If you feel like you’re banging your head against a brick wall trying to get your teenager to study, your home environment could be to blame.
Don’t worry – teenagers struggling to study at home isn’t a sign of a bad home – but it is a sign they could benefit from a bedroom study.
The perfect bedroom study provides an environment where your teenager can concentrate without distractions and put in the hard graft.
This article covers our top tips for creating the perfect teenage bedroom study.
Let’s jump in!
Merge sleep and study quarters with a high sleeper
If your teenager’s bedroom is small, create a space-saving bedroom study with a high sleeper bed – an elevated bed with a desk instead of a bottom bunk.
You can get high sleepers with space for a custom desk configuration, or you can get them pre-configured like the Julian Bowen Pegasus – this provides a bed, desk, drawers, and a wardrobe to free up space everywhere in the bedroom.
Not a fan of high sleepers? Check out the Julian Bowen Cookie – this unique mid-sleeper has an integrated cupboard, desk, and shelf in a space-saving design.
Create a fold-out workspace
If a high sleeper isn’t an option, get a wall-mounted, fold-out desk that stays out of the way when not in use to preserve bedroom space.
We are massive fans of fold-out workspaces because they free up floor space and bring a sense of purpose and utility to bedrooms – when your teen folds out the desk, they know it is time to study and can easily clean up afterwards.
Let your teen play with adjustable lighting
Lighting plays a critical role in learning and productivity, so it’s best to let your teen configure lighting in ways that suit them.
The best way to do this is with dimmer switches and bulbs – you can upgrade any standard switch to a dimmer switch at a minimal cost. Dimmers let your teen change lighting levels on a whim without needing separate lights.
Create a sense of time
One common reason teenagers waste time is not having a sense of time – specifically, how much time they have before bed.
Having a large clock in your teen’s bedroom is worthwhile to remind them of the time, and they should also set timers for study sessions.
Don’t ban earphones
Noise-cancelling earphones can make an enormous difference to productivity in loud households (i.e., households with young children).
Not only do earphones reduce environmental distractions, but listening to music can help your teenager enjoy their time studying.
However, beware that smartphones, tablets, computers, and other devices used for audio can distract your teen, so you need to manage these.
Use parental controls
There are two types of parental controls for electronic devices:
- Physical control – where you take devices off your children
- Virtual controls where you restrict content, apps, and services
Physical controls are best when your teen uses books and literature for homework and revision. In contrast, virtual controls are best when your teen uses electronic devices for learning, such as school resources and e-books.
Don’t be afraid to limit screen time when it’s time to study!
Use colours to inspire your teen
Studies show that colours significantly impact how students behave and spend their time in class – and the same applies at home.
While blues and greens are calming, reds and oranges are productive, and neutral colours help students maintain focus. Blue is the most effective colour in classrooms, so this should form the base of your teen’s bedroom study.
We recommend pastel blue – pastel blue is unisex and positive, instilling spaces with good energy and a sense of creativity.
We don’t recommend dark, moody colours because they sap spaces of light, making them feel smaller. Teenagers who struggle with anxiety and depression might also respond poorly to colours that reflect their psyche.
