When homeschooling your child, the most important thing is to have a dedicated space for learning. You need an area separate from your house’s living space — even if it’s just a small one — where your students can concentrate on schoolwork.
Being away from the noise (and distractions!) of the rest of the home helps them switch their brain into learning mode, and it also gives you an area to store all your equipment neatly.
Of course, not everyone can build an entire classroom in their home — and that’s totally ok. As long as you have the basics, set up in the right way before you begin, then space isn’t too big of a factor.
So what are the basics? Let’s start there…
What do you need to set up a homeschool room?
Setting up your homeschool room doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. If you’re thrifty, you can even pick up a lot of the basics second-hand. Or, if you’re handy, you could even try doing some DIY, like this reclaimed wood desk.
Whether you buy it new, used, or make it yourself, these are the homeschool room essentials:
Furniture
First things first, your student needs a proper desk and chair for doing school work.
If you’re short on space, keep an eye out for folding furniture that can be put away when it’s not in use. Otherwise, try to find a desk with storage, like built-in drawers or an overhead bookshelf.
Bookshelves are another must-have.
You’ll be going through so many workbooks and, by the end of your first year, you’ll have plenty of folders and binders full of work. So be sure to add a bookshelf to your shopping list, even if it’s just a simple cube shelf you can put in the corner.
Stationery
The stationery you’ll need is pretty similar to a normal back-to-school list, you just won’t have to individually label each item with your child’s name! Stock up on pens and pencils for writing, as well as colored pencils or markers, erasers, sharpeners, highlighters, scissors, and Post-It notes.
For notebooks, it’s down to preference. Some homeschoolers like to have a separate notebook for each subject, especially in middle- and high-school classes. And having a big stack of blank paper and loose-leaf lined paper will always come in handy.
The most important thing is having some sort of organization system. Keep pens and markers inside pencil cases to make sure everything remains tidy. Buy some cheap magazine holders or plastic in-trays to store loose worksheets and books.
Trust us: a simple desk organizer from an office supply store can go a long way.
Technology
Some teachers like to use tablets or computers for their lessons. This is totally optional — if you can afford it, and you think it’ll help your kids learn, then go for it. If not, no stress.
However, having a printer is practically an essential tool for homeschooling. There are so many online resources that you’ll want to take advantage of, like worksheets and reading passages. Having a printer in your home is so much easier than having to use the library or a copy shop every time you need something printed.
A color printer shouldn’t set you back more than a hundred dollars, and it’s a worthwhile investment.
Decor
This one comes down to personal style.
Some teachers like to hang their students’ work and art on the walls to add a bit of color, while some like to purchase charts — like multiplication tables — or bright maps to help with learning. A pinboard might be a good idea, so you can easily rotate your decorations based on what units you’re currently learning.
A small whiteboard can also come in handy, especially if you’re teaching more than one student at a time.
What should a homeschool room look like?
If you’re looking for inspiration, then look no further! We’ve rounded up some incredible homeschool room ideas, each of which will motivate you to create your own learning environment.
Whether you’ve got a whole room, or just a nook in the hallway, with the right amount of effort you’ll be able to create the perfect space for your child.
Homeschool room idea #1: light, airy and organized
Placing the desk right by a window is a great way to make sure your learning space is always illuminated and inviting. This helps keep your students alert and focused, though it might be best to have their backs to the window to limit outside distractions!
Also, note the built-in bookshelf to cut down on clutter, and color-coded storage system — both of which make it super easy to find everything you need.
Homeschool room idea #2: small but mighty
Here’s a great example of making a tiny space extremely efficient.
This hallway closet has been transformed into a small classroom, with a custom-built desk and shelves. It’s all about getting creative with what you have and making it work for you.
But, in small spaces like this one, it’s even more important to stay organized. Explain to your student that everything has its place, and must be put away as soon as they’re finished using it.
Homeschool room idea #3: let their personality shine
This room is a real reflection of the student’s personality. It’s decorated with the things he’s interested in, and also what he’s learning at the moment.
There’s also plenty of storage spaces: built-in shelves, baskets, and stacked shelf cubes. Once again, everything has a dedicated place so it never feels messy or overwhelming.
Homeschool room idea #4: giving kids their ownership
With four students, it’s important to maximize the space you have.
You’ll see that each kid has their own set of drawers for their school books and stationery. This approach brings a lot of benefits, not least that you never have to hear any arguments over who owns what! And you can fill the corners of a room with storage bins and desk organizers, to keep all the odds and ends in one place.
Homeschool room idea #5: the clutter-free cupboard
This cupboard is the stuff of dreams! Can you see how many different organization techniques there are to apply to your own space?
Plastic filing drawers are usually the perfect size for a cupboard shelf, and small stackable containers are a great way to keep things looking neat and tidy.
Homeschool room idea #6: bold color coordination
Bright colors are an excellent way to introduce some fun and personality into your homeschool space. By giving each student a different color, it makes storage and organization a lot easier.
What’s more, this long desk was actually homemade to fit the room. You can easily do the same by balancing plywood or flat plastic tabletops on short shelving units — a great way to customize your space and ensure you’ve got everything you need.
Homeschool room idea #7: the Montessori room
If you want to give your kids a more hands-on learning experience, then the Montessori method might be for you.
This homeschool space has plenty of different areas and activities built in but manages to stay neat and tidy at the same time. Have a read through this mom’s blog post if you want to learn more about bringing hands-on learning into your homeschool space.
Homeschool room idea #8: using posters to transform a space
This homeschool space has been decorated with plenty of brightly-colored posters, to stimulate the students’ brains and put them into learning mode.
You can order these laminated posters online, make your own, or find printable versions on Pinterest. In her blog post, this mom reveals that they didn’t have space for a separate learning room for her kids, so she turned the dining room into a school room.
If you really need to, you can take the posters down at the end of each day and get your dining room back in action.
Do you have homeschool room ideas of your own?
Hopefully, these homeschool room ideas have inspired you to get creative with the space you have in your house.
Remember, it’s all about doing the best you can with what you already have. Then, it’s time to teach! For more tips about homeschooling, and how to be a great home teacher, head to our blog.
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