© ICONIC BESTIARY / SHUTTERSTOCK
CREATING THE
IDEAL STUDY AREA
BY JENNIFER ADAMS
HOW HARD IS it to get
your kids to do their
homework? Some children seem to be naturally drawn to academic
study, but many others
need a little more coaxing. All students, regardless of their natural inclination, will benefit
from a well-thought-out study space.
Setting up an effective place to do homework involves more than just buying a desk
and a chair. You need room for a tablet, laptop
or computer, as well as enough space to
spread out books and papers. The study area
can be simple, elaborate or anything in
between, depending on your space and décor
tastes. Regardless of your style, here are some
tips to consider.
KEEP THEM CLOSE. Young kids often
prefer to be near you instead of being stuck in
a distant corner or in their bedrooms. And
you’ll enjoy the easy access for checking their
progress. A room near the kitchen, family
room or the dining room would be best.
These areas are usually next to family activity,
but far enough away to feel calm.
Ideally, there should be lots of outlets for
charging electronic devices and a view out of
a window to give minds and eyes a break.
And kids often need plenty of space to spread
out homework assignments and projects.
SETTLE IN. Be sure the study area has
a comfortable chair that allows your student
to move around easily and saves you from
bending over. A chalkboard, whiteboard or
self-stick board to list tasks—and cross them
out as they’re finished—is very helpful.
SEPARATE STUDY AND SLEEP AREAS.
Ideally, the study space should be outside
your child’s bedroom. Grown-ups should
keep computers and bill paying out of their
bedrooms, and kids’ rooms should be free of
stress, too. Plus, the toys and other books can
be distracting.
A SPACE OF ONE’S OWN. Each child
should have dedicated desk space in a shared
study area. Let your kids set up the space the
way they want and they may be more likely to
use it. Keep in mind that at times they may
need a different place or more room for messy
or involved art or science projects so that it
doesn’t interfere with their other homework/
study area.
DON’T LOSE TOUCH. Older children
and teenagers need a quieter space away from
distractions, but don’t let them hibernate too
deeply. Despite their protests, you’ll need to
check on them occasionally.
BE FLEXIBLE. Besides the comfortable
chair mentioned, think about providing other
seating options. Reading in a beanbag chair or
on a floor pillow is more fun than at a proper
desk. But it’s difficult to do math homework
or art in that position. Have a variety of chairs,
and let your children move around for differ-
ent tasks. The idea is to provide a variety of
places to sit. No one—child or adult—wants
to be stuck at a desk for long periods of time.
DON’T FORGET SUPPLIES. Add storage for necessities. Provide a container for
paper, rulers and pencils, and a shelf for
books, but store messy hobby supplies somewhere else or behind doors.
TASK LIGHTING. A desk lamp provides
extra light, of course, and also creates a
cozy glow. Bright white LED lights can help
your child concentrate and save energy, but
since this type of light is like daylight, dim or
turn it off close to bedtime, or use a warmer-tone bulb.
A LITTLE ATMOSPHERE. Calm, comforting colors such as light blues and greens
help both children and adults stay focused,
but monochromatic schemes can be too boring. Bold colors such as red and orange are
exciting but too distracting. Balance it all by
keeping the wall colors calm or neutral, and
accent with bright art or posters. C
Jennifer Adams is an interior design expert.
Many of her items can be found on Costco.com.
Jennifer Adams
SPECIAL SECTION
BACK TO SCHOOL
THE COS TCO CONNECTION
You’ll find a variety of desks, chairs, office
supplies, storage bins, lamps, whiteboards
and pens, as well as myriad other items to
set up an ideal study space for the student
or students in your life, at your local Costco
warehouse and on Costco.com.
Set the stage