The days of the dedicated home office are numbered thanks to technology like laptops, tablets, smartphones and wi-fi making people more mobile, replacing it with the more flexible “study nook”.

The demand for a dedicated study has been significantly reduced, with buyers often preferring to replace a study with a fifth bedroom or a separate media room, a repurposing that allows for more flexible living arrangements for individuals and families.

A compact study nook is often a better use of the space with computer sizes getting smaller and being replaced by laptops and tablets. The significant improvement in wireless technology also means the devices don’t need to be anchored to the wires and modem they way they used to be.

Kitchen study nooks are becoming increasingly popular as they are typically a communal space and a utility area and the hub of the home, meaning you can easily bounce between food preparation, paying bills and catching up on emails without leaving the room. It can also act as a central ‘tech zone’ where the family can store and charge laptops, phones and tablets before taking them to the lounge or alfresco.

Cleverly hiding your study nook behind doors is a practical solution to visible clutter (who wouldn’t want to close the door on any paperwork!), but there are other functional considerations that come into play regarding the usability of a study nook space.

Storage is a key factor in how (and how much) the space will be used, as does being located and oriented in a way that doesn’t impede on “traffic” throughout the living space. A nook also needs to be recessed enough to allow a chair and leg room.

Locating nooks in hallways creates a functional zone out of a previously underused space. The advantage of the hallway placement is a longer or double-width area, and placement in secondary hallways means practicality without ruining the aesthetic line of sight from the entrance. In split-level living, the dead space under stairs is also a popular location.

Looking for inspiration? Have a look at some of these ideas:

Source: news.com.au