Spring Decorating, Part Seven: The Study

Whether you work from home in a home office or just do your bills or read, everyone needs a space to call their own. The study is the perfect place to do all these things. In most homes if you have a dedicated study, they tend to be smaller rooms.  Some people are lucky enough to dedicate a third floor or studio to use as their study. There are certain must haves for this room, whether large or small.

FURNITURE: The most important piece of furniture you can have for your study is a desk. First it needs to be positioned where you will have the best view and where you will be sure to get enough light. Your desk can be either a simple flat surfaced table with no drawers or a solid wooden desk with built in file drawer. There are endless possibilities when choosing your desk. Think about what you need before purchasing one. Think about how you will use your desk. Will you just write bills there or do actual work and have a computer on it?  A comfortable desk chair is also key. Find one that will be comfortable but still give you support for your back. If this is used as your home office, you may have a need for file cabinets. If you have metal standard office cabinets, consider spray painting them to go with the color scheme of your room. Bookcases are a staple in studies. If you have a built in bookcase put some personal items like photos in along with your books. If space allows, a club chair along with an ottoman is always a welcome item for your study. Make sure to place a side table with a lamp next to it.

COLORS/FABRICS:  If your study is on the smaller side, choose colors and fabrics that are not overwhelming. Interesting fabrics that have a solid color and lots of texture or fabric with a small scale pattern will make the room interesting. Suedes and leathers are often used here , especially for men.  To add a bit of "zip" to your room, a fun area rug like a faux zebra skin is a nice choice. Try not to have too many colors if your room is small. 

DETAILS: Try to avoid having too much clutter in the room. Organize your papers well and use baskets or decorative boxes to help. Have a selection of soothing background music to help inspire you. Fresh flowers are always welcome here. Good lighting is very important here. Make sure you have good overall lighting such as recessed lights preferably on a dimmer. Excellent  task lighting is also essential. Have a desk lamp and a good table lamp for reading next to a chaise or club chair. If your room  or space is especially small, consider having a carpenter build in a desk with shelves above for you. Try and have your desk top cleared when not in use. It is much easier to start a project when things are put away in an organized way. If you have a noisy household, consider having a thicker door installed  or upholster your door with cotton batting and fabric and outline the door with upholstery tacks.  If you don't have a great view from your window, hang a favorite painting so you see it from your desk. It will help inspire you!

Let your study be your peaceful refuge away from everyone. Working, paying bills or reading a great book,  this room should still be one to call your own!

Visit Leslie Dean Interiors Inc. website at www.LeslieDeanInteriors.com. Leslie Dean Interiors, Inc.  • Greenwich, CT (203) 869-4677 • Wilton, CT   (203) 529-3255