Organizing Your Homeschool Classroom Space

When getting ready to homeschool your children at home it’s really nice if all of your books and supplies are organized so you can access them quickly and rule out the frustration of trying to locate something needed for the homeschool day.

You don’t have to spend a lot of money or have tons of extra room in your home to be organized and efficient for homeschool.

While I would love to have a complete Pottery Barn set up to homeschool our growing 1st grader that is just not reality. I had always thought we would homeschool in our home office but when Peanut actually started preschool it made more sense to set up activities in our 'bonus room'. You know those rooms that are not really rooms at the top of stairs in two story homes? While it is seriously not big enough to really be a room it was just the right size to house her Peanut sized table and chair, the video set up, a bookshelf and toy kitchen with room to walk around.

And just in case you think this only works for short stuffs (my other nickname for our daughter) my sister, who has a similar home, set up her homeschool room in their 'bonus room for her now college bound son. For them is housed the computer table, a small work table, and a small video center. The books were stored in the shelving below the computer table.

So are you looking to organize your homeschool room? Here are some tips I hope you find useful.

First find your space: Where will you be homeschooling? In the dining room? The family room? Do you have a spare room? A big hallway (such as our 'bonus room')? Figure out where in your home you could reasonably homeschool. Where do you have enough room

Can you also house supplies there: For us the answer was no. We actually house all the homeschool supplies on bookshelves in the home office. If, like us, you’re using a room that also serves another purpose plan where you can locate a bookshelf or cabinet to hold books and supplies. If your homeschool has to go into a place such as the dining room look for cupboards that close, boxes with tops (you can decorate these with fabric or paper). This will help you to tune out the homeschool use of the room for a peaceful dinner or rest if you’re using a room such as a bedroom.

Get Help: Next call in reinforcements. Pull in another set of eyes to help you plan out the space. A good friend, family member etc. Tell them the project and ask how they would organize it. You don’t necessarily have to go with their set up sometimes just hearing other options can help you tremendously.

Organizing Your Homeschool Space: So now you have your space pull together the books and supplies you will have to organize. Know how much stuff you have to organize before shopping or pulling in furniture.Measure your space before shopping. Nothing is worse than going to get what looks to be the perfect solution only to find it doesn’t fit. If space is tight think vertical. Such as the elfa® collection at The Container Store You can line a whole wall with shelves and make the bottom shelf the desk space. Anchor free standing bookshelves to the wall to keep them secure.

Use baskets and boxes to keep project tools together. Art supplies in this box. Reading books over here. Music supplies here.

Inspiration:I've take the liberty of collecting a few links to some homeschool rooms around the internet. I chose them based on the use of regular items you might already have in the home rather than buying a whole new set up. True you might not have somethings but showcasing what you can work with is important.

• Confessions of a Homeschooler: This is a very full school room. I like that she has a mishmash of organizers. That makes it real for me.
• The Momma Lisa: Another real homeschool room. This room is also the family room (not the living room).
• Learn at Every Turn: Love the piano in the room! I swear this looks like the dining room of a friend of mine. But I know it's not. We do have that easel though. You can get one for very low cost at Ikea.
• Faithful Provisions: Another nice homeschool room. She used a professional organizer to get this done so be sure to read the details on that through the link provided.
• Organizing Your Homeschool Space Blog Carnival. This is from 2009 but still applicable today.
  

*Update: Jenny had an accident with her blog which she decided wasn't an accident. I applaud her decision to spend more time on her family duties and less time on blogging. You can still follow bits and pieces of her homeschool adventures on her personal blog here: Life Is Not a Cereal

I have this great little ebook and it will give you lots of creative ideas for organizing your homeschool supplies, making your own homeschool support materials and even new ideas to supplement your homeschool curriculum! Things like making your own flannel boards, organizing those endless puzzles and more without breaking the bank and many times with the object already in your own home.

Dreams and Designs at The Old Schoolhouse Store

Organizing Your Space with Homeschool Furniture

• Kids' Play Tables: Kids Honey Pine Elementary Trestle Table
• Kids Honey Wooden Storage Open Top Bookcase
• Kids' Play Tables: Kids Honey Adjustable Activity Table