Members’ favourites: Stylish study spaces designed by members of The List
In a world where the boundaries, for many, between work and home have blurred, home study spaces, whether it be an office or a desk tucked into the corner of your sitting room, have become a necessity. Indeed, one of the biggest benefits is that it helps to maintain the disconnect between work and personal life, thus creating a healthy work-life balance.
When designing your study space, there are a few key items to consider incorporating: a good task light and, if space allows, lots and lots of storage. A good desk light might be one of the easiest things you can do to upgrade your space, and the key to a good one, in our opinion, is for it to be able to tilt and turn so it can adapt to whatever task you're focusing on. R-X Studio London has some great options, including their ‘Valora' lamp that has a swivel shade that you can adjust to direct light exactly where you need it. Storage is also key, especially if you don't have a dedicated room to do work in. A space-saving storage desk with built-in drawers is a great option as it provides both a work surface and a place to organise work-related clutter.
Throughout this gallery, you'll see lots of examples of these two key items being styled in creative and practical ways by members of our online directory, The List by House & Garden. From calming modern schemes to opulent study spaces brimming with antiques, these study spaces are sure to inspire you to update your home office to help you be productive whilst not compromising on style.
If you see a scheme you particularly like, be sure to click the link in each caption to learn more about the designers who put the room together on their List profile.
Do you provide a service you feel our readers should know about? We'd love to hear from you. Click the link to apply to join.
Rachael Smith1/14Natalie Tredgett Design
Natalie Tredgett has made her mark on her Victorian terraced house, creating an eclectic environment that serves as a showcase for her eye-catching style. Once such space is in the study, where a slipper chair has been upholstered in a Pucci fabric and embellished with embroidery.
Paul Whitbread2/14Charlotte Boundy
Taking inspiration from the Victorian period of the house, Charlotte Boundy has created a beautiful interior filled with sophisticated colours and patterns. Wallpaper proved a great vehicle to introduce pattern into the house, including in the study where Charlotte used Morris & Co's ‘Willow Bough’ pattern in yellow.
Mark Anthony Fox3/14Christian Bense
Christian Bense's flat in Battersea is packed with clever small space ideas. In the study, Christian added a Soho Home desk, which he found on Facebook Marketplace and paired it with a red leather desk chair.
4/14Katie McCrum Studio
This project by Katie McCrum Studio was for a client in the Cotswolds, whose property overlooks the lakes. Katie and her team created an informal writing space that complemented the other artful areas of the room to make a statement. Ultimately, the project is about the view and feeling connected with nature.
Christopher Horwood5/14HÁM Interiors
HÁM Interiors has created the perfect blend of classic and modern interiors in this 18th-century house with views down to a Devon estuary. A Swedish Rococo secretary from Lorfords Antiques makes for the perfect place to work in the main bedroom.
6/14Buchanan Studio
Buchanan Studio has brought its fresh and characterful design style to a Belgravia townhouse. The study sits on the house's half landing and features a Valleverde marble desktop that complements the ‘Bulu Raffia’ moss wallcovering by Christopher Farr.
7/14Anna Haines Design
Anna Haines Design painted this study in Farrow & Ball ‘Hay’, a warm, dusky yellow which is uplifting but not too bright. It provides a warmer backdrop for client calls, whilst also feeling quite peaceful and established.
Alicia Taylor8/14Penny Morrison
The challenge for interior designer Penny Morrison at this Victorian terrace was to create a home for a smart bachelor pad without the stereotypical furnishings. A handpainted Irving & Morrison lamp brightens a corner of the drawing room that serves as the house's office.
9/14Imperfect Interiors
Beth Dadswell of Imperfect Interiors continued the same style of joinery that she used in the rest of the house for continuity, and painted it the same colour as the plaster walls, leaving her moodboards to become the visual interest in the space.
10/14Caroline Riddell Interiors
In this London mews house designed by Caroline Riddell Interiors, a small office space has been created just off the living area, which features a glass-panelled doorway and a patterned rug from Vanderhurd.
11/14Stringer Interiors
Annabel Stringer of Stringer Interiors suggests keeping your desk space as clutter-free as possible with attractive storage options close by for easy organisation. This example from the studio's Notting Hill project is a great example of this tip in practice.
Peter Dixon12/14McWhirter Morris
Keen to create a house that felt quintessentially English, the owner of this Chelsea cottage called on the team at McWhirter Morris to help her realise her dream. A desk from Oka and an upholstered chair turned the conservatory into a space to work.
Paul Massey13/14Turner Pocock
Drawn to this Georgian house in Berkshire by its tranquil waterside location, the owners tasked Turner Pocock with creating interiors that would provide a welcoming space for visiting family and friends. In the study, Soane’s ‘Simplified Boyd’ chairs partner a live-edged walnut table by Handmade in Brighton.
© Kirsten Francis Photography14/14Kerri Pilchik Design
A library and office space have been cleverly incorporated into this family room design by Kerri Pilchik. The client's antique desk is accompanied by a chair from Julian Chichester, adding a modern touch to the scheme.
