Stylish HDB Study Room Design Ideas

Ever questioned why a school was designed the way it was? Those minimalistic colours, rigid clean-lined furniture, and almost factory-inspired segregation have somehow become the norm for all students. Said to reduce distractions, the dull design schemes have become synonymous with a ‘7 am to 1 pm structured focus time’. Should a school incorporate modern furniture and switch things up with a splash of creativity, you’re sure to see them presented to the masses through media features. But what design approach should parents take when designing their kid’s study rooms? If being torn between decoration and distraction is not stressful enough, add to that the space constraints most homeowners in Singapore face with their HDB flats, and it is understandable how coming up with study room design ideas can be a challenge.

Study Room Basics

Do you not have the luxury of space like most of us? Have your kids settled for a small study desk in the corner of their bedrooms or the dining table in the hall? LoftHome has you covered. But first, what are the basic requirements of a study room? For one, you’ll always need accurately measured furniture that fits into the space without overwhelming the area. It is also important to be wary of the location – be it the room or the placement of the furniture. Lastly, have a theme in mind. You wouldn’t want your kids coming home from school only to be greeted by grey walls that affect their motivation and productivity.

Study Room Layout Ideas

Let’s say you’ve set your eyes on an area of your home that looks promising enough to be converted into a study area. What are the next steps to ensure that there is a sufficient amount of space and it is conducive enough for work and study? Here are a few study room layout ideas that will give you a solid foundation to design your room.

1. Free up some floor space

When installing a study table, one of the main worries is the utilisation of floor space or the lack thereof. Will there be enough space for other furniture after this huge vintage study table is added in? If I opt for a smaller table, will there be enough space for all my work or study materials? These are common questions brought up by homeowners. One of the ways to work around this is to utilise a floating or standing desk instead of the standard ones that we’re all accustomed to. If finding one that fits your aesthetic is difficult, built-in wall shelves like the Medium Wooden Wall Shelf with Chalkboard Front are versatile enough to complement any study room design ideas you may have.

Beyond desks, this logic can be applied to your shelving units too! Large bookshelves and display shelves are undoubtedly great as you get to sprawl out all your materials and books – a decorative piece of sorts. But when space is a concern, installing floating shelves for additional storage is ideal. These can also double as decorative elements that will spruce up your space with subtlety.

2. Use any available space, even nooks

If there’s one advice interior designers will offer homeowners of a small apartment, it will be to make full use of your vertical space. As mentioned above, floating furniture will free up floor space. But at the same time, that does not mean that they should only be drilled into large and open spaces – don’t let your nook and crannies go to waste! Throw in a desk, bookshelf, or other storage solution into these corners and transform them into a functional study space.

Study Room Must-Haves

Design layout aside, there are a few key furniture pieces to include in every study. And no, your everyday home furniture should not be your go-to. Furniture specially designed to boost productivity and comfort and reduce the risk of back pain must be considered above all else. Why? Because given the hours that your kids will be spending in a study room, it needs to be as practical as possible. Just like how you might design a home office, the same effort should be put into curating the study area. From ergonomic study chairs to a designated space, everything needs to optimally cater to their needs. This way, they can live and breathe the “work hard, play hard” motto.

A study room does not always have to be about constant mugging. If the bed seems like a comfortable spot to work from, then so be it. Should there be sufficient space, try to create a lounge area so that your children, or even you, can take breaks in between their study sessions. Be creative with your study room ideas, even if the area is small. Need more study room ideas? Browse our extensive catalogue of study and home furniture or be inspired by our design articles!

Cool Interior Design Inspired by Pop Art

Heard of Andy Warhol? Keith Haring? If you have, then you’ll be glad to know that you’ve been exposed to the cultural phenomenon known as Pop Art. Not restricted to a specific definition and spanning various modes, pop art has transformed the art industry – even in Singapore. The Singapore International Festival of Arts, which will be held from the 14th to the 30th of May 2021, might not result from this artistic movement, but it most definitely embodies the philosophy that pop art is all about. Themed “An art festival reimagined for the future”, the Singapore International Festival of Arts aims to bring the world to you – quite apt to the interior design world too if you ask us. So, what do pop art and an art festival have to do with the interior design of your home? We cover them in this blog.

What is Pop Art?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of how you can leverage pop art and gain inspiration from them to switch up your home interior design, it is pivotal to understand the main gist of this cultural movement. Having first emerged in the 1950s, it challenged traditional fine art. Drawing inspiration from popular and commercial culture such as movies, comic books, and advertising, these types of art stood out from the crowd – think about the famous Campbell’s Soup Cans by Andy Warhol. Impersonal by nature, it moves away from personal feelings and symbolism, only going all out with creativity.

Characteristics of Pop Art

In general, pop art is known for its vibrancy and unique characteristics. By using images and icons from popular media heavily and only turning to bright primary colours, there are specific prominent features in this art form. Another aspect worth mentioning is its level of innovation. Not necessarily creating something from scratch, most pop artists would take original works of others and put their own spin on them. How can you then apply the same technique to your home and make your living space “popping”?

1. Colour Scheme

When designing a home, one of the first things you’ll have to decide on is the color scheme. Like works of art by pop artists, go for bright and clashing colors. One great way to ensure the colors don't look kitschy is to choose contrasting hues that are on the opposite ends of the color wheel – oranges and blues, as well as reds and greens, for example.

2. Furniture Choices

Once you’ve set the foundation, the next step is to start layering – with furniture, of course. Super vibrant and youthful decorative elements should be added to your home interior. For consistency throughout the space, colour blocking is a great technique to use, especially if you plan on throwing in prints and patterns. To embody the “pop art” style to a T, go for 60s style furniture. Retro-futuristic chairs made of unorthodox materials, minimalist sofas, or even egg armchairs are all contemporary furniture worth considering.

Pop art inspired LoftHome pieces

Lazy Sofa Chair - TOGO

There are a few pieces of furniture at the LoftHome furniture warehouse that are reminiscent of pop culture. Some of these include:

1. BREAD: An industrial vintage-looking furniture, this leather and canvas sofa chair is subdued. But its odd shape screams quirkiness.

2. UNION JACK & JEAN JACK: Nothing can get more iconic than the Union Jack. Made out of blue jeans, with a massive Union Jack printed on it, Andy Warhol would be proud.

3. TOGO: We mentioned that egg armchairs are great contemporary furniture choices. A good alternative to the standard leather sofa, the Togo takes it up a notch with its unexpected design.

4. Additional decor: To add some artistic appeal to your home, throw in pieces like the Mary cotton cushion, wall plaque, horse bust, and resin frog taper holder. These little touches might not seem like much, but they go a long way.

As you might have noticed by now pop art allows for humour and bold elements to be injected into your interior design. Invigorating your décor in multiple ways, this is an art form that you’ll definitely want to gain inspiration from.

Celebrity Homes: Interior Design Trends of the Rich & Famous

We’ve all been there – idolising celebrities, wishing that fame and money were things that would soon fall into our laps. However, gaining inspiration from trailblazers, world leaders, and trendsetters is just part and parcel of life. Based on the simple idea “I wish I could be like that”, we look up to these individuals to motivate us to change for the better. As much as the celebrities themselves hold much power to influence the masses, their lifestyle and fashion style are ones to send waves through pop culture. And guess what? The same can be said about their home interior. If you religiously follow reality TV shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians, there is no denying that their homes are spellbinding. Large walk-in wardrobes, pools, and five-star resort-like themes, they check all the boxes of a stereotypical celebrity home. But before you get your design boots and find innovative ways to recreate these looks, it is best to understand current trends in the interior design world.

General Interior Design Trends of 2021

Trends are constantly changing. Be it fashion trends or interior design trends – one minute something is all the rave, and the next minute, it’s not. But based on our observations, there have been some common trends popping up inspired by current events and pop culture. Some of these include:

1. Textured furniture

Bookshelf | Hanging Box

Remember those flat and rectangular solid wood dining tables or chest of drawers that your parents cherished and never threw out? Well, those are not “in” anymore. Instead of rigid lines and forced solidity, everything from bookshelves to tables, the contemporary furniture of today should bring tactility and texture to your interior. Take, for example, the Hanging Boxdisplay shelf or the WAVE. These industrial-inspired vintage furniture are far from being pieces with no substance.

2. Design flair & divided open floor plan

No one likes a boring home. Although consistency is the name of the game, bringing visitors on a decorative journey is way cooler. Beyond throwing in splashes of colour or adding quirky elements to their living spaces, many have recently gravitated towards the concept of being open but private. Tapping on the ever-popular open plan living, with all that has been going on and more people working from home, the strategic division of space has become a necessity.

3. Korean & Japanese Interior

A fan of K-dramas? The Japanese or Korean interior design that borders minimalism is something that offers simplicity and function. Besides its timeless design aesthetic, the J and K wave that have taken the world by storm imparts with it a sense of calmness – something that is much needed in our concrete jungle.

Nailing the Celeb Look

Sure, celebrities have the money to splurge on all the luxuries and furniture. But that does not mean that you can’t recreate the same look in your home. With cheap furniture galore in every corner of Singapore, take note of these key aspects to bring the celeb home look to life:

1. Get your entryway settled

The entryway is the first thing that everyone will notice when visiting your home. When styled properly, it becomes a masterpiece. Most celebrities live in mansions so they might have double staircases in this area – not a realistic design option given the apartments most of us live in. Instead, homeowners in Singapore could add statement pieces like a dramatic leather chair or ottoman like the CHESTERFIELD near the hallway.

2.A walk-in wardrobe is a must

Nothing screams luxury like a walk-in closet. Most celebrities have incredible wardrobes that everyone will be in awe of. In space-scarce Singapore, you could work around the space limitations in creative ways. Cabinets like the CONTAINER and stacked drawers like the GRETA can be added as staple pieces. Island benches like CHOCOLUSH will also give the room a retail feel.

3. Warm colours

It is a given that colours play a crucial role in interior design. If you looked closely, you’d realise that most celeb homes feature warm tones like browns and beiges. These earthy tones make it easy to layer furniture and give the living space a luxurious feel. So go all out with wood furniture! You won’t regret it.

4. Add excitement to your rooms

The celeb life is all about fun and living life to the fullest. Take the party to your living space with a bold wallpaper or graphic feature walls which will make a “good room” a great one. Reese Witherspoon for example, has floral wallpaper in her home. Though subtle, it elevates the simplistic wooden furniture that she has in her living space.

Designing a home like that of a celeb does not require a huge spending habit but rather a tasteful eye. Even if there are budget constraints, it is easy to pull off the luxurious look – especially when you shop at LoftHome. Not sure where to buy furniture in Singapore? Head down to our showroom and you’ll find the answer.