What To Do When You Don’t Have a Homeschool Room

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Pinterest and Instagram are full of gorgeous homeschool room photos. You know what I’m talking about! The well-manicured, highly organized, bright, inviting homeschool room that’s filled with all kinds of amazing things and quite honestly may have you feeling a little down.

A homeschool room is nice, but not everyone has the space to dedicate an entire room to school. I sure don’t! So, what do you do when you don’t have a dedicated learning space? Here are some tips for staying organized in whatever space you have!

X Marks the Spot

Even if you do not have an entire room, pick a homeschool spot. Having a designated area will keep you better organized. Your area can include space for the children to work or just a spot to store all your supplies. This spot can be the corner of your living room, the dining room table, or your kitchen. It just needs to be somewhere that is accessible and convenient for homeschooling. 

When you pick your spot, consider first how it will affect your day. Is it going to be somewhere that is part of your normal day? Is it functional for your family’s needs? There may be a spot in your home that looks perfect on paper but isn’t going to work well in practice. A smaller space that fits into the normal flow of your home and is comfortable will always be better than a larger one that doesn’t!

We like to do work at the kitchen table and I store supplies in the mudroom.

Sometimes, however, we switch it up! My kids have done school in the car on road trips, in different states while visiting family, and have even done school sitting on the floor. It really can be done anywhere!

Create a System

Whatever space you do have for homeschooling needs a system. The system helps to keep things organized and running smoothly. Where will you keep art supplies? How about notebooks and pencils? How will you store textbooks and workbooks? Make a list of everything you use in your homeschool. Stick to what you need for this year, especially if you have a very small space.

Next, look for creative ways to keep all of it in the space you have available. This may mean thinking outside the box! No matter how you organize your books and supplies, make it work for you! Don’t get caught up in the photos of how others are doing it unless you need some inspiration.

Make Your Homeschool Room Kid-Friendly

Be sure that your spot and system are kid-friendly. The art supplies may look Instagram-worthy on that high, wooden shelf, but do you really want to be taking them down from there day after day? The organization system must not depend on you. Sure, the kids will need guidance. However, they should be able to get what they need to do their school work without stopping what you are doing every 30 seconds to help them. This will also empower them to clean up their supplies when the school day is done. Your kid-friendly homeschool area may not be the prettiest option, however, it will keep you happier and less stressed.

Remember, It’s a HOMEschool

At the end of the day, it’s a HOME school, NOT school at home. Having organization is important as home educators, but your home is where learning takes place. It’s okay when lessons are not contained in a little corner or experiments and projects spill into other rooms of the house.

When you choose to homeschool, you choose a different lifestyle. Those magazine-worthy homes may look beautiful, but you are building beautiful memories. In the end, your homeschool, your family, and your memories are more important than where you have your lessons or where the lessons may end up. Remember, it’s okay not to have a picture-perfect space! 

Where do you store your homeschool supplies?

Check out these great storage ideas for a small space!

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