Best reading chair and reading nook: where to read at home

In short: where to read and what helps

For each spot, here's what I think helps most. Some items lead to an Amazon search (these are affiliate links); the rest jump to sections further down.

1. 🌙Long evening reading in the living room🛋️🌙 Long evening reading in the living roomChaira backrest, armrests for the arms holding the book, a high back to rest your head
2. 🛋️A soft armchair or sofa with no back support🟫🛋️ A soft armchair or sofa with no back supportCushionsupporting the lower back reduces the pressure on the intervertebral discs
3. 🧱You read on the floor, leaning against the wall🧘🧱 You read on the floor, leaning against the wallFlooran angled backrest instead of a hard wall; ideally with your legs straight
4. 🦶Your feet don't reach the floor or the sofa is deep🦶🦶 Your feet don't reach the floor or the sofa is deepFootstoolyour feet have support and your thighs don't hang over the edge of the seat
5. 🎧Hammock, a walk, your hands are busy🎧🎧 Hammock, a walk, your hands are busyAudiobookno book to hold and no head to bend

How to sit when reading so your back doesn't hurt

Most of the research is on office chairs, but the conclusions fit an armchair too. In a classic 1975 study (Andersson and colleagues), the recline of the backrest turned out to matter most: the further it reclined, the lower the pressure on the intervertebral discs and the less work for the muscles. Lumbar support reduced that pressure further. A 2003 study (Makhsous and colleagues) showed that a backrest fitted to the lower spine keeps its natural curve close to the one you have when standing and reduces muscle work.

A 1999 review of studies (Harrison and colleagues) gives the range with the lowest pressure on the discs: a backrest reclined to 110–130 degrees together with lumbar support. Around 110 degrees also helped keep the head from moving forward, which matters when you read.

• Back supported and slightly reclined, with the lower back supported by a cushion or by the shape of the backrest.
• Feet flat on the floor, or on a footstool if they don't reach (this is what OSHA advises for chairs).
• Book higher, head straight. A book held low makes the neck muscles work harder. Studies showed this in children (in one of them aged 10–12), so for adults treat it as an indication.
• Change position. According to Cornell's ergonomics materials, fidgeting is the body's natural defence against sitting in one position for a long time. Get up every now and then. The NHS points out that even if you get enough exercise in a week, sitting for long periods the rest of the time still carries a health risk.

Leaning far back? Then you have to hold the book higher, and your arms tire sooner. A cushion on your lap or a book stand helps.

What is the best reading chair?

A wingback, an armchair with a footstool, a recliner or a rocking chair: any of them will do if it meets a few conditions. Below is a checklist for buying, based on OSHA and Cornell University guidelines for chairs. I don't give seat height and depth in centimetres, because I couldn't find a reliable source for armchairs.

• Seat height: feet flat on the floor, knees roughly level with the hips, or a footstool.
• Seat depth: supports most of the thigh, and the front edge doesn't press behind the knees.
• Width: according to Cornell, at least about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of room on each side of the hips.
• Backrest: reclined or reclining, with a lumbar curve or room for a lumbar cushion.
• Armrests: at a height where the forearms rest comfortably, ideally wide enough to prop the elbow of the arm holding the book.
• A high back or “wings”, if you like to lean back and rest your head.
• Test it for a long time. Cornell advises judging a chair after 60–120 minutes of sitting, so if you buy online, check the return policy.

Reading on the floor, leaning against a wall

The floor is tempting: it costs nothing, it's right by the bookshelf, and children read like this for hours. There are few studies. A 2023 computer model (Cho and colleagues) calculated higher disc pressure when sitting on the floor than when slumped in a chair, but that is a simulation, not a measurement in people.

A 2025 study (Liu and colleagues) in healthy adults showed that sitting cross-legged or on one side tilts the pelvis and loads the buttocks unevenly. The authors concluded that sitting with the legs straight out is better for longer periods. Another 2025 paper (Wang and colleagues) linked sitting cross-legged while leaning forward with a greater load on the lower spine.

• Lean your back against a floor chair with a backrest or a cushion by the wall, not against the bare wall.
• Sit with your legs straight or on a thick cushion that raises your hips.
• Change position more often than in an armchair.

Reading nook ideas: window seat, doorway, under the stairs

I couldn't find any studies on these spots, so this is common sense. A doorway gives a narrow, hard backrest: fine for short reading, or with a cushion behind your back and under your seat. A window seat gives you daylight, but it's usually a flat bench with no backrest, and the window can bring a chill or glaring sun.

• Window seat: cushions behind your back or a wedge, and a seat deep enough to support your thighs.
• In a doorway: a cushion behind your back and under you, feet resting against the other side of the frame.
• Under the stairs or in the attic: a lamp beside or behind you, and room to stretch your legs.
• Everywhere: a small table or shelf for tea and books, and a blanket for cooler evenings.

Deck chair, hammock and bean bag: can you read in them?

A deck chair with an adjustable backrest lets you set the recline within the range that studies consider good for the back. The weak points are the lack of lumbar support in a fabric seat and the sun's glare on a white page (that part is common sense): shade and a small lumbar pillow help.

There are no studies on hammocks or bean bags. A hammock curves your back and makes you hold the book up high; lying diagonally gives a flatter position. A bean bag moulds to your body but gives the lower back little support, and it's hard to get out of. Both are great for a short while, and best for listening to an audiobook.

Where is the best place to listen to audiobooks?

An audiobook frees your hands and eyes, so there's nothing to hold and no need to bend your head. In the US Audio Publishers Association survey from 2026 (1,706 people), 58% of adults had listened to an audiobook, and listeners most often value being able to do something else while listening (86%), listening on the go (84%) and the fact that it's an alternative to screen time (70%).

At home, any place where you can relax works: a reclined armchair, a hammock, a deck chair, and outside the home, a walk. I write more about everyday listening in the article on audiobooks and headphones, and about reading in bed in the evening in the piece on reading at night and your eyes.

The best places to read at home compared

Reading chair, footstool, cushion: what's worth having

Nobody paid me for these suggestions. The links lead to an Amazon search and are affiliate links: if you buy something, BookRank may earn a small commission, and you don't pay any more. Choose the exact model yourself, checking the measurements and the return policy.

• Wingback armchairGood for: long reading sessions in the living roomA high back and sides for the head. Check that the backrest supports the lower back, or add a lumbar cushion.See on Amazon →
• Recliner with a footrestGood for: your back, resting your legsAn adjustable recline lets you find the 110–130° range, and the footrest supports your legs.See on Amazon →
• Lumbar support pillowGood for: soft armchair, sofa, deck chairSupports the lower back where the furniture doesn't.See on Amazon →
• FootstoolGood for: when your feet don't reach the floorYour feet have support, and your thighs don't hang over the edge of the seat.See on Amazon →
• Floor chair with a backrestGood for: reading on the floorAn angled backrest instead of the bare wall. Sit with your legs straight or on a cushion.See on Amazon →
• Clip-on book lightGood for: a nook with no overhead lightLight from the side or over your shoulder, with no glare on the page.See on Amazon →

Sources

• OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration): guidelines on chairs for seated work.
• Cornell University Ergonomics Web: choosing a chair and materials on sitting.
• Andersson et al., 1975: the backrest and pressure on the intervertebral discs.
• Harrison et al., 1999: review of studies on backrest recline and lumbar support.
• Makhsous et al., 2003: a backrest fitted to the lower spine.
• Cho et al., 2023: sitting on the floor (computer model).
• Liu et al., 2025, and Wang et al., 2025: sitting postures on the floor.
• Straker et al., 2008; Briggs et al., 2004: book height and neck load (in children).
• NHS: why sitting too much is bad for us.
• Audio Publishers Association, 2026 consumer survey (US, 1,706 people).

What to read in your new reading nook?

If you already have the chair and the lamp, take a look at the ranking of the best books, the new releases or the book finder that matches your mood.

Questions and answers