11 Simple Tips to Create the Ideal Study Space

Set up a distraction-free space to boost your productivity

Co-authored by Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed.

Last Updated: July 24, 2025 Fact Checked

Do you find it hard to concentrate when having to study at home? Finding a better place to study may be your answer. Keep reading for a guide to creating the perfect study space, complete with setup and personal touches. We also consulted with academic and test prep tutors for tips on how to best organize a space free from distractions.

How to Create a Study Space

Academic tutor Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed., suggests finding a quiet, distraction-free spot tailored to your needs. One way to start eliminating distractions is by putting your phone away. Other tips on making an effective study space:

Make sure the space has ample privacy so you can concentrate.
Stock your space with supplies and keep them organized.
Keep a clock and/or calendar in view so you don’t lose track of time.
Block out any noise that might distract you from your work.
Personalize your space so it’s a warm and welcoming place to study.

1

Pick a quiet spot with privacy.

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Make sure your study space is quiet and free from distractions. A spare room or office is ideal because you can shut the door behind you. If an entire room isn’t available to you, think about carving out a corner of your bedroom or the living room. Use room dividers to create a separate space or other pieces of furniture to make borders, like a houseplant or bookshelves . ^{[1]
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- Desk placement can also make the space feel private. Try facing the desk into the corner or placing it against a wall, for example.
- Test prep tutor Bryce Warwick, JD, emphasizes “finding a quiet space away from the kinds of things that are going to distract you, even if it means traveling to an inconvenient place. Consider a space where you aren't going to be distracted by your phone going off, notifications on your laptop or TV, or people talking in the other room.” ^{[2]
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  Bryce Warwick, JD
  Test Prep Tutor, Warwick Strategies
  
  Expert Interview}
Meet the wikiHow Experts

Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed. is an educational consultant who provides customizable educational plans, subject and test prep tutoring, and college application consulting. He coaches students to increase their self-awareness and emotional intelligence while achieving skills and the goal of achieving skills and higher education.

Bryce Warwick, JD , is the president of Warwick Strategies, an organization offering premium, personalized private tutoring for the GMAT, LSAT, and GRE. Bryce has a JD from the George Washington University Law School.

2

Set up a chair and a desk or table.

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It’s important that your desk and chair are comfortable. At the same time, try to avoid getting so comfortable in your space that it causes you to lose focus or fall asleep; for example, your bed is not the greatest option for homework. That said, you can make it work if you have to! Just be sure that you have adequate workspace to spread out, open your textbooks, use your laptop, etc. ^{[3]
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- Find a desk or table with a height resting somewhere between your waist and ribcage when you sit at it. Make sure you’re able to rest your feet flat on the ground. ^{[4]
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- If your desk or overall study space is cramped or tight, try using a wall-mounted desk that can fold away when you’re not using it or a folding table you can set up as needed. ^{[5]
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- Pick a comfortable desk chair that fits the height of the desk or table. Make sure it’s comfy enough to sit in for long periods.
- Select a temperature at which your mind and body function best.

3

Choose adequate lighting.

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Good lighting can reduce eye strain and help you focus. Working in low-light conditions may not only make it easier to nod off, but it can also exacerbate eye strain, which will put a damper on any study session. Harsh lighting, such as fluorescent light, can be bad for your eyes, too. Instead, use a desk lamp to focus light on your workspace, and also a nearby table or overhead light to brighten the area. ^{[6]
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- If natural light is available, make use of it. Be aware, though, that while the natural light provided by a window can be refreshing and calming, the temptation to stare out the window may hamper your ability to study . Consider draperies or translucent blinds, or face away from the window.
- Academic tutor Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed notes that “visual learners engage with a colorful space that is full of creativity and brightness as opposed to a dimly lit space that doesn't allow for a lot of color, which can feel dull.” ^{[8]
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  Educational Consultant
  
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4

Organize your study materials.

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Prep the space with everything you need close by. If you don’t have enough (or any) drawers, use boxes, small crates, etc. that you can stack on the desktop along the perimeter of your study area. Make sure you have all the materials you need for studying close at hand, so you don’t waste time fumbling around for a ruler or pencil lead refills. ^{[9]
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- Keep pens or pencils, erasers, paper, notecards, highlighters, in your space, as well as a pocket dictionary, thesaurus, and calculator nearby.
- Getting organized to study means arranging your study materials by course/subject in folders or binders. Mark each clearly and store them for easy access.
- You can also organize assignments and notes by using bulletin boards or cork tiles. Wall calendars can also help you create a study schedule .
- Ruiz also suggests “using sticky notes as reminders for studying. Use them on your actual laptop so you know it's going to appear on the screen when you open it; it's going to prompt you to study.” ^{[10]
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  Alexander Ruiz, M.Ed.
  Educational Consultant
  
  Expert Interview}
- Reader Poll: We asked 168 wikiHow readers if they use a calendar to keep track of their schedule, and 54% said yes . [Take Poll] Keeping a calendar is a great way to remember important events and complete major tasks.

5

Place a clock where you can see it.

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Keeping track of time helps you stay on schedule. However, this all depends on your personality and what motivates you most—will a clock motivate you to keep studying for an hour more? Or, is it more likely to remind you that your favorite show is on in only 15 minutes or make you think “I’ve only been studying for that long?” Examine your relationship with time and organize your study space accordingly for the best results. ^{[11]
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- Try using a clock to set time-related study goals. You may want to use a timer for even more precise time-keeping, especially if you are preparing for a timed exam like the SAT or ACT.
- If the tick-tock of an old-fashioned clock bothers you, go digital.
- Remember to take 5-10 minute breaks every hour.

6

Personalize your study space.

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Tailor your study space to your needs and aesthetic. Decorating your desk and/or overall space also identifies it as yours, even if only temporarily, as in the case of a dining room table or shared space. Adorn your study space with posters, signs, and photos that are important to you. Bring along a few motivating mementos for your study time that can be easily packed up when you’re finished. ^{[12]
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- Figure out what kind of motivation works for you. Is it a photo of your family or a beloved pet?
- Decorating with cool colors like blue, purple, and green inspire feelings of peace and balance.
- Scents like lemon, lavender, jasmine, rosemary, cinnamon, and peppermint may boost mood and productivity in some people. Try out different scented candles and essential oils to see if they help. ^{[13]
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7

Keep your desk tidy and clutter-free.

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Clean and reorganize the space when you're done. A desk can get messy really quickly! When you finish a study session, tidy your space so it's ready for the next time. Keep tabs on your papers, pens, open books, etc., avoid letting clutter pile up. Too much clutter can leave you feeling overwhelmed and stressed out. ^{[14]
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- When taking short study breaks along the way, take a moment to tidy up your workspace before resuming.
- Excess clutter can lead to unnecessary distractions. Keep only what you need at that time in front of you. A cluttered workspace can lead to a cluttered mind.

8

Use the space to study (and nothing else).

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Using the space for one purpose creates a work mentality. If you can carve out a space—even a corner, a niche, a large closet, etc.—dedicated exclusively to studying, do it. Associate your presence there only with studying.
- If this is not an option, transform a multipurpose space into a study space. Clear away food, dishes, centerpieces, etc., from the dining room table.
- Avoid using your bed as a study space since it's meant for sleeping. The same is true about wanting to play video games where you normally do, or eat while sitting at the dining room table. You’ll end up being more likely to create distracting associations. ^{[15]
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9

Put your phone away out of reach.

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It's hard to ignore the lure of your phone if it's within reach. The modern smartphone is perhaps the ultimate tool and the ultimate distractor. Put it away when you study, or you may find yourself browsing Facebook or texting a friend without even realizing you’ve picked up the phone. ^{[16]
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- Turn your phone off or put it in do-not-disturb mode so the lure of notification chimes doesn’t drag you away from your studies. Also, try placing it well out of reach so you can’t reflexively grab for it. ^{[17]
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- If you’re using your phone as a calculator or other tool, consider putting it in airplane mode, which shuts off wireless and cellular connections. You can turn them back on for your (brief) study breaks.

10

Block out distracting sounds.

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What noises you find distracting may differ from someone else. Some people work well with “white noise,” which includes any background noise (for example, working in a coffee shop) that isn’t really distinct enough to be distracting; others need total silence to work. Figure out what works well for you, and create a space where you can plan your studies accordingly. ^{[18]
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- If your study space shares a room or a thin wall with a TV that’s on, people engaged in conversation, or some other potential distraction, try to block out the distraction with your own background noise.
- Try rain sounds or white noise—there are websites and apps with samples. If you prefer music, try light classical, quiet jazz, or something without lyrics. Music that negates audio distractions without becoming one itself works best. ^{[19]
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- Don’t use headphones if you have a choice. They often hinder focus and information retention for many people. ^{[20]
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11

Avoid snacking while studying.

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It’s easy to mindlessly snack when you’re hitting the books. Junk food in particular is a bad idea. If you have to have some snacks handy, choose fresh or dried fruits, vegetables, or whole-grain snacks like crackers. ^{[21]
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- Try to avoid over-consuming sugar and caffeine while studying. They can make you feel jittery and lead to “crashes” later.
- Try saving your snack for when you take a study break. You’ll be more aware of what you’re eating, and it’s a nice way to reward yourself for a job well done.
- Don’t ignore your body’s needs, though. Set yourself a meal or snack break, or give yourself a specific amount of time before you replenish your coffee. This way, you take care of your mind and your body.

Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

Do you want to make your studying more efficient, learn more quickly, and remember more information? Check out these expert articles.

1

Study For Exams

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Study So You Can Remember Everything

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11 Simple Tips to Create the Ideal Study Space

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Create Good Study Habits for Exams

5

Learn Without Forgetting

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Retain Information when You Study for a Test

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Question

What sorts of supplies do I need?

Community Answer

This will depend on what you are studying. You should, at the very least, have a pad of paper and some pens or pencils. If you are studying from a textbook, you might also want to have a highlighter. If you are studying math, then you might also want to have a calculator.

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What things should be in my table in my study space?

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Keep only the items you absolutely need to study, like a pen, pencil, lamp and paper. Limit distractions by only keeping study supplies nearby.

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Would a study nook help me focus when studying?

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Most likely. In a nook, you are tucked away from distractions and surrounded by study stuff, so it's a good environment for focusing on your academics.

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11 Simple Tips to Create the Ideal Study Space

How to Create a Study Space

Steps

Pick a quiet spot with privacy.

Set up a chair and a desk or table.

Choose adequate lighting.

Organize your study materials.

Place a clock where you can see it.

Personalize your study space.

Keep your desk tidy and clutter-free.

Use the space to study (and nothing else).

Put your phone away out of reach.

Block out distracting sounds.

Avoid snacking while studying.

Supercharge Your Studying with this Expert Series

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