How to Convert an Unused Room Into a Study Area

How to Convert an Unused Room Into a Study Area

If you’ve got an empty room collecting dust, it’s time to put it to good use! Whether you’re a university student, working from home, or crafting your own novel, creating a designated study area in your home is a great idea. This allows you to disassociate your room or living room with work, helping boost productivity and performance. Read on as we explore the core necessities needed for converting an unused room into a study.

Desk & Chair

A desk and chair are staples of any practical study. To really add personal touch, you could make a DIY desk. They aren’t as difficult to craft as you may think! If this is something you’re considering, remember to source easy-to-handle timber, such as softwood or MDF.

How to craft your own study desk:

1. Plan out by checking how much space you have to make an informed decision on how big your desk can and should be. Gather materials like wood for the tabletop and legs, as well as screws and tools.
2. Cut your tabletop to the desired size, as well as four legs around 30 inches tall. Cut support beams to connect the legs and ensure stability. Sand edges to prevent splinters.
3. Securely attach the table legs to the underside of the tabletop with screws. Add horizontal support beams between the legs, before checking that the desk stands level.
4. Sand to smooth all surfaces and then paint and varnish to protect the wood and put your own customised touch on it.

When it comes to seating, we recommend investing in an ergonomic chair that will provide comfort, while also supporting your spine and promoting better posture. This combination will help you study and focus on the task at hand.

Appropriate Lighting

Not only can the right lighting provide a relaxing ambience that helps with studying or reading, but it also helps reduce eye strain, which is crucial for concentration.

During the day, the best option would be to open the curtains and use natural outdoor light, which is better for your eyes than artificial lighting. To optimise this, place your desk close to a window but avoid direct glare on your screen or books.

LEDs provide consistent, bright light without flickering which can reduce eye fatigue. Opt for adjustable lamps so that you can keep the brightness down.

Warm light of between 2700k and 3000k is less taxing on the eyes and is a smart choice if you’re going to be completing lengthy late study sessions.

Inspirational Art

Including art can inject character into your study and make it more personable to you, as well as provide a means of inspiration.

For example, you could add pictures of famous authors, scientists, or successful and notable people in your specialist field. This can provide help when you hit a barrier, more so than looking up at an empty wall anyway.

Another fantastic art-related idea is to put up quotes or poetry verses that mean something to you or ones that were spoken by people you look up to.

Shelving

If your study is going to contain lots of books or ring binders, shelving will help you keep everything organised.

Install them at eye level to make finding and reaching for things easier, and consider adjustable shelves so you can cater for different sized items without wasting space. Anchor your shelves with wall studs or use heavy-duty wall anchors so that they can handle the weight of heavy equipment or books.

You can add more decoration to your shelves, with photographs, pieces of art, or even plants to give the room a more relaxing feel, reducing stress and improving air quality!

Wall Colour

As the study is going to be your own, the choice of wall colour is down to you. However, there are some factors to consider that depend on the room. For example, a small room may feel larger and more open if you choose light coloured wallpaper, whereas dark colours can make a large room feel cosy.

Additionally, think about colours that make you feel relaxed or focused, and what colours would blend in well with the study’s furniture.

Final Thoughts

Putting a study together is an excellent way of making good use of empty space in your home. To really get the most out of it, consider incorporating the aforementioned methods to create a space where you can study and work productively.

Guest Article.