In winter everything gets a little quieter – at least outside. Sometimes it feels different inside: gray days, early darkness, the feeling that you’re spending more time at home than usual. That’s exactly when I realize how important small, creative rituals are.
Not a big project. Not the perfect plan. But something that takes me into another world for a few hours. For me these are Book Nooks.
Between hidden object picture and bookshelf
As a child, I loved getting lost in details. I sat for hours looking at hidden object pictures, discovered tiny scenes, invented stories, looked for connections. There was something incredibly calming about this quiet sinking into small worlds. Today they are no longer hidden object pictures. Today they are lovingly designed Book Nooks.
A Book Nook is essentially a bookshelf diorama: a miniature scene placed on the shelf between books. From the outside it looks like a narrow spine of a book – almost inconspicuous. But if you look inside, a small world opens up: a winding alley, an old library, a café with warm light. Often even with integrated lighting, which creates a very unique atmosphere in the evening. And that’s exactly what touches something in me that I know from my childhood: this joy in details.
Why creative winter projects are so good
When everything is gray outside, I need something to warm me up mentally. Creative projects have a special quality. As I put small pieces together, glue tiny furniture or lay a string of lights, something very quiet happens within me. The focus shifts. Thoughts become calmer. The pressure of everyday life fades into the background. Unlike scrolling on a cell phone, something tangible is created here. Something that lasts.
Especially in winter, when you spend more time at home, such hobbies become little anchors. They structure an evening. They give the day a soft edge. And they remind you that not everything has to happen quickly.
Decoration with feeling
If you’ve been following my interior blog for a while, you know: I like decorations that aren’t loud. Things that you don’t notice immediately – but that make you smile when you take a second look. A Book Nook is just such a detail. Between novels and illustrated books, a small scene suddenly emerges that is discovered almost by accident. Guests stop in front of it, lean forward slightly and say: “Oh, how beautiful is that?” And every time I think: Yes. It is beautiful. Because it emerged over time. Because it wasn’t just bought and put there, but built, designed, put together.
Who are Book Nooks the perfect winter hobby for?
I think they are especially for people who:
- Love books and want to personalize your shelf
- Enjoy DIY projects
- Look for quiet, decelerating hobbies
- Want to consciously create small creative islands in winter
It’s not about perfection. Not about masterful craftsmanship. But about the process. About spending an evening immersed in a miniature world, with soft music in the background, maybe a cup of tea next to it.
Allow yourself to get lost in the details again
Maybe that’s exactly why I love this hobby so much: it feels familiar. Like an adult version of my hidden object afternoons.
Back then I was looking for figures. Today I might stick them in myself. Back then I made up stories. Today I’m creating a small stage for it. Especially in the uncomfortable winter time, when it gets dark early and the outside is less attractive, something new is created inside. A miniature world. A warmly lit passageway between two books. A little piece of fantasy on the shelf. And maybe that’s exactly what we need this time of year: something to keep us quietly occupied without overwhelming us. Something that allows us to get lost in details again.
If you need more inspiration, feel free to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. I look forward to you!
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Photo credit: Unsplash
