Whether you’re a student, run a business or are in charge of all the admin tasks needed to keep a home in running order, it’s important to have a study room or home office space where you can get the job done.
Not everyone has the luxury of having an entire separate room for these kinds of activities but that doesn’t mean you can’t set-up a dedicated space somewhere in your home that is just as effective.
What is it that makes a great study room?
Whether you have a full room or space tucked off to the side, the most important thing about a study room is that it should be somewhere that makes you feel relaxed. It should also be a space free from distractions, where it is easy for you to concentrate on whatever task it is that you are trying to get done – your home renovation budget, a client proposal or an end-of-semester essay.
Have a dedicated space
The best way to ensure that you will feel relaxed and free from distractions is to have a dedicated study room space. Trying to concentrate and be productive is made a lot more difficult if you are working on your bed, in front of the television or on the kitchen bench.
If you need to put your study room space in a room that is used for other things, try to clearly define and separate the space as much as possible. You could use curtains or partitioning to create a physical divider and isolate your workspace.
Keep design and styling minimal
If you are easily distracted, stick to the essential elements that a study room requires. Choose a plain style desk and make sure that you have a comfortable chair. You’ll find that the more “stuff” that is in the space, generally the more overwhelming and distracting it can be. Combat this by finding great storage solutions to keep all your supplies and resources hidden out of sight and only have in the desk area the tools that you need for whatever you are working on right now.
Get organised
As well as keeping things minimal and hidden, you need to have a level of structure and organisation too. This will ensure that you can quickly and easily find things when you need to. Which will help you spend more time getting tasks done, and less time hunting for that notorious “I know it’s here somewhere” critical item.
Consider including a calendar or organiser of some kind in your study room to help you keep on track and manage your goals and priorities.
Location, location, location
Wherever possible try to locate your study room or study space near a window. The flood of light will help with alertness and focus, which you definitely need plenty of when you are in work or study mode. And natural light is the preferable source over artificial light as ideal for reading and writing.
Make it your own
As we’ve said before, it’s important that you feel relaxed and comfortable in your study room. So you should definitely add a few key pieces that really personalise the space and make it yours. Be careful not to go too crazy and overpopulate the space so much with all your favourite trinkets, treasures and posters that you can barely find the desk, but you certainly don’t want to feel like you are stuck in a sterile and soulless cubicle either.
You might consider adding a stylish area rug or a piece of great wall art to add a touch of inspiration and reflect your personality. Even the choices that you make for your organisational items can reference your personal style. Is it classic and refined? Bold and bright? Quaint and unusual?
Painting your study room can make a big difference too. Generally lighter colours are best to make space feel bright and big and roomy. Dark colours usually make space feel more cramped and so they are not the usual recommendation for a study room as it is usually already a smaller space, to begin with. But at the end of the day, it’s your own space and you want to be able to enjoy the time that you spend in there (even if you are working hard) so if you love the darker colours and it works for you, then go for it!
Study rooms are not just for the hard work
Whilst the reality is that there’s more than likely some true hard yakka going on this dedicated space, it doesn’t have to be all work and no play. If you are lucky enough to have some extra space take advantage of it and create a relaxing reading nook or other break-out type space. Rather than always having to be at the desk or the keyboard, give yourself another area where you can sit for reading, brainstorming or taking a break.
A comfy armchair, small lounge or window seat complete with a sea of cushions and blankets that you can sink right into makes for a perfect break-out space.
Perhaps you prefer to do all your work in a big comfy chair with your laptop propped up on your knees. Why not? No one says that a study room has to have a desk. The main thing that you have to worry about is choosing whatever it is that gives you the best chance of being comfortable and productive.
We hope that we’ve given you some ideas that you can use to create a personal yet practical study room or study space in your home.
We’d love to hear what you have in mind for your study room and to talk to you about how you can incorporate amazing custom paint projects into this area of your home. Whether it’s custom hand-painted cabinetry or re-painted and re-purposed classic furniture pieces for a touch of character, we can help. Contact Highlands Handpainting on 1300 662 112, submit an online enquiry, or visit us at 12 Graham Hill Road Narellan NSW.