8 Ways to Squeeze in a Study Space Ready for Exams
Sometimes it can be tricky for children to find a quiet spot where they can revise, so make it easy for your teen with a simple study nook
Deirdre Avenell
4 March 2016
Houzz editorial team. DIY/decorating nut, photographer and jewellery designer.
When it’s exam time for teenagers, a dedicated study can be a godsend, giving your child the peace and quiet they need to concentrate, but many homes just don’t have the space to set aside a whole room for the purpose… and many teens struggle to concentrate.
A good solution to both problems is to create a study nook in a more open area of the home. Nooks can be tucked into untapped small spaces, provide a measure of peace and privacy, and can also easily be monitored to make sure teens are focusing on fractions and Frankenstein rather than Facebook. Take a look at these nooks of knowledge for inspiration.
A good solution to both problems is to create a study nook in a more open area of the home. Nooks can be tucked into untapped small spaces, provide a measure of peace and privacy, and can also easily be monitored to make sure teens are focusing on fractions and Frankenstein rather than Facebook. Take a look at these nooks of knowledge for inspiration.
Adopt an alcove
Depending on how you use your living room, it could be a workable place to locate a study nook. Having this study space set up in one corner of a reception room is a good way for kids to still feel part of family life, even while they’re busily buzzing through their books.
When setting up a desk and shelving in a shared space such as the living room, it’s best to ensure distractions, such as TVs and games consoles, aren’t in a direct line of sight. These temptations could prove too much for a mind that drifts easily away from schoolwork.
Check out 10 stylist’s tricks to steal for the living room
Depending on how you use your living room, it could be a workable place to locate a study nook. Having this study space set up in one corner of a reception room is a good way for kids to still feel part of family life, even while they’re busily buzzing through their books.
When setting up a desk and shelving in a shared space such as the living room, it’s best to ensure distractions, such as TVs and games consoles, aren’t in a direct line of sight. These temptations could prove too much for a mind that drifts easily away from schoolwork.
Check out 10 stylist’s tricks to steal for the living room
Fashion a room with a view
A desk that’s placed in a quiet area beside a window is the perfect option to encourage both imagination and proper concentration. This space is flooded with natural light, which lifts the mood and makes setting aside time for study a more enjoyable experience. If there’s a view out of the window, all the better, as it will provide breaks for distraction and inspire creativity.
Natural light and good airflow are essential to help keep young minds alert and focused on the task in hand, allowing them to concentrate properly on the work in front of them. Proper concentration will also make it more likely that they will retain the knowledge they’re stuffing into their heads – a big bonus come exam time.
A desk that’s placed in a quiet area beside a window is the perfect option to encourage both imagination and proper concentration. This space is flooded with natural light, which lifts the mood and makes setting aside time for study a more enjoyable experience. If there’s a view out of the window, all the better, as it will provide breaks for distraction and inspire creativity.
Natural light and good airflow are essential to help keep young minds alert and focused on the task in hand, allowing them to concentrate properly on the work in front of them. Proper concentration will also make it more likely that they will retain the knowledge they’re stuffing into their heads – a big bonus come exam time.
Cook up a cute workstation
Kitchens generally have both good airflow and strong lighting, to make the tasks of preparing and cooking food easier and safer. This means they’re often ideally suited for use as a study space, particularly when the rest of the family is in the living room watching TV.
A great idea is to set aside a section of the kitchen to put in a desk, or even cordon off a dedicated section of worktop space, complete with laptop. When the kids are not using it, it can be a great recipe resource station for the chef of the house.
Kitchens generally have both good airflow and strong lighting, to make the tasks of preparing and cooking food easier and safer. This means they’re often ideally suited for use as a study space, particularly when the rest of the family is in the living room watching TV.
A great idea is to set aside a section of the kitchen to put in a desk, or even cordon off a dedicated section of worktop space, complete with laptop. When the kids are not using it, it can be a great recipe resource station for the chef of the house.
Tuck it behind closed doors
This nifty nook has been set inside a cupboard, and makes a great study space for an industrious teen. Proper lighting is definitely necessary to aid concentration and prevent eye strain, so the built-in fixtures under the shelving provide just the right amount of illumination to work with. Power points set underneath the desk have made it easier to set up a computer and a printer, making studying even easier.
Another plus of this design is that any mess can easily be hidden away behind the bifold doors when the space isn’t in use. And by having this study cupboard in a hallway or little-used area of the home that’s still out in the open, it’s also easy to keep a casual eye on the student’s activities, to make sure they’re keeping their head in the books.
This nifty nook has been set inside a cupboard, and makes a great study space for an industrious teen. Proper lighting is definitely necessary to aid concentration and prevent eye strain, so the built-in fixtures under the shelving provide just the right amount of illumination to work with. Power points set underneath the desk have made it easier to set up a computer and a printer, making studying even easier.
Another plus of this design is that any mess can easily be hidden away behind the bifold doors when the space isn’t in use. And by having this study cupboard in a hallway or little-used area of the home that’s still out in the open, it’s also easy to keep a casual eye on the student’s activities, to make sure they’re keeping their head in the books.
Commandeer a corner
This small space at the end of a hallway, where the owners may have otherwise placed an unnecessary end table or pot plant, is an ideal spot for a study nook. Built-in shelves serve as both desk and storage space and, even better, it’s near a window that provides light, fresh air and a bit of a view, to add to the calm atmosphere.
The beauty of this idea is that it gives kids a space of their own away from their bedroom, where they can dedicate themselves to their studies and keep all of their books and notes. And keeping personalisation of the space to a minimum means it’s less likely to look cluttered, and won’t provide too much of a distraction when young minds need to focus on the periodic table.
Discover 10 ways to make open storage attractive in a hallway
This small space at the end of a hallway, where the owners may have otherwise placed an unnecessary end table or pot plant, is an ideal spot for a study nook. Built-in shelves serve as both desk and storage space and, even better, it’s near a window that provides light, fresh air and a bit of a view, to add to the calm atmosphere.
The beauty of this idea is that it gives kids a space of their own away from their bedroom, where they can dedicate themselves to their studies and keep all of their books and notes. And keeping personalisation of the space to a minimum means it’s less likely to look cluttered, and won’t provide too much of a distraction when young minds need to focus on the periodic table.
Discover 10 ways to make open storage attractive in a hallway
Take it high
A loft or mezzanine like this is a great space in which to set up a simple desk, chair, drawers and computer or laptop. It’s out of the way enough to give a child or teen the distance they need from the everyday bustle of the home, but they can still see and feel a part of the action instead of being locked behind closed doors.
Important things to remember when situating a study space high up in the home are proper ventilation and cooling options. As hot air rises, those parts of the house that are closer to the roof are going to be warmer. This is great in winter, but during the warmer months, it could send would-be scholars to sleep more easily than algebra.
A loft or mezzanine like this is a great space in which to set up a simple desk, chair, drawers and computer or laptop. It’s out of the way enough to give a child or teen the distance they need from the everyday bustle of the home, but they can still see and feel a part of the action instead of being locked behind closed doors.
Important things to remember when situating a study space high up in the home are proper ventilation and cooling options. As hot air rises, those parts of the house that are closer to the roof are going to be warmer. This is great in winter, but during the warmer months, it could send would-be scholars to sleep more easily than algebra.
Soup up the under-stairs cupboard
Useful for much more than providing a sleeping space for bespectacled wizards, this converted cupboard under the stairs easily has enough room for everything a studious child may need to get their homework done. And by setting the desk up in this way, it’s simple for parents to keep an eye on their child or teen’s progress.
While this hallway enjoys plenty of illumination, under-stair alcoves are generally unlikely to have access to much natural light, so a good idea would be to either get the space fitted with built-in lighting bright enough to keep eye strain at bay, or kit it out with some fun and functional freestanding lights.
Useful for much more than providing a sleeping space for bespectacled wizards, this converted cupboard under the stairs easily has enough room for everything a studious child may need to get their homework done. And by setting the desk up in this way, it’s simple for parents to keep an eye on their child or teen’s progress.
While this hallway enjoys plenty of illumination, under-stair alcoves are generally unlikely to have access to much natural light, so a good idea would be to either get the space fitted with built-in lighting bright enough to keep eye strain at bay, or kit it out with some fun and functional freestanding lights.
Maximise a landing
Landings at the top of stairs in a multistorey home are often under-utilised and make an ideal spot for a study nook. With good airflow and the right lighting, this space works well to provide the right environment for concentration.
The landing and stairs only receive heavy traffic at certain times of the day, and are otherwise relatively quiet. But being in an open space, this is also another option that makes it easy to keep a casual eye on anyone working here.
TELL US…
Where’s the best place in your house to get work done? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Landings at the top of stairs in a multistorey home are often under-utilised and make an ideal spot for a study nook. With good airflow and the right lighting, this space works well to provide the right environment for concentration.
The landing and stairs only receive heavy traffic at certain times of the day, and are otherwise relatively quiet. But being in an open space, this is also another option that makes it easy to keep a casual eye on anyone working here.
TELL US…
Where’s the best place in your house to get work done? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.
Related Stories
Wellbeing
How to Improve the Air Quality in Your Home
Want to ensure your home environment is clean and healthy? Start by assessing the quality of your air
Full Story
Wellbeing
How to Prepare Your Home for Summer Heat
Check out these updates that will ensure your property is ready for hotter days
Full Story
Professional Advice
10 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Bed Linen
Should you pick crisp cotton or rumpled linen – and does thread count really matter? Bed linen can be baffling – here's all you need to know
Full Story
Renovating
How Can You Carve Out a New Room Without Extending?
By Kate Burt
When it comes to creating extra room, a mezzanine can be your best friend, cannily boosting space without the need for permission
Full Story
Renovating
Best of Houzz 2024: The Winning Design Projects
The Best of Houzz 2024 award winners have been announced. Take a look at some of the winning designs
Full Story
Redefining Design
A Room-by-room Guide to Inclusive Design
By Kate Burt
What is inclusive design – and why is it important for all our homes if we want them to be truly sustainable?
Full Story
Kitchens
How to Design a Multigenerational Kitchen
A space that successfully meets the needs of all those who use it is not only inclusive, it’s futureproof
Full Story
Renovating
How to Cut the Cost of Your Extension Project
Stay on budget when planning and building your extension with these expert tips for keeping costs down
Full Story
Most Popular
How to Survive a Major Building Project
By Eva Byrne
Get expert tips for improving your home while preserving your sanity
Full Story
Pets
Expert Ways to Integrate Your Dog’s Bed into Your Home
Good design can help to create the perfect home for you, but also a cosy spot for Fido to rest his weary paws
Full Story
Inspiring