A gentleman’s study is a room in your home that is yours to find solitude. It’s a quiet space for work, reading, and contemplation without distractions. The walls are painted a dark color, like forest green or dark blue, with a solid wood desk, a reading chair, chairs for conversation, maybe a bookshelf or shelving, and multi-layered lighting instead of one overhead light. And this will probably cost you anywhere from around $1,000 to $25,000, depending on the cost and quantity of items you use in the room. For this guide, we’re going to keep it under $2000.
The man cave blew up in popularity in the mid-2000s and was declared over by 2012. During these peak years, families were transforming basements, spare bedrooms, and attics into men’s parlors of leather and neon. It was so popular that there was a TV show called “Man Caves” on the DIY Network. And all in all, it was pretty cool.
However, after 2012, you saw the rise of the she-shed, and those man caves became home offices, multi-use rooms, and game rooms.
And now today we are seeing a resurgence of a bygone era: The Study. What’s the difference, you may ask? Well, the simplest way to explain it is that a man points at a screen. You face the chairs the same way, at a television, and when the game ends, the room falls silent. A study points inward. The chairs face each other for conversation. Maybe they face a window. But the point is that the room works when nothing is turned on.
When you’re purchasing something for your study, ask yourself if it serves the room if it’s not turned on. In other words, a leather chair over a neon sign.
So what are the steps to building a study?
Step 1: What room is best for your gentleman’s study?
This is the easiest step, since all you need is a room with a door.
The spare bedroom
The most popular choice is the spare bedroom. This may be a great choice for the empty-nester. A room is typically around 200 -300 square feet, and this holds a desk, shelving, a couple of chairs, and maybe a small bar nicely. Plus, you have the outlets and windows.
The basement room
This is another popular choice if you have a finished basement. You might not have daylight, but it’s super quiet and far removed from the rest of the home. But if you go this route, you might have to spend more on lighting and not pick a really dark color since you won’t have the natural daylight streaming in. But that is your choice to make. It should be whatever makes you happy.
The formal dining room or sun room
This is probably the least popular choice, but I’ve seen it. My friend has his study in what is supposed to be the formal dining room with French doors. It’s not bad, and it has a lot of room for his stuff. It can lack outlets, but the upside is that it has lots of natural light.
The desk placement
Step 2: Set a realistic budget
Item | Budget build | Considered build |
|---|---|---|
Paint & materials | $150 to $300 | $400 to $900 |
Desk objects and art | $150 to $400 | $600 to $2,000 |
Desk | $250 to $600 | $900 to $3,000 |
Desk chair | $200 to $400 | $700 to $1,600 |
Reading chair | $400 to $800 | $1,200 to $3,500 |
Bookcase / shelving | $200 to $500 | $1,500 to $6,000 |
Lighting | $150 to $350 | $500 to $1,500 |
Step 3. Choose the right color for your study
- Forest green with natural oak is hardest to get wrong.
- Navy with walnut, decorated with warm brass objects.
- Deep burgundy with mahogany.
- Charcoal, or dark gray, with black metal. This is a current trend.
You can paint the trim and the walls the same color in a different shade, or white.
My recently painted study in ‘Courtyard’ by Sherwin-Williams
Step 4. Pick a great desk
- Pedestal desk: Drawers on both sides with open knee space in the middle
- Partner desk: Larger desk with drawers.
- Writing table desk: Just a top with legs. Usually doesn’t come with drawers. A great choice for smaller rooms.
| Image | Product | Description | Price |
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Our Pick
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Luka Mid-Century Modern Oak Desk |
This mid-century modern office desk combines a spacious work surface with practical built-in storage. |
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Extra Large Partner Desk |
Long partner desk that can be shared with others. |
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Simple Writing Desk |
Quality design and lots of space for writing and a laptop. |
Step 5. Buy a reading chair
A leather club chair works great here. Situated away from the desk near a window or a lamp, it exists so that you aren’t stuck at the desk. You can also use two chairs if you plan on having guests over.
You can find plenty of leather club chairs on Wayfair, Amazon, and furniture dealers in your town, but consider buying used. Look for a leather chair with some patina, but not too worn down. Make sure it has a hardwood frame. And even if it is a little too worn, reupholstering costs less than buying a new chair.
Here are some great leather reading chairs, In case you want to go new:
| Image | Product | Description | Price |
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Our Pick
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Mid-Century Modern Tufted Chesterfield Chair |
Sturdy wood frame and high-quality faux leather, rolled armrests, durability and style. |
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Upholstered Rolled Arm Accent Chair |
A nice armchair with rolled arms and nail head trim giving traditional look. |
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Modern Brown Leather Chair |
A classic and modern look with simple lines. |
Step 6. Set up lighting
- Task Light: This can be a desk lamp or a banker’s lamp that you’ll a
ctually use to work by.- Ambient light: My personal favorite. It should be at eye level when seated. This sets the mood of the room, casting off a warm glow. It can be a reading floor lamp or a lamp on a table.
- Accent light: This is a light that is set up above art, or a small shelf light. It gives the room depth.
Try to use warm bulbs that are 2700k or lower. Also, put everything on a dimmer if possible. A study at 4 pm and 10 pm feels like different rooms. A dimmer can help with the transition.
Step 7. Decorate the desk
This is an easy step to miss, but it’s fairly important. I always feel like an empty desk looks unfinished. However, you don’t have to rush the process, since you’ll most likely end up adding decorations that catch your eye over many years.
You may already have some nice items, like a nice pen or a magnifying glass that’s been in the family for generations. Other personal items are photos of family and friends, small items that belonged to family members, or small antiques like pen holders, a clock, or a favorite mug. As a matter of fact, anything that you hold close to your heart would make a great addition to your desk. Just don’t overcrowd it.
- Pen cup or tray
- Letter opener
- Valet tray
- Small clock
- Paperweight
Also, pick one metal and go with it. Brass is a good choice. Try to match a brass clock, lamp, and other desk objects to create a nice, uniform look.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
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Desktop Celestial Tide Dial |
A replica of the 16th-century tool that uses the moon to measure tidal cycles and tell the time. |
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Desktop Globe |
A rotating glove that's just the right size for your desk. |
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Vintage Letter Opener |
Brass Fox Head Letter Opener |
Step 8. Wall Decor that is worth looking at
- An antique or reproduction map of places you’ve been
- Black-and-white photography of family, historical places, or somewhere that you love
- Framed documents. This could be a diploma, certificates, or historical documents
- Vintage botanical, nautical, or animal prints. I’m currently curating vintage prints of game birds to frame and hang.
Mass-produced prints, logos, and framed jerseys won’t work. Those things are great in their own environment, but not this one.
Also, hang the art at eye level for a seated person, not a standing one. Remember, this room is meant for sitting.
One step that I’m skipping, for now, is adding a bar. I’m not personally against having a bar in a study, but it’s not a must-have, as a lot of people don’t drink. Also, if it’s going to be used 90-100% for work, a bar isn’t a good idea. However, I will cover the bar in another article for anyone interested.
Where To Start
Pick the room and paint it. That’s the very first step.
Everything after will fall in line. This isn’t a rush job. You will collect what you need in time, and it will be worth it. And most of all, have fun with it!
