Anyone who loves books usually has plenty of them already. One more rarely hurts, but there are far more original options. A book nook that slots into the bookshelf, a good reading lamp, a nice bookmark or a cosy reading blanket. Here are our gift ideas for book lovers, ordered from the slightly unexpected to the more obvious.
What do you give someone who loves books?
Yet another book rarely makes the biggest impression on someone who already collects them. What tends to land better is something connected to reading in a different way, something that shows on the shelf or gives a quiet moment of crafting. Below are the ideas in the order we would choose ourselves, with the most unexpected first.
Book nook: the gift most people overlook
A book nook is a small scene that stands between the books on your shelf, like a window into another world. That is exactly why it suits a book lover so well. It takes up space where the books already are, and becomes both a gift and part of the decor. And unlike a book, it never needs to be finished. Many people find the build is half the present, a quiet hour with something to piece together and tinker with. If you would like to know more about what a book nook actually is, see our guide What is a book nook?
For the classic reader, a little bookshop is hard to beat. Old Times Bookstore depicts exactly that, a cramped and charming little bookshop that blends in among the real books. If the recipient would rather have a whole room scene, Catherine's Living Room is a cosy miniature living room, complete with a bookcase, like a reading corner to place on the shelf.
If you are unsure, Eternal Bookstore is a safe first choice. Our best-selling model, and in a way the archetype itself: a small antiquarian bookshop with tall shelves and an aisle that disappears into eternity. Exactly that feeling of stepping straight in among the books and ending up somewhere else.
If the recipient enjoys fantasy or something with a touch of mystery, the more atmospheric models suit them better. Rose Window Cathedral is our smallest and simplest, a good first kit, while Magic Pharmacist is one of our most popular, with its old-fashioned apothecary full of tiny details. To see the whole range and compare at your leisure, you will find all our book nooks gathered in one place.
Dioramas and roomboxes for the keen builder
If the recipient likes working with their hands, and has perhaps already tried a book nook, there are more worlds to explore. A diorama is a free-standing miniature scene, a roombox a small room in box form. Same spirit, but without the requirement to fit on a bookshelf. They suit anyone who enjoys the building as much as the result. Among our kits you will find everything from small, simple sets to larger projects to sink into.
A gift card when you are not sure what fits
If you are unsure which model suits them, a gift card is a safe choice. The recipient then chooses the kit, theme and difficulty level themselves, and you avoid guessing. It works especially well when you know someone is keen to start building but not which style they like.
Classic gifts that always work
Sometimes it is the simple things that are appreciated most. We do not sell them ourselves, but they earn a place on the list, because they nearly always suit a book lover:
- A good reading lamp that is kind to the eyes on long reading evenings.
- A nice bookmark, ideally in a material that lasts.
- A cosy reading blanket to wrap up in in the armchair.
- A gift card to a bookshop, if you would rather let the recipient choose the book themselves.
Do combine one of these with a book nook, and you get a gift that both shows on the shelf and warms you in the reading chair.
Quick facts: gifts for book lovers
- Best for the person who has everything: a book nook depicting a little bookshop
- Easiest to start with: a smaller book nook, such as Rose Window Cathedral
- Biggest impression: a larger kit with lighting
- Best suited to: teenagers and adults who like to build
Frequently asked questions
Is a book nook a good gift?
Yes, a book nook suits someone who loves books and reading especially well. It is a small scene that fits between the books on a shelf, so it becomes both a gift and part of the decor. You build it yourself, which many people find is a cosy part of the present.
What do you give someone who already has lots of books?
Something that complements reading rather than yet another book. A book nook, a nice bookmark or a reading lamp are examples of gifts that suit someone who already has a full bookshelf.
Which book nook is best for a beginner?
Rose Window Cathedral is our smallest and simplest, and a good first build. If you want more detail, Magic Pharmacist and Old Times Bookstore are popular next steps for anyone who has built one or two before.
Is a book nook a suitable gift for both children and adults?
Book nooks are usually built by adults or older children, as they contain small parts and require patience. As a gift they suit teenagers and adults who enjoy building and crafting best.
