Use colour to define a dual-purpose study

If your study has a double life as a guest bedroom or storage area, you’ll need to define where the working space starts and ends – otherwise you may just find yourself sleeping when you should be working. Does your desk face a wall? Painting that wall a single shade that stimulates your creativity will help to define the study space from the rest of the room. Your brain may even start to associate work with that particular colour.

If you share your space with a sofa bed, a few personal touches like a beautiful painting, a vase of fresh flowers or a framed photograph will ensure the room is always ready for guests (even those who turn up unexpectedly). Studies inevitably end up filled with miscellaneous items, so ensure you have plenty of storage options. Open shelves are a great way to display your favourite things - and an easy way to give your study space an instant boost of personality.