Creating the Ultimate Reading Escape in Your Garden

December 17, 2025 - By Aliza

Dreaming of a quiet reading escape without ever leaving your garden?

Once solely used for growing vegetables and hanging laundry to dry, the humble garden has become something much more. A place to relax. Unwind. Get away from stress and technology for a while. A space to breathe and connect with the fresh air.

Books can be an important part of that escape. Opening a new world in every chapter.

But where to enjoy them? The living room? Bedroom? Trouble is, neither of those is truly a place to relax and read undisturbed. Too many things vying for attention.

A little garden shed, on the other hand, is the perfect answer to the problem of finding somewhere comfortable and secluded to enjoy a book in peace.

What You’ll Learn:

Garden Sheds Are Ideal Reading Retreats
Shed Size for a Reading Retreat
Must-Have Features for a Reading Shed
Designing the Perfect Atmosphere

Garden Sheds Are Ideal Reading Retreats

There’s something special about a space dedicated solely to reading books.

Nothing competing for attention. No distractions. Just hours of uninterrupted escape and imagination.

The Reading Agency found that regular readers are 51% more likely to report finding it easy to relax, compared to those who never or rarely read. That’s a huge boost to wellbeing that comes from the simple act of opening a book and getting lost for a while in its pages.

But as important as picking the right book is finding the right place to read it. The living room is too busy. The bedroom is too sleepy. Instead, look to the garden.

A garden shed provides a physical separation from the home. It creates a psychological barrier between the demands of everyday life and time to relax. Enter the shed and the rest of the world fades away.

The Horticultural Trades Association discovered that 72% of UK adults use their garden as a place to relax and unwind. By combining that natural setting with the feeling of an indoor reading space? Well, that’s the reading escape of dreams.

Shed Size for a Reading Retreat

Right size is critical in creating a reading shed.

Too small and it feels cramped and claustrophobic. Too big and the space loses the cosiness that makes snuggling up with a book so nice.

The best solution lies in the garden sheds in-between. And 20×10 garden sheds in particular. A 20ft x 10ft shed is just big enough to create distinct zones for reading, relaxing, book storage and even a small desk. But it also remains small enough to fit comfortably in most back gardens.

Here’s why this size is such a winner for bookworms:

Cozy seating zone– Enough room for a comfortable armchair or small sofa
Book storage– Floor to ceiling shelving for your entire library
Reading zones– Separate space for different moods, lighting

Walk around – Enough space to move freely

Inside, the 200 square feet of floor space allows for multiple layouts. Reading nook in one corner. Desk in another. Tall windows for natural light.

20×10 garden sheds give you the flexibility to customise the interior space based on your unique reading preferences. Some like a single oversized chair. Others prefer two reading spots. This size fits both beautifully.

Must-Have Features for a Reading Shed

A shed is just the start of creating a year-round reading escape.

The right details transform a basic building into a place of literary bliss. Here are the most important features to get right from the start…

Insulation and Climate Control

Nobody wants a reading shed that’s freezing cold or stifling hot.

Good insulation keeps it comfortable inside, no matter what the weather is doing outside. Double-glazed windows to stop heat loss in winter, and keep things cool in summer. A small electric heater or fan for the extreme weather days. With these features, the reading shed becomes usable 365 days a year.

Natural Light

Good lighting is a must for eyesight and general reading experience.

Position the shed to take full advantage of daylight through windows. South facing sheds catch the most light, throughout the day. Large windows, or even a skylight, floods the space with natural light for that soft glow so nice for reading.

Of course, don’t forget some task lighting for when the sun goes down. A good reading lamp can make all the difference to the late evening sessions.

Power Supply

Electricity is a must for modern reading retreats.

Outlets to power lamps, charge phones, small kettle for tea, and mini fridge for cold drinks. Access to electricity opens up all sorts of possibilities for convenience and comfort.

Soundproofing

Peace and quiet are essential.

At the very least some basic soundproofing materials to block out garden noises, traffic and nosy neighbours. Simple things like thick curtains and rugs help absorb sounds and create a library-like hush.

Design Tips to Create the Perfect Atmosphere

Interior design details really set the mood of a reading shed escape.

Calming Colours

Keep things soft, light and muted.

Warm creams, gentle greens, soft blues. These are the kinds of colours that work well for a reading space. It creates a calming, relaxing environment without being distracting. Steer clear of bright, bold colours that will steal the focus from reading.

Comfortable Seating

The chair is the most important part of the reading space.

Choose something that supports good posture for those long reading marathons. Nothing beats a quality armchair with back support, compared to the cheap and hard variety. Add in a footstool and side table for drinks… perfection.

Book Storage

Books need homes as much as we do.

Built-in shelving to maximise wall space and keep the floor clear. Arrange books however you like. By genre, author, colour… Well organised bookshelves become a design feature all of their own.

Personal Touches

Small details make all the difference:
Soft throw blankets for those chilly winter evenings
Quality rug underfoot
Plants or flowers for freshness

Artwork or prints that inspire

It’s these little touches that take a functional reading space and turn it into a true sanctuary.

The View

Position seating to take in the garden.

Enjoying a view of plants and greenery between chapters really adds to the relaxing benefit of reading. Even a small window placed to look out at flowers or trees, connects the experience of reading to the beauty of nature. This connection to the outdoors enhances that calming feeling even more.

Wrapping Things Up

A garden reading escape is one of the best gifts any bookworm can give themselves.

Combining the escapism of a dedicated space, comfortable furniture, and garden views creates the ultimate reading environment. A well-designed shed transforms from mere storage…

To destination.

Start with the right size. Insulation, lighting and power. Design the interior around your own reading habits and preferences. The end result? A private sanctuary that makes every reading session feel like a holiday.

Whether you’re reading novels, professional development books, or simply escaping into new fantasy worlds… a garden reading shed is the way to create the ultimate escape. Without leaving home.

The books are calling. The perfect reading spot can be too.

Aliza

I’m Aliza, the founder of Urdu Novel Bank. I built this site because I love Urdu stories and want everyone to enjoy them. As an Urdu literature lover, I choose the best novels to share with you. Here you can find free Urdu novels in romance, mystery, thriller and more. Read online or download PDF chapters without signing up. I update the library often so you’ll always have new tales to explore. My goal is to bring Urdu literature to readers around the world.