Back To School: Creating a Study Space

If you're a parent of school-aged children, you've likely been concerned with their study habits at some point. Sitting down in front of the television or at the dinner table to crack open the books is going to be less efficient than doing so in a quiet, designated work space. Let's explore how to create a study space that will help keep your children focused and on task.

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Ask The Kids

Before you get to work on creating a new studying space, it's a good idea to have a chat with those who will be using it most. Ask the children what kind of surroundings they feel would help to keep them productive. Getting their input will give them a sense of ownership, making them more likely to actually USE the space when it’s finished. Younger kids may only need a nook with a desk. Conversely, older children who are in high school are likely to need a lot of desk space for laptops, textbooks, and other studying materials. Tight on space? There are some really innovative and inexpensive ways to build your own fold-up desk. Pinterest is a great place to find ideas! Regardless, they’ll need all of their supplies easily accessible. Think writing utensils, eraser, rulers, markers, paper, etc.

Brighten Up The Room

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Next, you'll want to focus on how the space is lit. A dark room isn't likely to be a positive studying environment. If possible, natural light sources should be used as much as possible. Studies indicate that sunlight is better at keeping individuals alert and focused than fluorescent or other types of home lighting. You may also consider adding some plants which can help to keep oxygen levels a bit higher in the room.

Note that you'll want to avoid making the room so bright that it's distracting. Nor do you want the room to be so TOO warm and cozy. The goal is not to nap, after all. Plus, the sun can cause quite a bit of glare depending on how much outdoor exposure the room has. If there's already a lot of natural light, consider a set of curtains that can reduce or block out any glare to allow for a more comfortable learning environment.

Eliminate Any And All Distractions

Distractions – especially those which are useful for

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procrastinating – are the bane of any productive space. There should be no television, no video games and no other distracting elements in the study area.

A study room is an excellent addition to any home with school-aged children. If you're in the market for a new home – study spaces included – we can help. Contact our real estate team at your convenience and we'll be happy to show you some local options.