Snug style: decorating ideas for reading rooms, nooks, dens and more

Designed by Studio Giancarlo Valle for colour-loving clients, the library of this New York townhouse features bespoke brushed-oak shelving and wraparound seating upholstered in cosy bouclé. But its masterstroke? The carpet-to-ceiling red has a cocooning effect and cleverly softens the sharp lines of the shelves. giancarlovalle.com

Look closer at this simple snug and you’ll spot the subtle ways it maximises a modest footprint. Los Angeles studio Commune Design opted for floating, bench-style seating that slots neatly into a shelving system, leaving visual space below. Locally salvaged Monterey cypress extended across the ceiling adds warmth. communedesign.com

Framed by wooden panelling painted black to contrast with white walls, this window nook evokes a feeling of separation from the rest of the room. It’s part of a Grade II-listed home in Notting Hill by AKK Architects, who created the space at floor level to preserve its leafy outlook. annabelkassar.com

Wary of dividing this bijou Paris apartment into a series of tiny rooms, French interior-design firm Batiik Studio utilised an undulating wooden screen to sequester a bedroom nook, creating structure for a cosy seating area in the process. batiik.fr

Restful mossy green is a unifying force in this tonal TV room by London-based property developer and interior-design studio Banda, which matched the velvet upholstery of Charles Zana’s enveloping ‘Alexandra’ sofa with its fabric wall panels. bandaproperty.co.uk

Paris-based designer Pierre Yovanovitch has created an unusual alcove in spruce for a chalet in the Alpine village of Andermatt in Switzerland. Nestled neatly under the beams, its pitched roof and asymmetrical seating speak to an imaginative use of space. pierreyovanovitch.com

With its cement tiles, laminate doors and lacquered details, this corner of a Milanese apartment designed by Italian architect duo Marcante Testa shouldn’t feel conventionally cosy – that it does is testament to the power of playful colour and pattern. marcante-testa.it

Between the yellow lace wallpaper, the two-tone curtain and the custom daybed, this maximalist seating nook in the home of architect and interior designer Annabel Kassar is a lesson in layering patterns. The rounded shapes and complementary colours serve to soften the look. annabelkassar.com

Created for a family of four that wanted space to curl up together, this bespoke sofa by British interior designer Rachel Chudley has a convivial curve. Also in velvet, the red curtains bring a richness to the room. rachelchudley.com