It used to be that only the largest houses or perhaps those occupied by writers or academics had the luxury of a study. But as the need for home work space has grown, so the study has ascended the list of property must-haves, in many cases overtaking both the dining room and the spare bedroom (both of which are increasingly converted into studies).

Of course, if space is an issue you can shoe-horn a desk and chair in practically anywhere or work from the kitchen table. But being tucked away under the stairs or in an alcove on the landing is never going to work as well as a room with a door that can be firmly shut at the end of the working day.

From a book-lined sanctuary to a sleek designer hideaway, here are six of the finest studies currently on the market.