Books aren’t just for decoration; some people actually read them, too.

However select, that latter group is likely to view those volumes with the same admiration and adoration as the narrator of David Bajo’s 2008 novel “The 351 Books of Irma Arcuri”:

“They bind and revive friendships. Their spines cupped for coolness or warmth. Their covers lingered over. I still love to slip my fingers between cool pages, like finding the fresh creases of bedsheets with your bare legs. … They are incredibly light and manageable for what they contain, what they can induce.”

Erotic, isn’t it?

Those inclined to agree know reading for pleasure is more than an activity — it’s an experience. And that experience can be heightened with a dedicated home library or reading room.

“What makes a great library or reading room is coziness,” says interior decorator Jennifer Cunningham, owner of the Edmond-based The House Dresser. “You want a place where you can curl up and get comfy and just escape.”

Recommendations
To achieve this, she recommends such elements as a sofa built for snuggling; a dark wall color, preferably with a copper glaze; throws for colder days; and pillows.

“My mantra is that you can never have too many pillows,” Cunningham said.

As for lighting, the less, the better, she recommended.

“I don’t believe in overall lighting,” she says. “A lamp on a side table should put out enough light to do your task at hand, but not so much that you can’t relax.”

Lastly, dress up those spines from the shelves with accessories.

“One thing I tell my clients is to always include things you love or that have special meaning,” Cunningham says. “If you buy things you love, there is always a place for them.”