GUIDE TO CREATING KID’S STUDY SPACE
SMART parents know that in addition to buying school supplies and lunch ingredients, they need to prepare a dedicated study space in their home.
Once a nook is claimed for studying, though, the challenge comes in making it a place where a child wants to be. Because if your child doesn’t like cramming for tests there, what’s the point?
Whether your child is studying at the kitchen table or has a whole room devoted to scholastic endeavours, personalisation, ownership and especially colour are the key.
“I am a firm believer that colour sparks creativity and affects the way you feel in any given space,” says Jenna Gross of Georgia’s Colordrunk Design.
“Bright colours can be energising, and a fun atmosphere will encourage them to work and study.” Balance a generally calm, white study area with bits of colour, she advises, and you’ll encourage that perfect mix of focus and engagement.
Gross and Andrea Houck of A Houck Designs, mothers themselves, encourage parents to let kids help choose the colour of paint, chairs, rugs and more. Then they suggest focusing on organisation and lighting. And don’t forget to provide display zones for kids’ awards and funny pictures. As Houck puts it, “The most important thing is to make sure the child has ownership over the space and uses it.”
“The older kids don’t need a desk as much because they’re typing on their laptops,” Houck says, “whereas the younger kids still do need a surface.” Pick something versatile that will grow with your kids, if you have the space, such as an adjustable activity table, in small or medium.
“If kids aren’t great at sitting still, a wobble stool or a swinging chair are other great alternatives,” Gross says. “I would steer clear from a chaise lounge or beanbag; kids may just fall asleep.”
Not just for fun, choose typographical wall decals or decorations, which come in fun colours and add a whimsical and industrial touch to a room. Although colour can be fun in a child’s study space, the challenge is to not have it be distracting. “Consider tranquillity in the palette,” Houck says. Try pastel mint, but not too much of it.
“Make sure kids have proper task lighting,” Houck says. “You need a desk lamp and perhaps an overhead light. Make sure any recessed lighting is placed in the right spot to give light but not create a shadow.”
Find a splurge-worthy bookcase, it is a surefire way to give a study space personality. Cube style shelving is also popular and affordable right now.
Carpet tiles, allow you to get creative with the floor. “You can almost create any design that you want to,” Gross says.
Baskets can be used to tote binders and notebooks around the house if your child is a mobile learner or can be utilised to store textbooks by the bed.
All the basics, chairs, desk accessories, notebooks, pens or even the filing cabinet can be in colour. Orange, yellow, navy, blue, aqua, pink, red, black, white, light gray or charcoal. “When they’re younger, try to teach them that this goes here, this goes there,” Houck says.
There are lots of seating options for kids today that don’t look like straightbacked chairs. You could take an exercise ball, cover it with a slipcover and add a chrome base for fun seating.
“You’re kind of trying to determine what their taste is,” Houck says, noting that kids’ tastes will continue to evolve, so build in some flexibility. Whiteboards and chalkboards allow kids to put their individuality on display and change it up over time. – The Washington Post