Fashionable study for a teenager in the attic
Long gone are the days when you just piled up a desk and chair in a corner of your teen's bedroom and asked him to use it as a place to do schoolwork.
In fact, there were times when some of us simply pulled up a chair to a small kitchen counter or even the dining room table and did our homework.
Modern homes are much more sophisticated, well organized and cater to everyone's needs, and have a workspace for absolutely every need in the era of laptops and PCs.
Sophisticated and trendy teen rooms with workspace in the attic
Being a teenager definitely doesn't mean it's all about games, fun and parties. In addition, it is necessary to receive an education and complete homework (if necessary, of course).
This post provides examples of great work areas, with 35 basic ideas pictured here, you're sure to find something for your kids that will fit in perfectly with the rest of your stylish and suave interior.
A beautifully designed home office for boys
Design idea for a bedroom with an integrated workspace by Sergi Mengot
Workspace for boys with small storage
Workplace for boys with a strong and connected look
Chic home office for girls with a variety of colors and textures
A chic and compact teenage workspace for a girl from Cindy Rinfret. Photo by Michael Partenio
Modern teenage workspace in the attic
Compact teenage workplace for those who follow fashion
For calm children: Alex Desk
Intended for primary school students, the kit from ducduc™ is already quite complex in construction, but still has a playful design. The brightly colored drawers, available in bright red, green, blue, orange or lilac, will create a playful mood in any children's room, while a beige or white base and edging will give this table a solid feel.
Alex Desk is ideal for a progressive child. It is made of environmentally friendly materials and is equipped with built-in connectivity for various electronic devices.
For the serious student: Loom Desk
The main feature of the Loom Desk is its height adjustment. By purchasing this set, you get a set of furniture that is ideal for decorating a school corner.
An exquisite combination of “snowy” white with warm flesh-beige will set the growing schoolchild in a working mood. The desk is equipped with two drawers, large enough to store folders and various educational supplies. And the additional side wall allows you to connect electronic devices.
As you can see, today the furniture market for schoolchildren is replete with diversity. Each parent will be able to choose the best option for their child, both suitable for a specific age and universal. It all depends on your desires and financial capabilities. What will you choose? Share in the comments!
Materials
The countertop can be made from a variety of materials that suit the color, environmental friendliness and style. Artificial stone is becoming popular. The material is absolutely safe and will also give a businesslike look to the room if it belongs to a teenager. Wood can be considered as a classic material for making a table:
- It's universal.
- The colors of the wood can be mixed or you can choose a specific one.
- Natural wood is often chosen because of its environmental friendliness. It is safe and useful for creating the correct indoor microclimate.
- Making a table from natural wood is not suitable for a children's room if its owner wants a bright and contrasting table.
- A small disadvantage of this material is poor moisture resistance, but this can be corrected by varnishing the surface.
Natural wood is quite expensive, so you can choose chipboard as an alternative. This material is not as good as wood, because it is assembled from some of the components of wood, namely chips and sawdust, but it also has its advantages. For example, the water resistance of this material is several times higher than that of natural wood.
For those who love non-standard solutions, glass can be used as a material for countertops. Different colors and types of glass attract attention. The glass is frosted and smooth. When choosing frosted glass, it is important to pay attention to its surface. It should not be very rough, but a slight roughness should be felt to the touch.
How to properly organize storage?
To make it comfortable for a child to do homework, the tabletop should remain as free as possible. At the same time, access to all necessary office supplies, books, and educational materials should remain simple and convenient.
That is, it is necessary to organize storage areas directly in the work area - here, like in the kitchen, walking from the table to the cabinet across the entire room will be extremely inconvenient.
Help to maintain order:
- Desk drawers. Small items are stored in them, as well as things that are used constantly: pens, pencils, markers, scissors, paper clips, notebooks.
- Open shelves. Typically used for books, albums, notebooks.
- Closed storage systems. They hide items that are not in daily “demand”: sketchbooks, paints, plasticine, supplies of office paper. The printer is also put away here so that large equipment does not get in the way on the table.
Advice! There are no drawers in the table? Hang a railing with cups above it - it’s convenient to put pens, felt-tip pens, and pencils in them. And if you add a few hooks, the problem of storing scissors or glasses will be solved. Instead of railing, perforated boards are used: compact for all their versatility.
Children's workplace: arrangement rules
Step 1. Zoning
The first thing you will encounter when organizing a work area is the choice of location and its zoning. With the right decision, the student will be isolated from all the temptations present in the nursery and will be able to concentrate directly on the work process.
Zoning of a children's workplace
This does not mean that the child should be driven into a remote corner, surrounding the area with a stationary partition. Confinement of space can negatively affect performance. It is better to use for these purposes:
1. Mobile screen.
2. Curtain.
3. Open shelving.
Zoning workplaces using open shelving
As for the choice of location for organizing the study area, then, for obvious reasons, the best option would be a section of the room near the window.
Step 2. Set up the table
If possible, the table should be placed with the left end facing the window. For left-handers, this rule is exactly the opposite. They need the light to fall from the right, therefore, the table will have to be turned 180°. It is advisable that the wall be behind the child’s back, and not loom before his eyes.
An adequate solution would be to install a table in front of the window.
The optimal position for a child's desk is in front of the window.
In principle, there is always an opportunity to successfully arrange one table in a nursery, but what to do if there are two students? For this case, there are also several schemes for arranging a children's workplace. Tables can be placed:
1. Single row.
2. In parallel.
3. L-shaped.
Everything will depend on the layout of the room itself and the number of windows in it.
With a single-row arrangement between children's tables, you can make a passage or separate them with a piece of furniture, a screen, etc. This step will help students not distract each other from doing their work.
Single-row arrangement of children's tables
With tables arranged in parallel, for the same purpose, it is enough to simply seat the children with their backs to each other.
Parallel arrangement of children's desks
In an L-shaped layout, it is not necessary to use two separate tables. You can buy one corner.
Corner workplace for two children
Step 3. Selecting a table
Design
“The presence of a toy in a child’s workplace will create a specific mood that in no way corresponds to the assigned tasks.”
The main point in choosing a table is its suitability for the child’s age. If you plan to install a computer in your work area, place it on a separate table. Why? The problem is children's perception of this accessory. They look at the computer as a means of entertainment and define it, especially at an early age, as a toy. The presence of a toy in a child’s workplace will create a specific mood that does not in any way correspond to the assigned tasks. In addition, a desktop computer requires a table of a non-standard design with a retractable panel for the keyboard and other nuances. In a small area, it is permissible to use a corner table, which allows you to allocate an area for writing and installing a laptop.
A corner desktop will solve the problem with installing a computer
When choosing a desk model, look for options with tabletop adjustments. It will be much more convenient for the child to write if it can be installed at an angle. At such a table it will be much more comfortable to draw and draw.
Children's table with adjustable top
Dimensions
The table should have proportions that suit your child. This model can be considered an option where the table top is located just below chest level and when sitting at which the child has the opportunity to comfortably rest his elbows on it without raising his shoulders or slouching. For kids with a height of up to 120 cm, you should look for tables with a height of up to 52 cm. For teenagers, designs with a height of up to 61 cm are suitable. The “adult” standard is tables with a height of 75 cm.
Table size according to child's height
The ideal table model is considered to be a transformable design with the ability to adjust the height of the tabletop and adjust its position. This is a purchase for the ages. With such a children's workplace, your child will not only graduate from school, but will also work as a student.
Children's transforming table
Material
Don’t chase the exotic and don’t become hostage to the interior style. You should not take your child to glass or plastic tables. Besides the fact that they seem fragile, they are really cold and have a slippery surface. It is better to remain conservative in this matter and buy a standard wooden model of good quality. When inspecting the product you are interested in, make sure that there are no cracks, untreated areas, traces of glue or other defects. The reason to leave a table in a store is the unpleasant smell emanating from it. As a temporary option, an economy class table made of laminated chipboard can be purchased.
Reliable children's desk made of wood
You should not experiment with the design either. Take a standard rectangular table that stands firmly on legs, has a back panel and a built-in cabinet.
In a small nursery, where installing a regular table is problematic, you can solve the issue of arranging a children's work area in other ways. For example, converting a window sill into a study table.
Organization of a children's workplace on the windowsill
This is done by replacing the standard window sill with a deeper countertop. Under it you can place a free-standing mobile cabinet. A series of holes must be made in the surface of the makeshift table, closer to the window. This is necessary to organize proper ventilation of the area. In the cold season, the heat coming from the radiators will prevent the window from fogging up and molding. For such a specific workplace, you will have to purchase a transforming chair with adjustable seat height and possibly a footrest. The latter can be a low bench or even books.
An interesting option would be a folding table attached to the wall. A hinged lid of a sideboard or bureau can replace a full-fledged table.
Folding children's workplace
Step 4. Choosing a chair
The child will spend a lot of time at the desk, so he should be able to sit comfortably. Stools, poufs, and soft chairs are not suitable for this. The chair you need should have a firm back that has a slight curve to allow your child's back to fit snugly against it. The design of the model should not have armrests. From a medical point of view, the optimal solution would be an orthopedic chair or a regular chair without wheels.
Children's chair with orthopedic back
When sitting on a properly selected chair, your child will keep his knees bent at a precise right angle. In this case, your feet will be completely on the floor, and not resting on your toes. If the last condition is not met, use a stand. A distance of 20–30 cm should be maintained between the table top and the seat of the chair.
Rules for organizing a children's workplace
Teach your child the rules of sitting at a children's workplace. Explain to him that he must keep his back straight, not lean to the sides, lean back, or lean on the tabletop. There should be at least 8 cm of free space between its edge and the student’s chest.
Step 5: Lighting
“Avoid contrast lighting in the children’s workplace”
After the furniture issue has been resolved, it’s time to move on to organizing the lighting. Artificial light must have an adjustable supply. A table lamp should allow directing light flows and have a shade or lampshade. Do not illuminate the child’s workplace with fluorescent lamps and halogen lamps. Stick with sixty-watt incandescent or LED bulbs.
Comfortable table lamp for a child
The rules for supplying artificial light remain the same as for daylight. For left-handers, the lighting device is placed on the right, for right-handers - on the left.
Avoid contrast lighting in the children's workplace. In addition to the table lamp, the room should include sconces or a chandelier with dimmed brightness. This will make the light diffusely soft and prevent children's eyes from getting tired.
If the child's desk is located away from the window, for example, located under a loft bed, then you will have to use a table lamp even during the daytime.
Step 6. Organize your storage system
Work productivity is ensured by many factors, one of which is the order in the child’s workplace. To establish and maintain it, storage systems are designed to be organized in such a way that all items are laid out, as they say, “on shelves” and at the same time are always within reach.
Storage system for children's workplace
The presence of a cabinet and drawers in the table will allow you to place many necessary little things in them. When sorting them, be guided by the principle: the more often a child needs a given item, the closer to him it should be stored. Therefore, in the top drawer of your desktop you should send:
1. Workbooks.
2. Textbooks.
3. Paints and pencils.
4. Sharpener.
5. Rulers.
6. Erasers.
It is possible and even necessary to organize desktop storage systems. Office organizers will cope with this task perfectly. You can put pens, buttons, paper clips in them. Small items can also be stored in transparent plastic containers. A school mini-library can be located on open shelves or in niches.
Desktop storage system for the workplace
For ease of use of the children's workplace, containers and drawers should be signed. This is a great way to not only save time on finding the right accessories, but also teach your child to maintain order.
The following can be permanently located on the desk:
1. Book stand.
2. Lamp.
3. Stationery organizer.
4. Clock.
If desired, a trash can can be placed under the table.
Step 7. Working on the decor
Studying and creativity should be of interest. The child will be happy to spend time at the workplace if he likes it. This means that you will have to start decorating it in order to somewhat personalize the space. You shouldn't get too carried away with the delights. You can add coziness with neutral colors and a small amount of decorative elements. The latter should be thematic and carry a semantic load.
Personalization of children's workplace
A miniature school board, enclosed in a nice frame, will do. You can write a schedule on it, mark important tasks, and place training reminders. The accessory can be wooden or cork. Then all of the above will be written on paper and attached to it with buttons.
Chalk board for children's workplace
You can post the necessary information directly on the tabletop, under plexiglass. A globe will become a trendy decoration for a child’s workplace. In addition to its aesthetic appearance, it will help in studying geography.
You can decorate the area with posters and placards with stimulating inscriptions, mottos, and phrases. A good solution would be interior letters, as well as numbers, which are not difficult to make yourself. They can be mounted on the wall or placed on shelves and niches, and it is not at all necessary to do this in an orderly manner.
Decorating a children's workplace
Step 8: Creative Accessories
Instead of boring scissors and small office supplies, buy your child accessories of unusual shapes and bright colors. It will be much more interesting for a child to put pens in an organizer shaped like a cheerful hedgehog than in a boring glass and fix abstract sheets with multi-colored paper clips. Interesting accessories are not just a waste of money. This is one of the ways to instill interest in the educational process.
Pay attention to the bright children's stationery
