No More Couch Calls- 7 Tips for Setting Up a Functional Study Nook

As remote working continues to grow everywhere in the world, home work spaces have become a necessity for today’s households. Traditionally, a whole used as a study/home office has been the norm for people needing a quiet space to carry out specific tasks. Now, with tech devices being completely mobile, the conventional study room is most times being swapped for a favourite couch, the floor, or even the bed.

With little effort you can create the ideal work space for your needs whether you’re organising a busy household, attending video conferences, running a home-based business or a million-dollar company! A designated work space will physically and mentally separate your work area from the rest of the house helping you focus better on tasks at hand, and we know that better focus =better productivity.

Setting Up your Study Nook

1. Create Space

While many may not have a whole room to dedicate to workspace there’s always room to create space; Is there any area of the house with unused space? Think about the corner of a landing, under the stairs, the end of a hallway, a corner in the kitchen or dining, a little corner in your bedroom, a closet which can be converted by removing shelving and hanger poles etc, the possibilities are endless!

2. Build

A slimline desk will do the job nicely here, otherwise install a custom floating benchtop as a work surface. A piece of wood can easily be cut to fit any space on the walls thus transforming the area; particularly for narrow spaces. All you’ll need is a chair or stool to pop under the worktop and you have yourself a new work space!

3. Store

Vertical storage is a great for space saving. Install shelves or custom joinery over your work top for storage of work items and display of décor. Besides, having your supplies within reach will allow an easy flow from one task to the other.

4. Light it Up

Natural light is a mood booster. Where possible place your desk near a window with unobstructed light. Task lighting is essential to avoid eyestrain so whether you’re close to a window or not have one installed over your work area for added lighting.

5. Select Furniture

Compact is the watchword here so opt for slimline furniture pieces. As simple as it seems to purchase a desk and chair, think ergonomically. Find a comfortable chair that’s the right height and provides good back support. If your furniture has wheels invest in an office chair mat that allows smooth movement of your chair and prevents your floors from scuffs and dents.

6. Decorate

Whatever your selections don’t forget aesthetics. As your nook is an open space you want your choices to coordinate with decor in the rest of the house. Go as creative here according to your personal tastes. There’s no need to be boring because it’s a work space! Add wall dressings and invest in stylish desk accessories for a personal touch and where possible, include plants which are great for softening up any space.

7. Organise

Less is more with study nooks. With the limited space you want to reduce any chance of clutter. Use folders, boxes or baskets to organise your bit and pieces, also as a finishing touch for your space. Devices like monitors/laptops, internet router, printer, keyboard, mouse, lamp and charging cords create a wired mess. Go wireless as much as possible; these days there are Bluetooth wireless options for most office devices like the keyboard, mouse etc. It’s also worth investing in a phone and tablet charging dock for your worktable. Use cable clips or wraps to keep charging cords out of the way and stow away lamp and laptop cables in cable boxes under the table. If storage space is limited in your nook then find a different space in the house for items and supplies.