Whether you’re a college student, a scholar, or a working person combining study and career, you need a well-organised bedroom office to stay productive and efficient. While many work lying on a cozy sofa with a laptop on their knees, this practice will do nothing good for your health and creative thinking.
This article shares practical tips on planning and organizing your study environment. They are easy to implement even if you don’t have much space at home, so please don’t try to find excuses why you can’t design your small room with the hacks below in mind.
All are based on qualitative research examples, supported by studies from academics and scholars in the niche.
Ready to furnish and decorate your room like a pro?
Separate the Areas for Work and Relax
Create two zones in your room:
You’ll need a corner for study and a corner to rest. It’s a trick to “cheat” your brain so it doesn’t associate the whole room with relaxation. It’s hard to focus when you have the same place for sleep, work, and meals; a separate area for work will signal to the brain that it’s time to work, so you’ll be more productive when studying there.
The area for work is a room zone where you’ll place a desk and a chair. The location for relaxation will be a room area with a cozy sofa, TV, journals, and everything else that has nothing to do with school.
Paint Walls in “Productive” Colors
If you can do minimal cosmetic repairs in your room, use it! It’s all about the color psychology:
Studies have shown that colors influence our mood and productivity, and it is in our power to guide them in the right direction. White, gray, and beige walls can cause sadness and depression, so if yours are gray or beige, change them. Consider blue or green instead: These two increase efficiency and motivation and give a sense of well-being.
So, here’s a trick:
Paint a room blue or green. If you have no resources for global redesign, bring some decor elements of these colors into your place. It can be sofa pillows, curtains, shelves, a chair, rugs, and any other things you want to add to your interior.
Get Good Lighting
It’s all about science again:
The three core factors influencing your productivity are open windows (fresh air), plants, and daylight. We’ll discuss plans later, but let’s focus on lighting now. Those working and studying in daylight remain more active and focused than people using artificial lighting. Keep that in mind when organizing your room:
Move your work area closer to a window. Do your best to study during the day rather than postponing all significant projects for nighttime. If your schedule doesn’t allow this, ensure you have lamps and bulbs with proper lighting.
Place lamps with cold while light colors (3500-4000K) in your work area: These color temperatures stimulate the brain and help you focus. Consider lamps and bulbs with warm color temperatures (2700-3000K) for your rest area: They’ll relax you and prepare you for healthy sleep at night.
Organize a Workspace
And now, let’s move to more details on planning a study area in your room.
The two most crucial elements to bring are a table with drawers and an ergonomic chair to support your lower back and promote good posture. Sitting comfortably while studying will help; otherwise, related discomfort will distract you and influence your overall mood and performance. The same applies to a mess and clutter on your desk: paper, pens, cups, digital devices, etc. — move them to drawers, eliminating the things you don’t need while studying.
Think of a live plant if you need something to decorate your table. Not only will it bring coziness to your space, but it will also clear the air, reduce your stress, and increase productivity. (The research says that green plants can improve concentration and productivity by up to 47%.) Are you a big fan of green houseplants? Bring a few to your room to soften the space, add colors, and boost mood.
Decorate a Study Corner for Your Comfort
Anything else to add to your room for better studying?
Hang a large calendar to mark important dates and effectively manage your study time. Bring a bookcase or several bookshelves with all the necessary resources: dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, reference books, grammar guides, etc. These will facilitate your study endeavors and minimize distractions.
If tiny yet beautiful supplies like colorful pens, markers, stickers, notebooks, rulers, etc. inspire you, place some on the table; consider a basket to keep it neat. Your workspace should look like a happy place where you want to spend time, so decorate it according to your taste and add a few personal elements. It can be a poster with your favorite motivational quote, a photo of your close people or your pet, a toy of your favorite cartoon/movie/meme character, you name it!
Control the Noise
Do you work or study better in complete silence? Organize a workplace in a non-traffic area of your apartment so no one disturbs you. Are you okay with a bit of background noise? It’s still critical to ensure that noise is YOURS: music you choose or nature sounds you enjoy, rather than your neighbor’s repair, outside traffic, or your mom’s screaming TV in another room.
If you can’t turn off all the distractive sounds, put a pair of headphones in your desk drawer. Consider those noise-canceling and let your housemates know they can’t disturb you while you’re in them. For those who are okay with background music while studying, make it a habit to listen to compositions without lyrics: They’ll make tasks more enjoyable and help you focus.
Most experts agree that soothing and melodic music is best for work and study. Instrumental or classical music, jazz, nature sounds, and movie soundtracks are the most favorable options.
In a Word
All interior design elements you choose for a work or study space influence your efficiency and overall productivity. When organizing your room, remember everything — wall colors, light, ergonomic furniture, plants, and tiny elements like bookshelves or posters on the walls. Even if your room is small, you can find a design solution to make it cozy and comfortable for study and relaxation.