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The Journey of Designing and Building Your Own Study

Many people believe that it is too hard to do your own renovations. I believe that anyone is more than capable of giving a space in your house more life.  I will share with you the key elements of interior design to create an effective study space. I will tell you how I came to my decisions and what I think it is the best decision. I will move through the small things such as, painting the walls to building your own high ceiling book shelves. You are more than welcome to follow me through my journey of trying to make the best study I possibly can.

There were a number of things that needed to be fixed to form the skeleton on the room before we started designing the study part of the room.

  • Salt damp- knocking out loose plaster, brushing it free from loose and corroded cement will be the first place I start. Setting it with water and pva glue in a spray bottle, so that the loose crumbles of cement are held in place. Start re-plastering, filling in gaps which are visible elsewhere in the room, making sure everything is level.
  • Flooring- half of the floorboards were already out because of white ants and previous plans of renovations. For this renovation we decided to pull out the rest of the floor boards and put down floor panels which were able to be cut to size and were clip in so they didn’t move. This gave the floor a flat surface, this way you had freedom for what material you wanted to put on the floor. Whether it be floorboards, which need a flat surface or lino, which can be put over almost any surface.
  • Moving the Door- when the house was made, at least 100yrs ago, many of the doors were put close to the wall. Almost hugging the wall, making the door open right against the wall. We made the decision to move the door, which allows for an even entry to the room and then you have more options for storage on both sides of the room. This was done by bricking up half of the original door opening and taking out section of wall to effectively move the doorway. Adding lintel above new doorway to strengthen the bricks above the doorway. Once again, you plaster the bare brick, which you have added.
  • From here you are to sand off the plaster making it ready for a coat or two of wall primer (depending on your original wall colour and as to how dark it was). Then you start painting with your chosen colour on the walls and ceiling, needing to do more than one to make sure all areas are covered evenly.

(Froling, Tim 2017)

Colour Psychology

Generally speaking everyone has their personal opinions on every colour but through scientific observation we have been able to tell how some colours effect mood, concentration levels and balance in your mind set.

Black can be seen as depressing, as it absorbs light and is generally associated with death and mourning. Having such a dull colour in a study would be detrimental to your motivation to do work. I would steer clear of this for blocks of colour such as, walls or floors and stick to using it as a colour to break up bold colours which.

White is a diverse colour, it’s linked with serenity and pureness. If it is used in large quantities it’s known for stark and cold demeanor and giving a sterile and bland feel. White is a good base colour, as you can add brighter colours and allows for everything to fit together.

Red if used too much can be seen as an aggressive colour. But when used in moderation it is a warm and comforting colour.

Blue is a calm, serene colour. It is used as a conservative colour it bring a peaceful and secure vibe. It is a great colour in which helps you concentrate. If it is over used then it can cause sadness  or aloofness. So to make sure this doesn’t occur break the colour up and allow for blocks of other colours.

Green is another colour which helps you concentrate, it offers tranquility and relieves stress. Green can be a colour which you love or hate so using it in small amounts may apply to you. I think that it is a good colour to use to break things up, especially with the many different shades you can have it in.

Yellow is bright and intense, it grabs your attention. It is a warm colour, it is best to use it in small amounts to keep the study it warm and appealing. If used too much it can be quite an abrasive colour and cause visual fatigue.

Purple is an imaginative and spiritual colour. As it is quite rare in nature it’s seen as an intriguing colour. It’s known to be a colour which you love or hate. I think a splash of colour in a study will incline your brain to uniqueness and help you with your creative ideas.

Brown is quite a diverse colour, it can be quite an unattractive colour, it’s very earthy and solid colour. Although it can seem dull and drab, it can actually bring security and dependability. I think that materials such as timber will be perfect for the use of brown, as it comes in many different shades.

Pink is a calming colour it is associated with red because it can be bright and if used too much it can also come across as aggravating. This colour would be best for accents in the room. It would help keep the calmed ambiance which is beneficial when you are concentrating for long periods of time.

Orange is a controversial colour, like purple. It grabs your attention and can be uplifting. But used too much it can be overwhelming. Used at a minimum it could be beneficial for your mod and motivation levels.

Painting the Walls and Ceiling

High saturation colours are more stimulating which is good for the walls to keep your brain awake. Low saturation colours are less simulating, somewhat soothing. This is good for the ceiling as it breaks it up from the high stimulating colours. As mentioned, blue and green are them best colours for productivity. I choose blue out of the two as it is my personal favourite. After noting what will be best for the walls and ceilings going into a paint shop and collecting many different test swabs is the best option. Then you can go home and test them in the room.

Going to ‘Solver Paints’ I was able to select a number of swabs to play with. After much consideration for the level of saturation, whether it is too harsh on the eyes and personal preference I was able to narrow it down, deciding to use ‘Atmospheric’ and  ‘…………………’. Along with the colour ‘Breeze’ for the frame work of the room along with the architraves, this allows for the blues to almost be frames and stand out more, it also helps break up the blue with a neutral colour.

Design

For the size of the room I want everything to be easily accessible. Having storage which is open and long working spaces for maximum use of the space. Whilst still allowing for empty space so you don’t feel claustrophobic. You need you take into consideration, your physique especially when you’re making your own desk. This comes under ergonomics, which is the process of designing or arranging workplaces, products and systems so that they fit for the people who use them. Experimenting with a stable height and a chair so you can figure out what height you want everything. These decisions depend on how you are most comfortable, making are that you are square and sitting straight when you are making decisions.

*** Insert SketchUp  Plans***

Positing the desk on the long side of the wall allows for more use of the space and lets more than one person work in there at one time. Having book shelves above the door and on the desk also allows for extra space for the rest of the room.

Being able to put lino down as flooring allowed for flexibility of what colour I wanted. The colour tones in with the blues and the lighter timbers. It also falls under the fact that I wanted a few different types of wood colours. It is also very durable and lasts so there is no worry for upkeep of the floor. This allows us to focus more on the rest of the room.

Lighting is an important factor when designing a study. It is key for concentration, as it influences the mood and surroundings. It is best to have evenness of light so no shadows. Having them set at different angles allows for it to bounce off all four wall, making everything well lit. You need to make sure the lights are above you on angles so that there is no light going directly into your face. This can cause discomfort as it is pointing directly at you.