1. Study Space for College Students
Today’s college students face a lot of distractions than ever before. Before the age of the Internet, frat parties and mixers were some of the major causes of procrastination among students.
Now, even staying inside one’s dorm room—or even the classroom—offers no protection from distractions as social media, online videos, and noise can prevent a student from focusing during exam week.
In a study by the Journal of Media Education, it was found that 97% of college students use their phones in class for non-educational purposes. Because of this, learning takes a backseat, which may lead to poor grades.
Read also: Ten Study Tips for Exam Preparation
This is the reason why, apart from having self-discipline, one must find ways to learn amidst all the noise and distractions. One way to do that is to have a dedicated space for studying.
There are some students who are lucky enough to live in housing with a spacious study area, but some have to make do with a cramped room. If you’re staying in a small space, don’t fret—here’s how you can create a study area that’s conducive to learning.
i) Maximize the space above your desk
If all you’ve got is a desk against a wall, you can certainly turn that into a space that’s fit for learning. Install shelves on the wall to hold your books and other supplies, then affix a small whiteboard below the shelves where you can write reminders.
Having a whiteboard is certainly a better option than using sticky notes, which can damage books and notebooks. Moreover, using all that extra paper can also impact the planet in a negative way.
If you have to have ambient noise while studying, consider placing a small indoor water feature, such as a tabletop fountain, on top of your shelf.
The sound of running water can be soothing and it won’t prevent you from concentrating or reading. Just make sure to secure it carefully to avoid accidents, and choose one that isn’t too bulky or heavy. Remember to change the water frequently to prevent mold and bacteria from growing in the fountain.
ii) Turn an unused closet into a study area
If you’ve got an unused closet in your room, you can turn it into the perfect study nook. Paint the inside of the closet with white or cream-colored paint, then place a small desk inside it.
If it’s got shelves, you can remove some of them to make room for the desk, but leave the ones that are higher up for your things.
Turning a spare closet into a study area is a neat trick, especially if you don’t want your room to look too cluttered as you only have to shut the doors to keep everything out of sight.
iii) No desk? No problem!
If you can’t fit a regular desk in your room, don’t despair. You can get a mounted desk which folds up when not in use. However, you’ll need to have some carpentry or DIY skills to affix it to your wall. If budget is the issue, you can get a plank of wood that’s at least two feet long and 18 inches wide and attach that to your wall using shelving materials. Leave the desk unfinished for a shabby chic look or coat it with a clear varnish if you want to protect your handiwork.
Having a study area in your dorm room, bedroom or apartment is one of the best ways to be productive and focused when it’s time to hit the books. Try these tips to create a study nook in your space and see how it improves your study habits, which may lead to better grades and academic success.
2. Study Space for School Kids
Once your child starts school, there are required several changes in his room’s layout. Now, a study place is a must, a place where the little scholar can prepare for school, learn and do his homework.
The study place has to be regularly near the window so that his arm will now place a shadow on the books in front of him. Accordingly to this rule, if we are talking about a right-handed child, the light must be on his left, and if talking about a left-handed child, the light must be on his right.
Due to the newborn needs of the school-boy, the furniture must include a desk and some small cabinets or a small bookcase.
The study table or desk must have at least 60 X 90 cm and its height and inclination has to be adjustable. There must be some kind of drawers next to it or in it to deposit books, paper, pens and other school stuff.
For this same purpose, the parents must consider buying a bookcase or a cabinet for books, which fits the room and the height of your child. For a optimal use of space, a desk with a study table and some shelves can be chosen.
Natural lighting has to be supplemented or maintained by a local light. This is why the desk must have on it a lamp with an adjustable arm, placed in such a way that it can focalize the light precisely to the point it is needed.
An “L” shaped desk allows a good position for the computer, with the monitor on one side in the corner. Be careful because the distance from the monitor and to the eyes of the person using the computer has to be of 50 – 70 cm. To better respect this distance, some desks are equipped with a special space for the monitor, positioned a little higher than the actual desk.