What problem this solves
Designers specify a reading chair and a side table and call it a nook, then discover on site that the chair is so deep the reader can’t reach the table without sitting forward, or that the lamp arm doesn’t clear the reader’s head, or that the nook is too short for a stretched-out chaise. The fix is to compute the footprint up front, including the chair posture and the lamp reach. This tool does that — it doesn’t just multiply chair widths, it walks through the geometry a reader actually uses.
The posture option matters more than people expect. An upright posture on a Bergere-style chair has seat depth around 50 cm; a reclined posture on a chaise is closer to 130 cm; a curl-up posture in an Eames lounge is 95 cm with the head reclined. Picking the right posture and reading the chair footprint back to scale is the difference between a nook that works and one that’s been cut in half to fit the wall.
Who it’s for
- Designers carving a reading nook out of a hallway alcove or window bay
- Bedroom designers placing a chair + ottoman in the corner
- Bookshelf designers planning the chair to fit between bookcases
- Homeowners choosing between a chaise and a Bergere for the bay window
Why posture, not chair dimensions
Furniture specs list the chair dimensions but not the seated footprint. A Bergere is 75 cm wide and 70 cm deep, but the seated reader occupies a 50 cm × 50 cm zone within it. A chaise is 70 cm wide and 160 cm deep, but the reader occupies a 50 cm × 130 cm reclined zone. The footprint you need to plan against is the seated zone, not the furniture footprint, plus the chair’s own clearance. This tool computes both.
Limitations
- Chair depth ratios are typical — specific models vary; check the spec sheet.
- Lamp reach is straight; an articulating arm with two joints can cover more area but the radius is still bounded.
- No ottoman footprint added — if you spec one, add 50 cm × 60 cm manually to the depth.
- Window-seat nooks need additional sill-height checks (typical 45–50 cm); this tool doesn’t model the sill.
- Two-person nooks (two chairs, two lamps) double everything; use this tool per seat.
Practical layout rules
Aim for the lamp to sit 30 cm above shoulder height when the reader is seated; that puts the bulb over the book without glare. Aim for the side table to be 5 cm above the armrest height so the reader can rest the book on it without looking down. Aim for 60 cm between the chair arm and the wall behind, so the chair can be pulled out for vacuuming. Behind a chaise, allow at least 50 cm to the wall — a reclined reader may shift their weight backward.