I'm Obsessed: Nicole Richie's Opulent Reading Room Makes Literature Look Like a Luxury Good – It's a Mélange of Marble, Gold, and Jacquard

Nicole Richie's reading room is any book lover's paradise with a range of beautiful textures, metallics, and fabrics – I want to burrow into the space

nicole richie on the left and a home library on the right
(Image credit: Amy Sussman via Getty Images / VSP Interiors)

Since the pandemic, we've seen a rise in the aestheticization of reading, and as a lifelong book lover, I'm here for it. This glamorization has extended to the interior space, with the rise of looks like the dark academia trend. However, I had never seen anything quite like the uniquely bohemian luxury of Nicole Richie's reading room.

The fashion designer took to Instagram to share a few bookish snaps of her home library and, though I'm impressed by the sheer volume of novels she gets through, I was even more impressed by the background. Nicole's reading room features a delicate balance of opulent antiques and stylish modern pieces. From a gold side table covered in marble coasters and a marble bowl, to a hand-carved and upholstered chair, it feels rich yet approachable. She stores her books on mahogany shelves built into the walls of her home.

Recreate The Look at Home

For me, it's the transitional nature of Nicole's reading room that makes it so chic. Though the marble pieces are clearly new, the chair has a storied, Victorian feel. This combination brings new life to each piece, creating the feeling of slow decorating and style.

I also think that the lived-in quality of the room goes a long way in making it feel cozy. Though there is a version of this space that might be stuffy, relaxed textiles and casually styled books grounds it and makes it feel more modern. For designing your own home library, I recommend incorporating lots of personal affects. Whether its souvenirs sourced from your travels, or just a brightly colored chair that you love, these deeply human touches make a library feel like a home.

Wooden door with book shelving at either side and above and two armchairs with wood floor and rug

A home library with a warm, luxurious energy, similar to Nicole Richie's

(Image credit: VSP Interiors)

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Sophie Edwards
News Editor

Sophie is a writer and News Editor on the Celebrity Style team at Homes & Gardens. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly passionate about researching trends and interior history. She is an avid pop culture fan and has interviewed Martha Stewart and Hillary Duff.

In her free time, Sophie freelances on design news for Westport Magazine and Livingetc. She also has a newsletter, My Friend's Art, in which she covers music, culture, and fine art through a personal lens. Her fiction has appeared in Love & Squalor and The Isis Magazine.

Before joining Future, Sophie worked in editorial at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens brand. She has an MSc from Oxford University and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.