See how the full 2.3m double desk fits two workstations into the small study.

A 5㎡ Dual-Purpose Study That Doubles as a Guest Room

How one 5㎡ study fits a 2.3m double desk, two rounded chairs, a pegboard charging wall, and a fold-out sofa bed for overnight guests.

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━ 01 Nov, 2026
━ 4 comments

Of everything in this renovation, the 5㎡ study is the part we're happiest with. The key move? Skipping the tatami platform everyone defaults to in tiny rooms, and building a flexible double workspace instead — one that handles study and office hours, some gaming, and even the occasional overnight guest. Here's how the pieces fit together.

A Sofa Bed in Less Than 1㎡

Fig. 1. Fold the sofa bed upright to reclaim floor space when no one is staying over.

Fig. 2. Lay the sofa bed flat to turn the study into a ready guest room overnight.

The trickiest corner — under 1㎡ — holds a 95cm-wide sofa bed. Folded up, it reads as a small retro-green sofa; pulled flat, it becomes a 1.9m sleeping surface for friends staying over. No tatami needed, and the corner still feels open.

Chairs Worth Sitting In

Fig. 3. Give the seating corner its own personality with display shelves beside the window.

Since this room gets used for real work, the seating wasn't an afterthought. The two rounded chairs have a plump, cushioned back and seat — the shape the Chinese internet affectionately calls a "little bread loaf" (欧包). They sit comfortably against the wood-toned furniture throughout the room.

The Double Desk

The desktop is an IKEA SALJAN countertop, about $125 (900 RMB). It came 2.46m long and was cut down to 2.3m, with a depth of 63.5cm. The legs are 70cm high — just a few screws to fix in place, genuinely beginner-friendly. Two legs each on the left, middle, and right, and the load capacity is more than fine for two people working side by side.

The Pegboard Charging Wall

Fig. 5. Mount phones, batteries, and earbuds on the pegboard so everything charges in one spot.

Three IKEA SKÅDIS pegboards joined together form the wall behind the desk. Wires hide behind the panels, while phones, camera batteries, watches, and earbuds all hang up top to charge. Add Mario and Luigi figures, a ? block, and brick shelves, and you've got yourself a Mario-themed charging wall.

Editor's Notes & Summary

A small room works hardest when it isn't locked into a single function. Plan the dimensions carefully, and 5㎡ can be a study by day and a ready guest room whenever it's needed.

Room dimensions for reference:

Item	Size
Study room	approx. 5㎡, 2.3m × 2.3m, 3m ceiling height
Desk	2.3m long × 63.5cm deep
Narrow cabinet	20cm deep
Sofa bed	95cm wide, 1.9m extended

4 comments

50 RMB per cut (about $7). You need to book the service through customer support.

Noah Wilson
Hi, was the countertop cut by the IKEA delivery guys? How is that charged?

Alex Morgan
Around 660 RMB each (about $92).

Evan Scott
The bread-loaf chairs look so good — how much was each one?

Avery Mitchell