Reading area lighting project – bright enough but atmosphere feels off?

Lighting Projects Showcase
1

Just finished a lighting upgrade for a bookstore reading area:

Main lighting: Recessed downlights
Auxiliary: LED strips on bookshelves
CCT: 4000K
Control: Single switch

Brightness is fine, but the space feels cold and rigid.

Questions:

  1. Should some warm light be added to balance it?
  2. Should the bookshelf strips be controlled separately?
  3. Any better lighting layering for reading spaces?
2

The issue comes from using one color temperature and one control mode.

Suggestions:

  1. Add some 3000K warm light to soften the space
  2. Control bookshelf strips independently
  3. Let downlights provide brightness and strips create atmosphere

This will make the reading area more comfortable and inviting.