My New Reading Set Up is Ugly and Expensive. I’m Never Going Back.
One of the fun things about being in my thirties is that now I sometimes get random neck pain. It’s a particular kind of discomfort that feels like I’m holding my neck wrong no matter what I do. Now that I not only read as a hobby but also cross-stitch, I spend a lot of time sitting hunched over, which hasn’t helped. So, during one of these uncomfortable days, I dove into the depths of Amazon (not my proudest moment) looking for a solution, and I ended up dropping $100 on a six-piece orthopedic bed wedge pillow set. (There’s also a four-piece version for $60.)
There are so many downsides to this purchase. First of all, it’s ugly. Its primary function is to help people recovering from surgery, not decor. It’s also bulky. I use it while reading in bed, and I now have big foam pillows wedged between my bed frame and the wall to keep them out of the way when I’m sleeping. It also wasn’t cheap.
And yet, I could never go back. My neck pain has been so much better since I started using this set up. I like that it’s adjustable, so I can find the precise angle that is most comfortable while reading. It has made me realize just how uncomfortable I was reading before this. Some nights I’ll decide it’s not worth setting all the pillows up, and then five minutes of reading without them, I’ll change my mind.
It was a big improvement to my reading life…but it also wasn’t perfect. Despite all those pillows, it was missing a crucial support: armrests. I found myself piling up my regular pillow to use under my elbows, and then another one on top to rest my book on. Well, in for a penny, so I found myself spending $60 on a lap desk to fix that problem.
My first reading pillow lap desk that I ordered from cooloo8 was instantly cancelled. I ordered another one, this time going for the extra large option: as a fat person, I wanted to make sure it would fit over my legs and hips comfortably. Extra large ended up being overkill because the armrests are a little too high, and there’s enough flexibility that a smaller size still would be comfortable. There are a ton of similar gaming pillows/lap desks out there, so take a look to see which one looks best for your uses.
Even if I didn’t pick exactly the right model, this lap desk leveled up my new reading setup. With the back pillow adjusted just right, reading was now so comfortable it almost felt weightless.
Of course, I’d now added another large foam pillow that I need to stash when not in use, but it was well worth it. Despite both of these items not being particularly attractive or cheap, I am so glad I bought them. I can read for hours without discomfort, and it’s lessened my neck pain.
If you find reading uncomfortable at all, whether from chronic pain, a disability, recent surgery, or just creakiness with age, I highly recommend looking into ways to make it more comfortable for you. It doesn’t have to be my exact set-up, though. In fact, I might get an additional armrest, since my lap desk doesn’t easily fit on the couch.
There are many different versions of a pillow armrest. You can find them by searching gaming pillow, crafting pillow, or nursing pillow. Whatever you call them, they act as an armrest, which makes reading, gaming, or crafting for long periods of time more comfortable. Since I usually cross-stitch on the couch, I think this would make it more ergonomic. It’s also cheaper than a lap desk: the example above is $32.
But if you want to go the other direction, there are also more expensive and higher-quality options, like this long U-shaped pillow. It works as a pregnancy pillow or a reading pillow, and it offers flexible back/neck support, armrests, and a surface to prop your book on, depending on how you arrange it. It’s certified organic and is filled with either hypoallergenic fiber balls or kapok, derived from kapok seeds. It starts at around $200 and goes up to $300 for the kapok option plus two covers.
If you’re not in a rush to spend hundreds of dollars on a reading setup, though, I have since found some options that may have solved my problem more cheaply. For example, there are the above and below reading pillows, which include neck support and armrests all in one. The above pillow is $40, and the below is $50.
While I still enjoy having a surface to rest my book on, if I had known about these options, I’d probably save the $110 difference and put a regular pillow on my lap.
Other than getting an additional armrest for couch reading and crafting, I’m content with my current reading setup… at least for now. If I did want to make it truly the comfiest possible arrangement, though, I know what I’d have to do next.
BookTok has been loving the cozy setup of ereading plus a remote page-turner, especially in the winter. You just put an ereader in a stand, adjust until it’s the perfect reading distance, and then grab a remote page turner so that you can flip pages without moving your arms. It keeps your hands toasty under the covers in the winter. The above example is $20, but we have a whole guide to remote page-turners for more information.
You’ll have to pair your page-turner with a tablet stand, of course. There’s this gooseneck stand for $22 that attaches to your headboard, or you can get a floor tablet stand for $26.
If you’re looking for your perfect reading set up and this one doesn’t appeal, check our guides to the best pillows for reading in bed and the biggest and comfiest reading chairs.
