With part-time work-from-home arrangements becoming the norm, having a designated space at home has become a necessity. However, designing a home study can often be an expensive endeavour. With some creativity and thoughtful planning, it is possible to create a functional and aesthetically pleasing study space on a budget.
When designing a home study on a budget, making the most of what you already have is key. IKEA’s interior design team suggests that dining tables, chairs, side tables, and dressing tables can all be adapted to become a workspace.
An old table or desk can be given a fresh coat of paint or refinished to fit your study’s aesthetic (bonus tip: Use spare paint in the shed or try sample paint pots for smaller pieces.)
Likewise, bookshelves or storage units from other parts of your home can be relocated to your study to provide storage for books and supplies.
One of the most important aspects of a productive study space is adequate lighting. Natural lighting not only saves energy but improves focus and overall mood. Place your study area near a window to maximise natural light during the day.
If your study area does not have access to natural light, consider investing in affordable LED lighting technology – from desk lamps, strip lights, or overhead lighting. It costs a little more to install but is significantly cheaper to run and has the bonus of being able to mimic natural lighting (including automated dimming over the course of the day!
You can check hipages if you need help with how to install LED lighting, or you can use hipages to find a licensed and experienced electrician near you to install them.
Buying new furniture for your home study can quickly add up and strain your budget. Instead, consider shopping for second-hand furniture options – hit up larger op-shops (check online before you head out to make sure they sell furniture), your local Buy-Nothing group, Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace are all great places to nab a bargain (bonus eco-points for reusing).
As you can’t order exactly what you want with second-hand shopping, it’s best done with time and a clear idea of what you need and your room measurements.
Storage is an essential component of any study space, and creative DIY solutions can save you some cash – for example, repurposing old crates or wooden boxes as bookshelves or storage containers, or mason jars or repurposed cans to store pens, pencils, and other small stationery items.
Not only will these DIY storage solutions save you money, but they will also add a unique and personal touch to your study space.
Adding plants to your work from home space can bring life and freshness to the environment and makes the team from IKEA’s list of best budget room reno tips. Indoor plants improve air quality and have a calming effect, enhancing focus and productivity.
NASA undertook a study of different plants to test their ability to remove common volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air, their best performers all well suited to bringing style to your study space:
Bonus tip: NASAs study found the plant’s root systems did the heavy lifting when removing household pollutants, so pot plants add more value than their cut flower counterparts.
The IKEA team suggests warmth and softness can be brought into your home office with window textiles, cushions, and throws – all inexpensive ways to create a more inviting space.
Likewise, wall art, prints, shelves, and open storage are the perfect places to display personal collections or objects that bring you happiness, bringing personality into your space. They suggest plumping for prints or posters that resonate with your interests or goals or framing inspiring quotes or photographs to hang on the wall.
Corkboards or magnetic boards are ideal for displaying important reminders, to-do lists, or inspirational images. These small touches can make your study space more inviting and reflect your personality.
Ready-to-assemble flat-pack pieces often come at lower prices than fully assembled furniture, enabling you to stretch your budget further while acquiring stylish and functional pieces for your study. If you’re not confident putting them together, or you need help, a handyman can help, reducing the risk that you’ll make costly mistakes.
And don’t forget – if you are buying things for your home office with your own money, keep the receipts – you may be able to claim the money back through your employer or as a tax write-off.
Are you tired of working from home uncomfortably on your couch or an overly cluttered dining room table? Start your planning for a productivity boosting work from home space with our guide for budgets big and small.
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