Your study space can determine your attention span, focus and pass rate. If you revise for an exam or write a paper in a messy, loud or busy environment, you might struggle to absorb information or articulate your opinions on a subject matter.
If you want to pass every test and paper with flying colours, it is essential to create a relaxing, inviting and functional space that encourages you to crack open the books. Read on to learn how to create a stylish and comfortable study space.
Tweak Your Lighting
Lighting can determine your mood, focus and commitment. If a room is too dark, you might struggle to read your notes, squint when reading textbooks, and feel too tired to read an important chapter. Yet, bright lights can lead to overstimulation, which can cause headaches, stress and sleep deprivation.
Maximize your study time by making various adjustments to a room’s lighting. Open the cutrains to welcome as much natural light into the space as possible, which can avoid the need for harsh artificial lighting. Also, layer the lighting to create a more soothing space by adding a desk lamp and floor lighting, which can prevent you from turning on a sharp pendant light.
Personalize Your Study
As you will likely spend many hours studying each week, personalizing the space can increase your focus and commitment, especially if you are juggling a course alongside a career.
For example, if you are training to become one of the much-needed nurse educators, you might need to balance a program alongside your career as a nurse practitioner. A few family photographs or personal items can remind you of why you are working hard towards your goals. Plus, the much-loved keepsakes can make your study space appear more inviting after a hard day at work, which will help you get in the zone.
Find ways to brighten up the space, from placing photographs of your kids on your desk to adding a burst of colour with beautiful indoor plants. Also, incorporate items that will inspire you to work harder, such as a stunning work of art or a framed quote. It could boost your productivity and motivation while decreasing your stress levels.
Focus on Comfort
While your interior design can shape your mood and focus, it shouldn’t come at the cost of comfort and function. You certainly don’t want an uncomfortable chair to distract you from studying or writing a big paper, which is why you must choose comfortable furniture that supports your posture.
Many items can prevent pain, strain or discomfort, such as the following:
- Ergonomic chair
- Monitor riser
- Screen protectors
- Laptop stand
- Ergonomic keyboard and tray
- Lumbar support cushions
- Adjustable footrest
- Desk fan
- Ergonomic mouse
- A wrist rest
Supportive equipment can make long hours of cramming the textbooks feel like a breeze, and virtual lectures and seminars will also feel more enjoyable.
Inject Energy into the Room
Your study space should be energetic but not overwhelming. It should be peaceful but not dull. While this might seem like no simple task, there are ways to inject the right level of energy and personality into a room without impairing your concentration.
Start by decorating the bottom half of a room in a dark hue and go lighter as you reach the ceiling. For example, you can ground the space with dark hardwood flooring or a heavy-coloured area rug or carpet. Next, add a medium-colour desk and add a lighter shade onto your walls. Plus, you can add pops of colour and texture with vibrant wall art to increase energy and inspiration.
Black Out a Wall
Improve a study room’s style and function by turning an entire wall into a practical chalkboard. The black shade can complement any interior colour, and you can use it to write notes, quotes, deadline dates, formulas, bullet points, to-do lists and important reminders.
It’s one décor tweak you’ll be glad you made, and all you will need is some chalkboard paint, high-quality paint rollers and painter’s tape. It’s perfect for those studying toward a high school diploma or completing a degree program.
Use Built-in Shelving
Every textbook, paper and stationery item should have its place in your study room. The right storage solution will ensure you don’t need to search the space from top to bottom looking for a pen, a past essay or a much-needed textbook.
For example, built-in shelving will not only create a tidy, stylish interior, but it will allow you to store and find important items with ease when revising for an upcoming test or writing a paper.
If you don’t have the budget for built-in shelving, install sturdy bookcases and add storage boxes, paper trays and stationery storage boxes to keep your study organized and inviting.
Keep it Clean
A messy, disorganized space will distract you from your studies and lead to a cluttered mind. Free up your thinking by creating a clean, tidy environment that is free from clutter. Don’t allow coffee cups, pizza boxes or candy wrappers to mount up, and purge your study of all mess so that you can focus all of your attention on a topic. Also, return your stationery to their boxes, place textbooks back on a shelf and place papers in a drawer, which will ensure the room appears organized and inviting when you return.
Hang a Stylish Clock
A stylish clock will not only add texture and colour to a bare wall, but it will ensure you never miss an important deadline or spend too long at your desk. Choose a wall clock that not only complements your interior design, but that is visible from where you are sitting. It will ensure you don’t lose track of time when tackling textbooks or engrossing yourself into a paper.
Make your academic goals a reality by following the above handy tips for a stylish yet comfortable study space. An inviting, relaxed and organized space could improve your focus and help you pass every test or paper with ease.