19:06:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.sothebysrealty.com\/2025\/01\/23\/the-rise-of-home-libraries-in-a-screen-saturated-era\/"},"modified":"2025-10-16T16:47:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-16T20:47:15","slug":"the-rise-of-home-libraries-in-a-screen-saturated-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/the-rise-of-home-libraries-in-a-screen-saturated-era\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rise of Home Libraries in a Screen-Saturated Era"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having a space for books is the ultimate stamp of personality that enriches your living environment, writes Riya Patel<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/a>A relaxing library retreat in a London home designed by Pirajean Lees. Photo: Michael Sinclair<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

No matter how many bookshelves a home may have, there\u2019s something special about a dedicated library. Who hasn\u2019t dreamt of curating their own shelves, dusting off old favorites and getting lost for countless hours between the pages? The popularity of the personal library as a luxury home feature seems to have increased over the past few years, perhaps as a reaction to the pervasive presence of digital consumption. In the online era, a room of books is a regular reminder to reconnect with the pleasure of reading, to surround yourself in words with personal meaning, and to define a space that\u2019s screen-free.<\/span><\/p>\n

While studies and home offices imply the drudgery of work, a library can be something much more whimsical\u2014and this is reflected in design approaches. \u201cThey provide endless opportunities to add a personal touch,\u201d say designers Cl\u00e9mence Pirajean and James Lees of London-based firm <\/span>Pirajean Lees<\/span><\/a>. Indeed the recent \u201cbookshelf wealth\u201d trend points to the power of expressing oneself through the books and items on home shelving. For a 2023 townhouse project in London\u2019s Marylebone neighborhood, Pirajean Lees included a library as an \u201cinviting, quiet retreat\u2014a relaxing space perfect for a morning coffee or a Sunday read.\u201d Layered with the owner\u2019s collected novels and titles on art, fashion and design are pieces of framed art, sculptural vases, and decorative objects that reflect his life story.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>In the Pirajean Lees project, the owner\u2019s personality is expressed through the books and objects on display. Photo: Michael Sinclair<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Compared to the neutral color scheme for the rest of the townhouse, the library sets a different tone with bookcases painted in the rich and nostalgic \u201cHague Blue\u201d by British paint and wallpaper company Farrow & Ball. The compact space has several touches that work together successfully: a deep-seated armchair, a variety of lamps, a handcrafted rug and a wood-paneled ceiling that adds warmth, while absorbing sound.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A glamorous Toronto home designed in 2023 by leading American interior designer <\/span>Kelly Wearstler<\/span><\/a> also offers a small library as a place of escape. Like a castle turret, this dramatic wood-paneled room has a circular plan where shallow bookshelves sit between slot windows. The family\u2019s large-format books are the crowning glory here; the front covers face outward, displayed as they might be on the shelves of a shop, allowing their designs to be fully admired. Instead of a chair, a glass table in the center of the room is the place to leaf through anything that takes the reader\u2019s fancy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>A library hideaway in a Toronto home designed by Kelly Wearstler. Credit: Adrian Gaut<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Families are particularly keen on imaginative library spaces as they draw members together, away from the allure of personal devices. In a 2022 remodel of a California residence for actor Samira Wiley, writer Lauren Morelli and their growing family, a generous three-seater sofa is the central feature of the classically styled library. LA-based designer <\/span>Stefani Stein<\/span><\/a> set the statement furniture piece in a nook surrounded by bespoke joinery, painted in a deep green with a gloss finish, and filled with books and decorative objects. A large artwork behind and wall-mounted lamps with pleated fabric lampshades make a clear invitation to linger and enjoy the space. A low coffee table set up for playing chess or board games also marks this room out as a place for the family to entertain guests or enjoy time together.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

New York-based architect <\/span>Frederick Tang<\/span><\/a> has another theory about why we love to make books a feature of our homes: to impress. \u201cWhenever I go to someone\u2019s home, whether for the first time or the twentieth, I always spy on their shelves,\u201d he says. \u201cBook collections are the clearest window into someone\u2019s preoccupations and always an opportunity to establish the point of view of a space.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The multifunctional library space in Frederick Tang Architecture\u2019s Quarry Loft project in New York. Photo: Gieves Anderson<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Quarry Loft, a New York apartment designed by Frederick Tang Architecture in 2022, features an adaptable library that can also function as a sitting room, guest room, office or entrance hall, thanks to a timber and fluted glass sliding partition. It\u2019s a light and contemporary rendition of a classic library that makes the most of the small footprint. The white oak shelves are minimally arranged rather than stacked full, and the room\u2019s barrel-vault ceiling does the job of lending the space its distinct character.<\/span><\/p>\n

In French designer <\/span>Pierre Yovanovitch<\/span><\/a>\u2019s 2024 conversion of a quintessentially Parisian apartment, the main hallway also functions as a library. It\u2019s a nod both to the book collector who formerly owned the home and the aspirations of the couple who live there now, who wanted to combine period charm with a modern expression. Curved walls are fitted with slim bookshelves that surround doorways, maximizing the capacity of the small space to store and display books. Much more than just a room to pass through, the library features a playful ceiling fresco by artist Matthieu Coss\u00e9, a table by collectible mid-century designer Jean Roy\u00e8re, and thick textured wood surfaces that give it the feel of solidity.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>A hallway library in a Parisian project by Pierre Yovanovitch. Photo: Giuilio Ghirardi<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

In homes both contemporary and classical, the library is showing serious staying power, helping us feel both grounded and connected to bigger ideas. \u201cBooks always elevate a room,\u201d says Tang. \u201cOn a purely visual level, a surface of perfectly aligned spines becomes a living wallpaper. On an intellectual level, a giant coffee table with big art catalogues and monographs projects one\u2019s curiosities and inspirations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Love owning and displaying historic books? Find out <\/span><\/i>what you need to know<\/span><\/i><\/a> as a collector<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Having a space for books is the ultimate stamp of personality that enriches your living environment, writes Riya Patel A relaxing library retreat in a London home designed by Pirajean Lees. Photo: Michael Sinclair No matter how many bookshelves a home may have, there\u2019s something special about a dedicated library. Who hasn\u2019t dreamt of curating […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":232770368,"featured_media":343373,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1399],"tags":[1456],"class_list":["post-398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-and-design","tag-library"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/header-5.jpg","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pf4gbL-6q","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":342816,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/collecting-focus-historic-books\/","url_meta":{"origin":398,"position":0},"title":"Collecting Focus: Historic Books","author":"SIR Admin","date":"October 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"A major Sotheby\u2019s auction reveals the enduring significance of collecting publications fit for an impressive library, writes Anne Wallentine A home library at Denham Place. Photo: United Kingdom Sotheby\u2019s International Realty After collecting books for six decades, the businessman T. Kimball Brooker offers two explanations for the behavior in a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art and Culture"","block_context":{"text":"Art and Culture","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/art-and-culture\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image1.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image1.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image1.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image1.png?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":345519,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/inside-a-queen-anne-idyll-in-greenwich\/","url_meta":{"origin":398,"position":1},"title":"Inside a Queen Anne Idyll in Greenwich","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"December 2, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Near the water in a prestigious area of Greenwich, this 1890 estate\u2014a picturesque main residence, a charming carriage house, a refreshing pool, and impossibly green gardens\u2014is a paradigm of the fairytale Queen Anne aesthetic that incorporates contemporary comforts and conveniences. With their pitched rooflines, towers and turrets, breezy wraparound porches,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"blue library in Queen Anne home","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":346142,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/gene-hackmans-santa-fe-estate-finds-buyer-after-only-one-month-on-the-market\/","url_meta":{"origin":398,"position":2},"title":"Gene Hackman\u2019s Santa Fe Estate Finds Buyer After Only One Month on the Market\u00a0","author":"Kate Marburger","date":"February 21, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A striking Santa Fe estate once owned by legendary actor Gene Hackman has sold in record time, capturing a buyer after just one month on the market. Set within the gated Santa Fe Summit and surrounded by more than 53 acres of pristine high\u2011desert landscape, a remarkable estate once owned\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Exterior of Gene Hackman's Santa fe Home","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/hackman1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/hackman1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/hackman1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/hackman1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/hackman1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/hackman1.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":346000,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/now-is-the-time-to-sink-into-statement-sofas\/","url_meta":{"origin":398,"position":3},"title":"Now Is the Time to Sink into Statement Sofas","author":"Natalie Davis","date":"February 2, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Luxury designers and homeowners are placing playful, bold and colorful seating at the heart of the home, writes Francesca Perry A luxurious purple sofa in the Zappa Nest guest house in the Hollywood Hills. Photograph: \u00a9 Clemens Kois Of all the spaces in a home, the living room is a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"green and blue curvy sofas","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Statement-Sofas_AnotherHuman.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Statement-Sofas_AnotherHuman.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Statement-Sofas_AnotherHuman.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Statement-Sofas_AnotherHuman.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Statement-Sofas_AnotherHuman.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Statement-Sofas_AnotherHuman.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":341254,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/new-and-notable-homes-for-sale-over-10-million-april-2024\/","url_meta":{"origin":398,"position":4},"title":"New and Notable Homes for Sale Over $10 Million: April, 2024","author":"SIR Admin","date":"April 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"From a luxurious estate in Dublin, Ireland to a waterfront tour-de-force in West Vancouver, Canada, these are this month\u2019s five featured notable properties for sale over US$10 Million. Dublin, Ireland Lisney Sotheby's International Realty Kenah Hill offers a refined and luxurious living experience amidst stunning architecture, meticulously landscaped gardens, and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Brand News"","block_context":{"text":"Brand News","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/brand-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/atlanta3-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/atlanta3-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/atlanta3-1024x683.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":341912,"url":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/whats-old-is-new-again-3-cleverly-converted-properties\/","url_meta":{"origin":398,"position":5},"title":"What\u2019s Old Is New Again: 3 Cleverly Converted Properties","author":"SIR Admin","date":"June 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"From a onetime barn in the countryside of the Hamptons to a former spice warehouse on the banks of the Hudson, these three properties have been carefully, stylishly transformed, applying architectural and aesthetic modernity with a respectful eye toward history. Classic Charm in Sagaponack Kathy Konzet | Sotheby's International Realty\u00a0\u2013\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Home and Design"","block_context":{"text":"Home and Design","link":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/category\/home-and-design\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/sagaponack2-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/sagaponack2-1024x683.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static-sir-corp-blog-production.gtsstatic.net\/blog-api\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/sagaponack2-1024x683.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/232770368"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=398"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":345114,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398\/revisions\/345114"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/343373"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sothebysrealty.com\/extraordinary-living-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}