Concentration Stations: 8 Exam-Ready Teen Study Nooks
If your child needs a study space but you have little space to work with, an easily-monitored study nook could be the right answer
It’s exam time for teens, and while a dedicated study can be a godsend when your child needs peace and quiet to concentrate, many homes just don’t have the space to set aside a whole room for the purpose… and many teens can’t concentrate.
A good solution to both problems is to create a study nook in a more open area of the home. Nooks can be tucked into untapped small spaces, provide a measure of peace and privacy, and can also be easily monitored to make sure teens are focusing on fractions and Frankenstein rather than Facebook. Take a look at these nooks of knowledge for inspiration.
A good solution to both problems is to create a study nook in a more open area of the home. Nooks can be tucked into untapped small spaces, provide a measure of peace and privacy, and can also be easily monitored to make sure teens are focusing on fractions and Frankenstein rather than Facebook. Take a look at these nooks of knowledge for inspiration.
2. Room with a view
A desk that’s placed in a quiet area beside a window is the perfect option to encourage both imagination and proper concentration. This space is flooded with natural light, which lifts the mood and makes setting aside time for study a more enjoyable experience. Meanwhile, an attractive view out the window will provide breaks for distraction and inspire creativity.
Natural light and good airflow – either from the window or a small fan – are essential to help keep young minds alert and focused on the task at hand, allowing them to concentrate properly on the work in front of them. Proper concentration will also make it more likely that they will retain the knowledge they’re stuffing into their heads, a big bonus come exam time.
A desk that’s placed in a quiet area beside a window is the perfect option to encourage both imagination and proper concentration. This space is flooded with natural light, which lifts the mood and makes setting aside time for study a more enjoyable experience. Meanwhile, an attractive view out the window will provide breaks for distraction and inspire creativity.
Natural light and good airflow – either from the window or a small fan – are essential to help keep young minds alert and focused on the task at hand, allowing them to concentrate properly on the work in front of them. Proper concentration will also make it more likely that they will retain the knowledge they’re stuffing into their heads, a big bonus come exam time.
3. A cut above
A loft or mezzanine space like this is a great space to set up a simple desk, chair, drawers and a computer or laptop. It’s out of the way enough to give a child or teen the distance they need from the everyday bustle of the home, but they can still see and feel a part of the action instead of being locked behind closed doors.
Important things to remember when situating a study space high up in the home are proper ventilation and cooling options. As hot air rises, those parts of the house that are closer to the roof are going to be warmer. This is great in winter, but during the warmer months it could send would-be-scholars to sleep more easily than algebra.
A loft or mezzanine space like this is a great space to set up a simple desk, chair, drawers and a computer or laptop. It’s out of the way enough to give a child or teen the distance they need from the everyday bustle of the home, but they can still see and feel a part of the action instead of being locked behind closed doors.
Important things to remember when situating a study space high up in the home are proper ventilation and cooling options. As hot air rises, those parts of the house that are closer to the roof are going to be warmer. This is great in winter, but during the warmer months it could send would-be-scholars to sleep more easily than algebra.
4. The cupboard under the stairs
Useful for much more than providing a sleeping space for unwelcome bespectacled nephews, this converted cupboard under the stairs easily has enough room for everything a studious child may need to get their homework done. And by setting the desk up in this was it’s simple for parents to keep an eye on their child or teen’s progress.
While this entryway enjoys plenty of illumination, under-stair alcoves are generally unlikely to have access to much natural light, so a good idea would be to either get the space fitted with built-in lighting bright enough to keep eye strain at bay, or kit it out with some fun and functional freestanding lights.
Useful for much more than providing a sleeping space for unwelcome bespectacled nephews, this converted cupboard under the stairs easily has enough room for everything a studious child may need to get their homework done. And by setting the desk up in this was it’s simple for parents to keep an eye on their child or teen’s progress.
While this entryway enjoys plenty of illumination, under-stair alcoves are generally unlikely to have access to much natural light, so a good idea would be to either get the space fitted with built-in lighting bright enough to keep eye strain at bay, or kit it out with some fun and functional freestanding lights.
5. The end of the road
This small space at the end of a hallway, where the owners may have otherwise placed an unnecessary end table or pot plant, is an ideal spot for a study nook. Built-in shelves serve as both desk and storage space, and even better, it’s near a window that provides light, fresh air and a bit of a view, to add to the calm atmosphere.
The beauty of this idea is that it gives kids a space of their own away from their bedroom, where they can dedicate themselves to their studies and keep all of their books and notes. And keeping personalisation of the space to a minimum means it’s less likely to look cluttered, and won’t provide too much of a distraction when young minds need to focus on the periodic table.
This small space at the end of a hallway, where the owners may have otherwise placed an unnecessary end table or pot plant, is an ideal spot for a study nook. Built-in shelves serve as both desk and storage space, and even better, it’s near a window that provides light, fresh air and a bit of a view, to add to the calm atmosphere.
The beauty of this idea is that it gives kids a space of their own away from their bedroom, where they can dedicate themselves to their studies and keep all of their books and notes. And keeping personalisation of the space to a minimum means it’s less likely to look cluttered, and won’t provide too much of a distraction when young minds need to focus on the periodic table.
6. Landing on your feet
Landings at the top of stairs in a multi-storey home are often under-utilised and make an ideal spot for a study nook. With good airflow and the right lighting, this space works well to provide the right environment for concentration.
The landing and stairs only receives heavy traffic at certain times of the day, and is otherwise relatively quiet. But being in an open space, this is also another option that makes it easy to keep a casual eye on anyone working here.
Space-saving ideas for small home offices
Landings at the top of stairs in a multi-storey home are often under-utilised and make an ideal spot for a study nook. With good airflow and the right lighting, this space works well to provide the right environment for concentration.
The landing and stairs only receives heavy traffic at certain times of the day, and is otherwise relatively quiet. But being in an open space, this is also another option that makes it easy to keep a casual eye on anyone working here.
Space-saving ideas for small home offices
7. Live and let learn
Depending on how you use your living room, it can be a workable place to place a study nook. Having this study space set up in one corner of a family room is a good way for kids to still feel part of family life, even while they’re busily buzzing through their books.
When setting up a desk and shelving in a shared space like the living room, it’s best to ensure distractions such as TVs and game consoles aren’t in a direct line of sight. These temptations could prove too much for a mind that drifts easily away from schoolwork.
Depending on how you use your living room, it can be a workable place to place a study nook. Having this study space set up in one corner of a family room is a good way for kids to still feel part of family life, even while they’re busily buzzing through their books.
When setting up a desk and shelving in a shared space like the living room, it’s best to ensure distractions such as TVs and game consoles aren’t in a direct line of sight. These temptations could prove too much for a mind that drifts easily away from schoolwork.
8. Cooking up knowledge
Kitchens generally have both good airflow and strong lighting, to make the tasks of preparing and cooking food easier and safer. This means they’re often ideally suited for use as a study space, particularly when the rest of the family is in the living room watching TV.
A great idea is to set aside a section of the kitchen to put in a desk, or even a cordon off a dedicated section of benchtop space, complete with laptop. When the kids are not using it, it can be a great recipe resource station for the chef of the house.
TELL US
Where is the best place in your house to get work done? Tell us what your most task-worthy space is in the Comments section.
MORE
How to Squeeze In a Kitchen Office (and Work Effectively in It)
10 Thumbs-Up Study Nooks for Teens
De-Stress Your Kids by Organising Your Home
Kitchens generally have both good airflow and strong lighting, to make the tasks of preparing and cooking food easier and safer. This means they’re often ideally suited for use as a study space, particularly when the rest of the family is in the living room watching TV.
A great idea is to set aside a section of the kitchen to put in a desk, or even a cordon off a dedicated section of benchtop space, complete with laptop. When the kids are not using it, it can be a great recipe resource station for the chef of the house.
TELL US
Where is the best place in your house to get work done? Tell us what your most task-worthy space is in the Comments section.
MORE
How to Squeeze In a Kitchen Office (and Work Effectively in It)
10 Thumbs-Up Study Nooks for Teens
De-Stress Your Kids by Organising Your Home
This nifty nook has been set inside a cupboard, and makes a great study space for an industrious teen. Proper lighting is definitely necessary to aid concentration and prevent eye strain, so the built-in fixtures under the shelving provide just the right amount of illumination to work with. Power points set underneath the desk have made it easier to set up a computer and a printer, making studying even easier.
Another plus of this design is that any mess can easily be hidden away behind the bi-fold doors when the space isn’t in use. And by having this study cupboard in a hallway or little-used area of the home that’s still out in the open, it’s also easy to keep a casual eye on the student’s activities, to make sure they’re keeping their head in the books.
Squeeze an office in anywhere