The pandemic has forced many working people to set up an office at home. Those who have a spare room certainly have no problem converting it into a suitable workplace. But what about when your flat is too small and your bedroom is the only place with room for a desk?
We'll tell you the pros and cons of having a desk in your bedroom and give you a few tips on how to position it cleverly so that it doesn’t affect your sleep.
Desk in the bedroom: the pros and cons
With rent prices continuing to rise, finding an apartment with enough space for an office or study can be challenging these days. This has led many workers to consider setting up a study corner in their bedroom. We’ve summarised the advantages and disadvantages here:
The advantages of having a desk in your bedroom
Space is saved: The rooms in a home have different purposes and the bedroom is usually one of the only rooms which does not contain so much furniture. Practically speaking, a desk can easily be added to a bedroom without having to move too much furniture around.
As the bedroom is considered the quietest place in the home, there is a lot of peace and quiet in the bedroom, which allows you to fully concentrate on your work.
You can start working immediately: Having a desk in your bedroom allows you to get to work as soon as you wake up and then fall back into bed in the evening.
Desk can be installed quickly: A desk can generally be added to the bedroom without much difficulty. Many bedrooms have at least one free wall or even an alcove where the desk fits perfectly.
The disadvantages of having a desk in your bedroom
It’s harder to switch off: Having a desk in your bedroom can serve as a constant reminder of work, which can affect your sleep at night. If you want to improve your sleep quality, you should either move the desk to another room or hide it as well as possible.
Poor lighting in the bedroom: We often give little thought to the lighting in our bedroom because this room is only used for sleeping. If you want to turn your bedroom into a place conducive to work, you should make sure there is enough light.
Electrosmog can worsen sleep: Electronic devices generate an electromagnetic field which cannot be seen with the naked eye, but can nevertheless negatively impact our sleep quality and change our sleep rhythm. In addition, office equipment such as printers or multifunctional devices can release pollutants such as toner particles into the air, which have no business being in the bedroom.
Feng Shui desk in the bedroom: Asian teachings suggest that a desk in the bedroom makes for bad Feng Shui. The bedroom symbolises the area of Yin, which represents relaxation and tranquillity. The office or study, however, stand for yang, i.e. activity and productivity. According to Feng Shui, these two are difficult to reconcile.
Desk in the bedroom ideas: How can the desk still be accommodated?
From a psychological point of view, a desk in the bedroom is not recommended, as its presence contributes to our thoughts revolving around work all day. However, if you can't find another place, you can make it work with a few clever ideas.
Keeping things tidy is the be-all and end-all
When the desk is used as a workplace, it is easy for it to become cluttered with documents and office tools. To avoid this, you should provide enough storage space so that your paperwork can be neatly put away when you’re done working.
Cupboards or boxes that can be closed are most conducive to order and neatness. In the bedroom, it’s important that nothing remind you of your projects after work. Even equipment such as printers and the like are no longer an eyesore when placed behind a cabinet door. The reduced electrosmog is also better for your health.
Keep visually-separate areas
It can be helpful to visually separate your desk from the rest of your bedroom with the help of shelves or curtains. This way, your attention isn’t constantly drawn to your desk. Having a room divider not only allows you to hide your desk, but also creates additional storage space for your documents and work devices. It’s best to combine them with plants or other decorative items to bring calm to the room.
Using a fold-out desk saves space
A visually-appealing and particularly space-saving version is a desk that can be mounted on the wall and folded out. This way, you can quickly hide it away after work, leaving nothing to remind you of the hectic office routine. Furthermore, you can use a folding desk as a storage unit, which can also be hidden away after work.
Set up your work corner in a cupboard or alcove
If you don't have too many documents and equipment, a wall cupboard with a desk can come in handy. There are now countless closed cupboards that come with a built-in desk on the market now.
If you are going to be sitting at your desk for a long period of time, it’s definitely advisable to use an ergonomic chair and make sure you have good lighting, as poor light strains the eyes and leads to headaches. Before going to bed, make sure to close the doors on the cupboard to reduce your exposure to electrosmog.
A natural feel in the bedroom gives a feeling of calm and peace
Natural materials are best suited for a better sleeping climate and a high level of sleep comfort. Natural materials such as wood can help regulate the humidity in your bedroom and create an atmosphere of calm and balance. This helps you to fall asleep faster in the evening.
Natural materials for the bedroom from Zizzz
After a stressful day at work, it’s important to get a good night’s sleep. Breathable, natural bedding puts your mind and body in the right mindframe to relax, so you can get to sleep faster, sleep through the night and wake up refreshed in the morning. We at Zizzz offer you bed linen made from two different types of soft organic cotton to help you achieve this goal. We only use organic cotton as it is breathable, particularly gentle on the skin and can absorb moisture well.
We have chosen percale bedding as the first weave, which is of the same quality as can be found in luxury hotels. Percale is breathable and becomes softer after each time you wash it. Our second type of bedding is satin, which is even softer to the touch and also completely free of harmful substances or chemicals.
For children, we also have a satin duvet cover with our favourite lucky star motif, which is not only incredibly comfortable, but also hard-wearing at the same time.
Conclusion
To keep yourself from thinking about work all the time, it's better to keep your desk out of sight or to move it to another room. Wardrobes, shelves and curtains can be used as room dividers so that you can completely switch off after work and ensure that your sleep is not disturbed.