Having a conducive area for studying is very important if you’re serious about productivity and inspiration. Imagine if you have to do your homework in a dim room with barely enough space to breathe. Now put yourself in a child’s shoes and consider the effects of your environment in your focus. Not very great, right? In this article, we will talk about how to create the best layout and home interior design for the study area of your little ones.
1. Think forward
It’s easy to set-up the layout of a study area if you will only consider the aesthetics of it. However, since your children will eventually grow up, it’s smart to consider if the space can support them as their study requirements change. This is one of the problems that MamaChow wanted to solve when she approached us, IEO Designs, to redo the interior design of their study area. Since she has twins, she realized she needed to tweak the learning corner of her children so they could be comfortable when trying to do their homework. The result? A cleaner, more spacious layout where her kids can have fun while studying!
2. Design to inspire
Whether you’re redesigning a room for your kinder tot or your high school kid, adding some home fixtures that can get their motivation going is a must. You can go for creative wall designs with inspirational quotes, or if that’s too cheesy, simply add trinkets that they are passionate about, like a poster of their favorite band or cartoon character. One of the most common mistakes when creating the design of a study area is making it too stiff and formal. Think about it as a space that your kid can get comfortable in and see as a creative escape from their regular classroom environment.
3. Curate the right colors
Colors affect our moods so you should carefully choose your palette for a space as important as a study area. It’s recommended that you keep away from dark tones like red and black since they can be distracting and can create a heavy feeling within the room. If white seems too dull for you, you can go for pastels or colors or jewel hues to make the room lighter and more conducive for learning.
4. Go for a space-saving furniture
This will depend on whether you have enough space in the study area or not, but if you are a little bit short on square feet, one way you can maximize the room is to use space-saving furniture like foldable tables and stackable crates. This is especially important if kids will be using the room because this will give them enough space to move and play around if they need to have a quick break. Of course, organization is also crucial—you can simply buy plastic containers and put labels on them to make it easy for them to find things. Plus, this will also train them to be neat with their stuff!
5. Make it comfortable
Who wants to study in an area that seems like an extension of your regular, dingy library? Contrary to what many think, making a study room look and feel comfortable can actually increase the productivity of those who will be using it. You don’t really need to add a nap area in the space, but adding some small pillows, throws, and even a little couch can help make a child more comfortable in it while doing their academic requirements. Adding a rug is also a wise choice since a lot of kids love getting up and around and doing their projects on the floor.
6. Add a writing wall
Study areas should be more comfortable extensions of regular classrooms so adding simple and small chalkboards that kids can just doodle on can make them feel like they are really in a space for learning. This can also double as their reminder area where they can easily create a checklist of all the things that they need to get done. A corkboard is also a great idea since they can get creative with it by pinning cutouts and photos if they want.
7. Create a play corner
Adding a play corner is not really on the top list of those trying to design the interiors of a study area, but it’s really not that bad—as long as you execute it well. In fact, play spaces help make studying more effective because it gives your kids an area where they can take quick and necessary breaks. If you have enough space, you can simply create a separate corner in the room by using a small shelf or bookcase to keep the area from being overly distracting.
8. Be resourceful
Let’s say you don’t have an actual room to actually use as a study area. You can get creative with your interior design to still create a dedicated corner for them to study on. If your child has a room of their own, you can install a double bed and design the lower area as a study nook with a small table and chair. You can also do the same for other spare areas in your home—just make sure that it has enough lighting and ventilation to make it comfortable for study time. Having customized desks with sidewalls can easily prevent distraction if you decide to create the study nook in a common area of your home.
Having a nice study area is important especially if your kids are in a study from home set-up. By following these tips, you can make sure that they get continuously inspired to learn, even while in their own home.