20 Simple & Creative Homeschool Room Ideas for Small Spaces
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If you’re looking for some homeschool room ideas for small spaces, you're in the right place.
Check out these tips and resources for homeschooling in small spaces. From organizing hacks to design ideas, you'll find what you need to make the most of the space you have for your homeschool.
What You Need to Set Up a Small Homeschool Room
The key to success for homeschooling with limited space is using and storing only what you need.
It can be so tempting to feel like you need more for your homeschool. Doesn't more mean better?
Absolutely not!
More homeschool supplies and resources often lead to clutter. And make it very hard to find what you need.
The struggle to add more to your homeschool can only get worse when you're on social media (especially Instagram) and see homeschools with tons of shelves crammed full of books, games, and supplies. Comparison syndrome is tough!
You may start to think you need all of that - and if you don't, are you even homeschooling the "right" way?
Let me reassure you that you do NOT need stacks of supplies or heaps of games.
In fact, these 3 must-haves for a homeschool room are really all you need:
1. You Need a Space for Children to Sit and Write
Obviously, your kids need room to do their work. You can get creative (see ideas below) and make your space work for you.
2. You Need a Way to Store Books
Unless you choose to use only online resources (ebooks and programs), you'll need a place to keep books.
3. You Need Basic School Supplies & A Way to Organize Them
When you have your essential homeschool supplies ready, you'll then need a place to store and access them.
What You Don't Need for a Homeschool Room
It's just as important to look at what you do NOT need for your homeschool room. These considerations will help you keep your resources to a minimum and make the most of your space.
1. You Don’t Need to Replicate a Public School Classroom
Learning at home can look a lot different than public school. In fact, it really should!
If you're struggling with this idea, check out our deschooling resources to help you learn about how to break free from public school mentality and embrace the freedoms of homeschooling.
2. You Don’t Need All the Expensive Bells and Whistles
You also don't have to spend a ton of money on fancy shelves or decor.
Your kids don't care if you have the latest shelving unit or rug. They want to be comfortable while they're learning!
DIY homeschool room ideas help you save money and customizable. And are fantastic ways to recycle!
Instead of throwing out a basket or box, think about how you can reuse it in your homeschool workspace. Get your kids involved in the process and they'll love your DIY homeschool room decor.
3. You Don’t Have to Have a Traditional Desk Setup
You have so many options when it comes to providing your kids with homeschool work space.
A kitchen or dining room table is a wonderful place to gather. (My boys and I always start our homeschool day at our dining room table.)
You can also move your learning area to a couch or comfy chair by using clipboards or lap desks.
One of my friends placed a large piece of sturdy cardboard across an armchair for her daughter to use as a temporary desk.
Let's take a look at some super cool tips for homeschool room ideas for small spaces!
10 Tips for Homeschool Room Ideas in Small Spaces
1. Store Only What You’ll Use
You only need to find space for things you’ll use on a daily and weekly basis. Accessibility is key when it comes to homeschool storage.
Go through your homeschool supplies considering how many kids you'll be homeschooling this year, their ages and stages, and what subjects they'll be studying.
Make a pile or section with all of the essential supplies for those considerations.
Everything else can be stored in a plastic bin in a closet, attic, or other storage place.
2. Paint a Section of Wall in Chalkboard Paint
One of my favorite homeschool classroom decorating ideas!
This creative option helps you save space AND have a place to teach lessons and put reminders. You can use the pain or the super-simple chalkboard paper.
You can section it off with a DIY frame or leave as-is for a smart homeschool room hack.
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3. Set Up a Command Center
A command center for your homeschool area is another smart hack.
This type of center is a visual organizational system that you can refer to whenever you need a reminder or planning something special.
Some ideas for your command center are:
- Calendar
- Cork board (great place to pin up appointment cards, growth mindset quotes, and spelling lists)
- Dry erase board (magnetized is a bonus!)
- Chalk board
- Small shelf or two
- Hooks (for keys or loose-leaf rings of sight words or vocabulary)
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4. Vertically Organize with Stackable Storage Containers
A brilliant homeschool classroom setup uses storage containers that you can stack and wisely use your vertical space.
You can either have containers that close with a lid or open storage shelves to easily access materials.
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5. Use Wall Space as Much as Possible
Look at the wall area you have for your small homeschool space. Could you add shelves, a white board, bulletin board, or hooks?
If you need help visualizing what to hang on your homeschool walls, use painters tape or washi tape to measure off those areas to "see" what it would look like.
Using wall space is so important for organizing a small homeschool room.
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6. Find Educational Pieces That Double as Decor
What can you use that's both educational and pleasant to look at?
A world or local map. A flag from your country or maybe from where your ancestors hail.
An artistic version of a periodic table or scientific drawing of a flower.
You can also hang a frame that allows you to easily rotate pieces. You could use this space to place artwork for picture study or enjoy your kids' art.
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7. Use a Hanging File Folder to Organize Assignments and Papers
Keep your homeschool paperwork organized with a hanging file system or accordion file. Make sure to label so you can easily find what you need!
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8. Need Portable? Organize with a Wheeled Caddy or Rolling Cart
If your small homeschool space will also be used for other functions, a rolling cart is an incredible option for storage space.
Place your homeschool art supplies, morning time materials, or all of your resources (great challenge that helps you reduce!) in a rolling cart.
My boys and I have three carts - art cart, morning time, and enrichment. I LOVE being able to easily roll the carts out of our homeschool area (a.k.a. dining room) when we have company over or just need more space.
You can use jars to store pencils, crayons, and glue sticks. You can also place binders, workbooks, even math manipulatives!
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9. Dedicate a Kitchen Cabinet to School Supplies
Take a close look at your kitchen storage areas.
Do you have an extra kitchen cabinet or drawer? Or maybe a junk drawer that has a bunch of useless bits that can be pitched? Use that space for homeschool supplies!
You can use this space to store writing utensils, paper (lined and construction), playdough, and so much more.
10. Get Creative with Desk Options
You have several alternatives when it comes to homeschool desk options. A few ideas include:
- Clipboards
- Lap desks
- TV trays
- Dining room table
- Coffee table
- Wall-mounted fold-down desks
Any of these options are awesome homeschool room ideas for small spaces!
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Homeschooling Without a School Room: Yes, It's Totally Possible!
Maybe instead of a small space homeschool, you have a zero space homeschool?
If you don't have a dedicated homeschool room, no worries!
You truly do NOT need to have a dedicated homeschool room. Learning can happen anywhere - it doesn't require fancy-schmancy or anything special.
You can absolutely successfully homeschool without a dedicated room. It may feel overwhelming (especially when you see all those picture-perfect homeschool rooms on Instagram) but you can find a system that works for your family.
Not sure how to get started? Or need a bit of inspiration for homeschool room ideas for small spaces?
Take a look at these smart homeschool set-ups!
10 Motivating Homeschool Rooms That Are Rockin' It in Small Spaces
1. The Homeschool Room in a Bedroom Hack
Here's a creative idea is for setting up a homeschool space in a bedroom. This loft bed option with desk and storage areas would be an amazing way to use this idea.
2. The Homeschool Closet
Super cool ideas for turning a bedroom closet into a small homeschool space that's customized for your kid. You'll find inspiration for reusing/recycling objects around your home, too.
3. The Kitchen Command Center
If you need an all-in-one center in a tight space for your homeschool materials, you've got to check out these ideas for maximizing storage and organization. And it looks pretty, too!
4. The Dining Room + Homeschool Room Combo
Simple yet beautiful suggestions for how to organize your homeschool dining room. Lovely ideas for making the most of your space with attractive educational materials.
5. The Corner Classroom
Marvelous ideas and inspiration for minimalist homeschool room decor and organization.
6. The “Built-Ins” Room
Terrific tips for using built-in shelves and cabinets. Also, awesome ideas for adding a pop of color to your homeschool area, without overdoing it.
7. The Converted Laundry Closet
Do you have a larger closet (laundry or clothes) that could be transformed into a homeschool space? If so, check this out for inspiration!
8. The Homeschool Nook
Got a nook or other smaller space that you could change into a homeschool space? Here's a neat way to make that happen!
9. The Bookshelf School Hub
Take this small office space idea and go with it! Turn a bookshelf into two desks + storage.
10. The Desk Only Space
If you can really only fit in one desk for your child, that's cool! Use these ideas for inspiration on how to set it up.
Which of These Homeschool Room Ideas for Small Spaces Will You Use?
Now that you've had a chance to check out all of these ideas and tips, what do you think will match your family and it needs?
I encourage you to take your time and think about all the possibilities of where you can successfully homeschool - no matter what space you're working with!
I truly hope that these homeschool room ideas in small spaces give you the confidence to go forward and rock your homeschool!
Do you have any questions about these small space homeschooling ideas? Or have you tried something different and want others to know? Please share in the comments area below!