Home School Space Ideas
It’s no secret that 2020 has been a very ‘different’ year for all of us! COVID-19 has impacted everyone’s life in one way or another and now it’s changed what the school year will look like for many children, moms, teachers and educators across the country. No matter how you feel about your school situation this year, you might be starting the fall with your children at home, which could be an unexpected change for your family. Whether you’re homeschooling or virtual learning from home, whether it’s for 3 weeks or for the entire year, it’s important to have a space in your home that’s dedicated to school. Having a dedicated school space will not only help your children focus and settle into a routine, but it will help you keep your sanity having all their school ‘stuff’ in one place rather than spread out throughout your home.
Here are some of our ideas and suggestions on how to create a home school space in your home.
It’s time to transform a room into a school room. Our #1 suggestion is to use your formal dining room or a breakfast nook as your school space if you have multiple seating options for meals. If you have a kitchen island and a formal dining room, we suggest doing all meals at your island and turn that dining room into the school room. Your formal dining room will be easily accessible for everyone, in the line of sight so you can make sure the kiddos are focusing and doing their work and close to general living areas where you might be spending your day and you can use whatever table and chairs you already have. If you have a home office that isn’t in use, turn that into a school room. Even a guest bedroom that doesn’t get used could be a school room! If possible, choose rooms other than a playroom or living room. Those rooms are associated with playing, TV watching, family time, games, etc. They’re not spaces that are necessarily associated with school and getting work done so the transition might be hard!
Don’t try to get too cute. This is a temporary (for many) season and you don’t want to spend a ton of money on creating a school space. We know it’s probably tempting to want to create a fun, stylish space for your kids, especially if they’re disappointed to be learning from home, but don’t let mom guilt get the best of you! Keep the space functional, tidy and practical for learning at home. This change isn’t permanent so you don’t want to buy expensive, large, clunky pieces that you won’t have a place for when in-person learning begins again. If you homeschool year-round, that’s a different story!
Keep things portable and easy to move around! Some tiered rolling carts with storage are great to have for school supplies and materials. They keep everything organized and you can wheel them into a corner, out of the way when school is done for the day! This helps prevent spaces from getting cluttered. Rolling carts are even helpful if you have older kids who have desks in their own rooms; they’ll prevent rooms from getting too messy!
Get your kiddos (and yourself) some blue-light blocking glasses! Screen time is hard on the eyes and with more time being spent in front of computers, tablets, TVs and phones, you’ll want to protect everyone’s eyes from harsh blue-light.
Use pieces you already have for storage. Think dining room buffets, cabinets, hutches and built-ins. Don’t feel like you have to go buy some big storage piece, get creative with furniture and storage that’s already in your home. Use items like baskets or Lazy Susan organizers to keep supplies tidy and easy to store.
Get charging stations for electronics! These charging stations keep electronics in one area and minimize cords being scattered around the house. They’re also a great place to keep tablets or phones when it’s time for the kids to take a break.
If you or your kids don’t already use a planner, we recommend getting one! A big calendar near their work space or in a spot that’s easy to see is a great way to keep track of due dates and deadlines. This way kids and parents know what’s going on and can help hold everyone accountable for what needs to get done!
This might not be the cute homeschool home-decor post you were looking for but if we’re being real, our advice is to not go all out on home school spaces if your situation is temporary for now! We would prioritize getting items to stay organized so that your home isn’t taken over by school supplies and keep things simple. Don’t let mom guilt get the best of you either. It’s so easy to scroll through Instagram and see all kinds of cute home school setups but we promise it will be worth it to get the bare minimum and not spend a fortune on furniture and decor if you don’t have to! Unless you already homeschool year-round, your children will go back to in-person learning at some point so just remember this season is temporary. Save your money and just get the basics!
We’ve linked supplies for you to shop below and guess what? They’re all on Amazon and all eligible for Amazon Prime delivery! Simply click on any image to start shopping.
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