design tips for kid's study space

We all want the best for our children, and their education should be very high on any parents list. With recent world events leading many of us to adopt a hybrid home school model, at least for a short period, many of us found that we suddenly needed to improvise a study room for our kid/s.

Now that things have settled down, we've found ourselves inundated with questions about how best to put together a study space for kids, as parents begin to understand that to get the best out of their kids, they need to move off the kitchen table and into a more dedicated space. But how to design the perfect study space for your kids, to give them the best chance of excelling in their school work?

Below we answer all the major questions we get from folks about their kids study room, covering all the basic and practical concerns, along with a bunch of tips to help you best optimise the space for learning.

Do Children Need Their Own Study Space?

Before we start though, it's worth asking this question: does your child really need their own study room? If you're child is happy and productive working at the kitchen table, possibly not - but even then, as your child grows, you may find that this changes.

Providing your child with a dedicated area for study, with furniture that is designed for them, has distinct advantages. We've listed just a few of them below (some of which we'll dig deeper into later in the article):

Promotes Good Posture

A dedicated space with an adjustable kids desk and chair will help your child develop good posture at an early age. More importantly, it will help prevent them developing bad postural habits like slouching or stooping, which as they grow older could cause serious postural issues.

Helps Minimise Distractions

Most children are easily distracted - especially when it comes to home work. A dedicated space where you can manage the amount of outside noise/available devices etc will help you to keep your kids focused on the task at hand.

Extra Storage Space

Making a study area with a bespoke kids desk will also provide extra storage for all your child needs, so you'll have a dedicated space to store their colouring pencils and all the rest (and hopefully keep them off the floor). We'll suggest some ideas later on to maximise your storage!

When Do Children Need A Desk?

parents working from home with kids studying on the same workstation

What age you decide to provide your child with a desk is entirely up to you. Kids can be given work to bring home even from pre-school, so sooner or later you will need to find somewhere that they can colour in or draw at least.

For many the kitchen or dining room table takes the hit at first - with many parents opting to buy a study desk later (once they've lost patience with the scratches and marks on the dining table.)

But the earlier your child starts using a kids ergonomic desk, that is designed for little people like them, the better their postural habits (and future posture) are likely to be. A good quality kids desk will be adjustable to different age and height ranges too, which means you shouldn't need to upgrade every year or each time your child has a growth spurt.

With all of the above in mind, most experts agree that a desk can be useful for children from 18 months to 4 years (and up). Getting your child used to having a dedicated space for homework and all the rest at an early age can have advantages - but you'll know when's right.

What Do I Need For A Kids Study Space?

desky kids adjustable desk and chair set

Kids Desk

The centre of any study room or work space, the desk is the most important part of your kids study set up. Choose an ergonomically designed desk that's height adjustable - this will allow the desk to grow with your child, and save you from having to replace and upgrade.

Chair

Just like in your workspace, providing an ergonomic kids chair which supports your child and allows them to move easily is crucial. Again, you want to look for something that's height adjustable so your child doesn't outgrow it in the next year or so!

Shelving

Providing some simple shelving in your kids study space will allow them to access any textbooks and exercise books easily, without you having to pile them up on the desk itself. It's also an opportunity to pick a piece of furniture which matches the rest of your design scheme!

Cable Management

If your child works on a tablet, laptop or other device from time to time, it's more important than ever to keep those cables safely tucked away, Cable management systems will allow you to safely route your cables, saving your child from trip hazards and protecting the cables themselves from spillages and damage.

{{ spec_magnetic_cable_mgt }}

Accessories

Phone holder, headphones rests, mouse mats and footrests - just like in the office, there are no end of different uses and configurations for your child's desk. If they use any of the above, consider adding a bespoke holder to keep expensive gear safe.

{{ spec_abs_stand }} {{ spec_large_mouse_pad }} {{ spec_ball_mat }}

What Size Desk Does My Child Need?

Of course, the size of desk your child requires depends on their age and height. Younger kids only need a small, or low study table, but as they grow they will require a higher table. Our handy table let's you know how tall you need the desk relative to your kids height.

A desk which allows you to adjust the height as your child grows will mean you can simply nudge it up another level when required, and a good quality desk will be adjustable to accommodate your kids for many years!

Should I Put A Desk In My Kids Bedroom?

Choosing where you place the study area is super important. Every kids is different, and kids respond better to different stimuli at different ages - so there is no one easy answer to this question.

If your child is good at lone study, or easily distracted, it may benefit them to have their own personal space in their bedroom to study. Equally, as your child gets a little older you may feel it's time for them to develop a little independence - or they may no longer need you over their shoulder to get the work done.

For younger children, or those who require a little more support, they may be more comfortable having a dedicated space in a more communal part of the house, like the kitchen or home office, where you can easily keep an eye on them, answer questions and provide reassurance. It really is up to your kid and their personality, and as you're their parent, we're leaving it to you to decide on what's best on this point!

Where Should You Put A Desk In A Child's Room?

The positioning of the desk in the study space is your primary concern. The desk will be the centre and focus of the studying room, so get this wrong and the whole enterprise could be in jeopardy.

The average kids room is packed full of distractions, toys and devices. Choose a spot which is well lit, and away from any major distraction. Choosing a spot without a window view can also help, as an easily distracted child will quickly pivot to thoughts of playing in the garden over school work.

How High Should A Desk Be?

Getting the height of the desk right is crucial, as it will help to protect your child's posture and stop them developing bad habits like slouching or stooping - both of which can affect them as they grow. Choosing an adjustable height desk will help protect posture and save you upgrading every year.

How high you need to set the desk will depend on your child's height - which is why we've included this handy table to help you choose the best height for your kids homework station.

Desk Height

AGE HEIGHT (in) DESK HEIGHT (in)
2 yo 33.46 - 41.34 14.96 - 20.08
3 yo 33.46 - 41.34 16.14 - 20.87
4 yo 39.37 - 49.21 17.32 - 22.83
5 yo 47.24 - 51.18 18.90 - 22.83
6 - 8 yo 47.24 - 51.18 18.90 - 24.80
8 yo+ 58.27 - 62.60 20.87 - 26.77+

 

Chair Height

AGE HEIGHT (in) CHAIR HEIGHT (in)
2 yo 33.46 - 41.34 7.87 - 9.84
3 yo 33.46 - 41.34 9.84 - 11.42
4 yo 39.37 - 49.21 11.42 - 13.39
5 yo 47.24 - 51.18 12.60 - 13.39
6 - 8 yo 47.24 - 51.18 12.60 - 14.96
8 yo+ 58.27 - 62.60 14.96 - 17.32+

Tips For Designing Your Kids Study Space

Get a Good Chair

Often over looked, a comfortable ergonomic chair will not only protect your kids posture, but help them concentrate and hopefully minimise any fiddling or discomfort.

Natural Light

Wherever you place the desk, make sure it is bathed in natural light. Natural light not only illuminates your kid's study area - it's good for the body and soul, and all that extra vitamin D will help them maintain a positive attitude towards their work (hopefully!).

That said, sometimes your kid may need to work after dark - so investing in a good table lamp is a good idea.

Minimise Distractions

little girl looking at her phone while on her study desk

One of the regular issues parents face is getting their children (especially younger children) to engage with their homework. The modern home has so many distractions that it's no wonder - and coupled with shrinking attention spans, getting your kids to settle down and complete their homework can be a real challenge.

The best study spaces aim to minimise distractions, and help your kid focus their attention on the book or computer screen. Placing the desk against a wall will ensure their is nothing beyond the desk in your childs eye line. If you have limited space, a wall mounted desk will have the same effect.

Although your child may well need some devices to work, try and pick a spot or room where they don't have access to any others, and keep any games/toys/consoles out of the way so they don't remind your kid what they could be doing if they weren't working!

Make A (Not Too) Comfortable Space

You want your child to be comfortable and supported in their work - but it is important to remember this is a study zone, first and foremost. So although of course it is ok to make it fun, know where to draw the line - if your kid begins to associate the study area with play-time, for example, you will have a real challenge turning that juggernaut around.

So you can add a bean bag so they have a comfortable place to read, and of course a comfortable chair is an absolute must for when they working at the desk. Just keep toys and devices out of reach, and let your kid know that this is a space for working.

Maximise The Space Available

There are a million different ways of maximising the space available to you. Choosing a desk which has ample storage is a great way of keeping all your kids study materials in one place, and has the added advantage of keeping those materials off of the kitchen diner.

Consider A Reading Nook

You may also want to provide a quiet space for reading, either alongside the homework station, or elsewhere in the house. Any quiet corner in the house can act as a nook - with perhaps a bean bag and a lamp to create the effect.

Think About Your Interior Design

There's no reason you need to sacrifice your house style to incorporate a study room. Choose furniture which complements the design scheme of the rest of the house - you might be surprised how many styles are available for kids furniture. Alternatively, you can co opt unused bookshelves etc from around the house and use these to help tie everything together.

We hope this has given you some inspiration for your kids new study room! If you're still undecided, why not check out our range of childrens desks and chairs to see if there's anything there which takes your fancy?
Desky Logo
WRITTEN BY Desky Work better. Be more productive.