GUIDE TO A WELL DESIGNED HOMESCHOOL ROOM

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GUIDE TO A WELL DESIGNED HOMESCHOOL ROOMGUIDE TO A WELL DESIGNED HOMESCHOOL ROOM

Do you find yourself needing a well designed homeschool room? Is 2020 over yet? It’s been a crazy year like none other. I live in an area that was hit particularly hard in the health department, however I’m grateful that our economy remained relatively stable.

Nonetheless, some of you may be in a position like us, considering virtual learning, or the local school system transitioning exclusively to virtual learning. Are you thinking, Oh crap, I don’t know how to teach my children. I don’t have time to teach them because I’m working as well. Or maybe you know they aren’t going to listen to you; mine certainly proved they didn’t at the end of last school year when we were forced into distance learning.

Maybe you are one of the lucky few that wanted to homeschool in the first place. To you I say, congrats. But it is not for me. I need to work, I like to work. In fact, I think my mental health depends on working my brain and having skills to show for my talents outside of the home.

Although I plan to send my kids back to {private} school with small, socially distanced classrooms, we all know that “phases” could roll back and we have to return to virtual learning.

So with that in mind, I’ve given some thought to what makes a functional and beautiful homeschool room. (Don’t debate me on how we’re not homeschooling because we don’t prepare the lessons, ha!). Fundamentally, you will need a desk to work at, a computer for zoom meetings, storage for workbooks and binders, and inboxes for completed papers.

While these things cover the basics, we can lay them out to not only provide great storage for all of the school supplies and papers, but also the toys and activities that should be part of learning and engaging.

THE BASICS

Before we look at the inspirational photos of the best home school rooms the internet has to offer, let’s at least touch on the things needed to fit into the space to make it functional.

  • desk
  • chair
  • file inboxes
  • shelves
  • computer
  • earbuds

THE SUPPLIES

In addition to the basics, you need supplies for your children’s at home learning or homework station. Having school supplies at their fingertips will aid in things getting done without the hassle of looking for missing supplies.

  • binders
  • page protectors
  • folders
  • scissors
  • markers
  • ruler
  • pencil case
  • calculator
  • pencils
  • lined paper
  • dividers
  • art supplies & paper

STORAGE

Lastly, you have to have storage solutions in place to keep your school room organized and chaos free. We know kids misplace things, even adults do, but let’s minimize lost items by creating an easy to use storage setup.

  • boxes
  • bins
  • crates
  • shelves
  • file cabinets
  • drawer organizers
  • standing file sorters

Let’s dive right into the homeschool room inspiration photos and talk about why and how they work so that you can apply the same principles to your homework station or at home classroom. You can follow me on Pinterest to see more homeschool room ideas on this board.

 1. BLUE DESKS & WALLPAPER

From an aesthetic standpoint, this homeschool space is amazing. It has color and pattern as well as practical storage.

The worktop provides a place for laptops and inboxes and the drawers are great for storing craft supplies, pencils and calculators. There are two sconces which will give extra ambient lighting. And room for the chairs to slide under the tabletop.

GET THE LOOK:

Table, white, blue78 3/4×23 5/8 “
$209.99
https://pin.it/1Z768mt

2. ELFA STORAGE

The Elfa storage system is a custom storage setup from the Container Store. Here, Jennifer from makingprettyspaces.com has done an great job of planning out the space and setting up a homework station in her home. You can read more about it here: http://makingprettyspaces.com/2020/05/19/elfa-homework-station-reveal/

GET THE LOOK: ELFA

https://pin.it/NUth9By

3. USE COLOR

We have heard studies that show both white spaces and colorful spaces increase productivity, but which is it? While I can’t vouch for the best choice based on science, I can say that adding pops of color to a white space will make you feel happy just looking at it!

GET THE LOOK: Add colorful light fixtures and seating to a white room. 

https://pin.it/4a5ZErr

4. MAXIMIZE STORAGE 

In the homeschool room below, the IKEA desks provide drawers to hold supplies and the file folder holders on the wall provide paper storage. We know paper is going to be a struggle in a kids homework space, so having the system in place of where to put it is imperative.

GET THE LOOK: IKEA DESKS & FILE HOLDERS

https://pin.it/5FhOZ4Y

5. DREAM BUILT-INS 

I think it goes without saying that for a work from home office or a homeschool room, closed storage is a must. If you have the budget and the time, using built in cabinetry to house books, workbooks, supplies, paper, pens and coloring supplies will be a life saver.

It will create a seamless look that is uncluttered. It’s easy to put away everything the kids are working on when you have closed doors and drawers.

GET THE LOOK: Built in cabinets from Lowes, painted off white, hide homeschool clutter. 

https://pin.it/4gdWY38

6. WINDOW SEAT FOR THE WIN

Some kids love reading and others don’t. So while you are forcing them to read, having a window seat is a great way to make it a special spot, dedicated to reading.

GET THE LOOK: This gorgeous example is built in, but you can get the same look with two IKEA bookcases and an KALLAX unit turned on it’s side. Add a cushion from an Etsy shop and bins below to hold books.

https://pin.it/5KEvguI

7. BLESSER HOUSE BLUES

I adore this DIY playroom makeover from Blesser House. She has taken pine IKEA bookshelves, put them together, and painted them blue.

All of the kids homeschool books, supplies and toys are corralled in one place. In addition, the woven light fixture and rug make the space.

GET THE LOOK: Multiples of the same bookcase, painted, then add a rug and oversized light fixture.

https://pin.it/wqNk8Hy


8. BOOK RAILS

Having reading material readily available is paramount to having a functioning homeschool room or even homework space. Research shows how much of a difference reading 20 minutes a day makes in long term development. So get your kids off to a good start with wall book ledges for easy reading.

Additionally, in the photo below, having closed storage keeps clutter hidden away and peaceful learning environment.

https://pin.it/79dSF4Z

9. FUN WALLPAPER

You all know I love a good wallpaper and the homeschool room is no exception! Layering the walls with fun, school themed wallpaper is the perfect way to put your kids into a happy mood about all things learning.

https://pin.it/1tqiCsz

10. HANGING CHAIRS

Hanging chairs make for THE coolest kids area. While I can’t guarantee that they will make your kids smarter, they will definitely provide joy, enjoyment, fun, and a break from the traditional desk. Giving you kids a space to read, work on creative writing or even take a break from school work is important for developing creativity.

Anything you can do to make your school space more fun, do it!

https://pin.it/5VkzBVL

11. CLOSED STORAGE

If I had to choose just one element to a functional, well designed homeschool room, it would be closed storage. You will see this as the threat throughout many of the homeschool spaces I’m sharing in this list of fundamentals.

And thought it may not be the star of the show in each room, it plays a very important role in keeping your space organized, clear of clutter and functional. If every toy, paper and supply has a place (that’s out of sight) it’s easy to quickly clean up. Your brain isn’t overstimulated by all of the THINGS in the room. It can rest and learn and take in the information rather than the clutter.

https://pin.it/4cxTW61

12. ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEM

If you aren’t following @Charlotteshouse you need to head over there and give it a follow! While I lover her fun decor and use of color, her school room is particularly inspiring. She uses a great organizational system of bins to hold like items.

Each type of toy or school element has a home that is labeled and easy to find. It makes creative play and reading easier because it’s at your fingertips. Clean up is a breeze, which we all know can be a struggle.

https://pin.it/4cxTW61

13. BINS & BOXES

Storage is a no brainer in a school space. But, seriously, you should invest in a way to store everything. Choosing a simple white backdrop where all of the boxes are the same color and size makes it easy to look at. You won’t be overwhelmed by papers and toys.

Instead, kids can focus on the work at hand and put away the rest. Repeat.

https://pin.it/7ph22am

14. THE HOME EDIT

Alright, while this particular shelf isn’t a homeschool station, The Home Edit does a great job of organizing everything in a neutral way.

Using magazine holders for paper and books, and white boxes for everything else, you won’t have a kids papers and supplies overtaking your house.

Keep it all contained on a shelf beside or above their desks. Once it’s time to work on something, pull down the box or bin, work on the project and return it to the box.

https://pin.it/1IrFV11

15. MULTI COLOR

While I love white as a backdrop for organization, I can’t get other this second rendition of THE HOME EDIT’s rainbow colored drawers.

Get the Look: RAINBOW DRAWERS

https://pin.it/4S0DBy3

16. IKEA

Take advantage of IKEA’s amazing storage systems. Whether you choose bookcases or shelves or boxes and bin for storage, have a way to store everything in place. Magazine holder are especially great for folders, workbooks, books and papers.

17. HAVE A PLAN, GET KIDS INVOLVED

Having a plan is the most important part of this whole thing. So pick your room, wall, space or nook. Measure, draw out a floor plan, choose your color scheme and elements you can afford.

Then get the kids involved. Let them choose a paint color from your preselected choices or a fun wallpaper. Or let them label the boxes for their things.

Getting the kids involved in creating their homeschool space will make them more likely to use the space and take care of it. Teach them to put things back into their boxes. It takes time and patience, but you’ve got this!

CONCLUSION

Regardless of whether you choose to go built in or bookshelf and full color or white on white, the above ideas create the foundation of a functional, well designed homeschool room.

Recap:

  • Bookcases or book shelves for storage of books and magazine holders
  • Magazine holders for storing papers
  • Closed storage for all toys, supplies and papers
  • Chairs & window seats for reading and calming down
  • Bins and Boxes for EVERYTHING
  • Have a place for everything, label it and use it
  • Create a storage system that you repeat each use.
  • Put things back into the bin or box they belong.
  • Boxes and bins make for quick cleanup, sweep it all into the box and back on the shelf
  • Use color to add fun to the homeschool room
  • Wallpaper adds style with ease and low cost
  • Adequate lighting helps focus on the task at hand
  • Group like things together
  • Have books out and readily available to grab attention & read

I know things are different in 2020 and it may be rough. For one, homeschooling, virtual learning and overseeing your kids education is no easy task.

So set yourself up for success by creating a dedicated homeschool space so that kids can explore, learn, and relax. Your entire house won’t be taken over by papers, and you’ll create strong organizational and cleaning habits in your kids.

Happy School Year Moms!

GUIDE TO A WELL DESIGNED HOMESCHOOL ROOM

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