summertime sleeping nooks for grown-ups.

same secret fort vibes we had as kids, but in my grown-up version there's well-designed built-in bookshelves, good lighting, comfy pillows, and soft bedding.

when it comes to summer sleeping nooks, i don’t see why the kiddos should have all the fun. i love a cozy space for curling up with a good book or a long leisurely nap after a day in the hot sun, so today i’m sharing some grownup ideas inspired by those crazy forts we used to make as kids. we’d stack the sofa pillows sky-high or roundup our twin-sized mattresses — yes, i was one of those kids who could never get enough of building secret hideaways, and i’m still up for them. but in my adult version, i’m surrounded by well-designed built-in bookshelves, good lighting, comfy pillows, and soft bedding. same secret fort vibes but on a more mature level — and they do double time as overnight guest beds.

if you’re not able to do a built-in version, there are loads of well-design daybeds, platform beds, army cots, and trundle beds available in multitudes of styles, from rustic to contemporary modern — or you can turn a twin-sized bed into an easy daybed by simply shoving it up against a wall or into a tiny nook. add a privacy curtain, pile them with cozy bedding and pillows, and you’ve got a zen space of your very own or for weekend guests. ikea makes some simple and affordable ready-made daybeds (and some with great storage space, too), and i’ve always been a fan of the jenny lind daybed from crate & barrel; this black pari black rattan daybed from anthropologie is chic, and i like this mid-century modern daybed from west elm, too. let’s get comfortable, shall we?

clockwise, l to r: plywood reading nook via bloesem; green striped pillowcases by mieke verbijlen; cabin from the book handmade houses: a guide to the woodbutcher’s art by art boericke and barry shapiro; window reading nook by @_marinadenisova_; sleeping nook with built-in bookcases by commune design; deep green sleeping nook from luis laplace; beach daisy duvet cover and pillows from nancybird; reading nook with bookshelves via dwell magazine; sleeping nook by hoa-zen architecte d'intérieur; floral bedding set made with liberty thorpe green fabric from poppy and honesty; burke decor chenevard blossom & peach quilts & pillowcases; window bed by billy cotton; wood privacy screen designed by femkeido; color-blocked sleeping nook photographed by anne deppe for jäll & tofta; layered quilts via kip & co.; below: daybed from the socialite family; a-frame bedroom from @californ_i_aframe.

• photography credits: click on the image, which will take you to its original source.