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    Home » Home Decorating » Bedroom

    Published: Aug 5, 2021 · Modified: Aug 28, 2021 by Rachel

    30+ Homework Station Ideas for Kids and Teens

    This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
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    Ready to make your family’s after-school or home school routine a bit less stressful? An organized homework station is the answer! I’ve included easy tips for small spaces and multiple kids so everyone can have a quiet, supervised space to study.

    Collage of multiple homework station ideas for kids.

    It’s back to school time again and along with that comes a flood of emotion. While its sad to see our babies growing up, my inner organizing dork gets a boost of excitement. Create a cheerful space with these homework station ideas to inspire learning, even if you’re short on space!

    A homework station is an inviting area that is dedicated to learning, homework, and informal learning like arts and crafts project. Although the kitchen table will suffice for a quick review or a worksheet, we’ve found it’s nice to have a homework zone where school supplies, books, and school calendars can have a dedicated place of their own. This cuts back on clutter and distractions.

    This may be a very personal experience, but I was inspired to write this post because of what I’ve learned from our frustrations with my son’s severe ADHD. At first, homework hour was a stressful experience full of tears (mine), yelling and every possible distraction under the sun. No exaggeration – 20 minutes of homework regularly took almost 2 hours. The material was never the issue. Home school moms, you have my admiration!

    That’s where a dedicated space and equitable ground rules saved the day (and my sanity!)

    How To Setup a Homework Station

    I’ve learned a lot over several incarnations of our homework space. Creating a basic homework station area is simple and effective with these tips below:

    1. Choose a quiet area. The biggest chance of success is to limit distractions. Preferably with a handy outlet for a laptop, or charging accessories like headphones. For my son, I find that headphones with music (on loop) works wonders.
    2. Stock it with necessities. My son is the king of wasting time looking for misplaced items. Before official homework time, I ask if he has everything he needs to minimize the chances of him getting up from the desk.
    3. Set a routine. Same time + Same space = Success. I personally give my son a short break after school before we get down to business.
    4. Keep ’em close. While we must balance distractions, young children especially need supervision and usually help.
    5. Minimize your own distractions. When my son was in elementary school, I couldn’t continue working from home during homework time. It wasn’t fair to ask him to stay focused, when I myself wasn’t focused on his questions. So I placed a tiny desk in our kitchen. That way I had both eyes on him while I washed dishes or prepped dinner. I was available, yet still productive.

    Homework Station Supplies

    Below is a handy list of supplies that are sometimes useful.

    • Pens and pencils
    • Loose leaf paper for scratch paper or notes
    • A timer or clock
    • A folder with pockets
    • Calculator
    • 1 box of color pencils or crayons
    • Computer and charger
    • Calculator
    • A planner (checklists are the lifeblood of this house!)
    • Craft supplies as necessary – glue sticks and scissors are examples
    • A comfy chair
    • Blue desk chair in office with green walls.
      Rolling Desk Chair by Pillowfort
    • Pink kid's desk chair with black accents.
      Quincy Task Chair
    • Teal desk chair that rolls out.
      Yaheetech Study Chair
    These rolling desk chairs add function, comfort and a pop of fun color to your study space. Click on the photo link to find them.

    Homework Station Setup Ideas

    Finding the right space is often the most challenging part! I’ve included some inspirational ideas below to get focused. You don’t need to have an elaborate space, but these are great jumping off points to inspire your creativity.

    Nooks & Crannies

    While most of us don’t have room for a dedicated office, there’s usually space to spare like under the staircase, an unused closet, or an awkward alcove. These centrally located spaces are often quiet and can be quite magical.

    • White desk area in an alcove.
      DecorPad
    • Children's desk in a closet with two chairs.
      Source: This Old House
    • Black and white homework station under a staircase.
      Source: Grillo Designs

    Homework Stations that Foster Creativity

    I honestly believe that adding a little creativity to the space fosters the desire to learn and leads to great ideas. Classrooms are full of stimulating decorations for a reason.

    Here’s a few creative concepts to enhance your learning environment:

    • Inspirational quotes on a paintable chalkboard from Dawn Nicole add a touch of whimsy and keep students motivated during tough assignments.
    • A simple wall art display like the desk below allows kids to hang their accomplishments and past artwork.
    • Add a splash of color or maybe some wall flash cards.
    • Two children sitting at a custom desk for homework with an inspirational sign above.
      Source: IKEA
    • Homework station with colorful hanging buckets with coloring supplies with white desk against black background with inspirational quotes.
      Source: Dawn Nicole Homework Desk
    • DIY wooden planks attached to white wall for hanging pictures at homework station in office.
      Children’s Art Display
    • Colorful kids room with desk area for homework and built in shelves.
      Decoist

     On-the-Go

    While these beautiful spaces are awesome, sometimes we just need a simple option like this portable homework station.

    Portable homework station with school supplies inside.

    More portable homework station ideas:

    • Use a bath caddy to hold supplies so you can grab and go.
    • A tiny desk and rolling cart makes it easy to move supplies where you need them, when you need them.
    • I love my car seat organizer for homework on-the-go. It’s a lifesaver when I have to run errands.
    • This fold away desk vault in a box is brilliant!

    Room for Two (or more)

    If you have more than one child, figure out how they learn best. Do they prefer to study together? Try setting up the desk so it can accommodate everyone. A collaborative study area is less isolating.

    Office for 3 kids with photos above the desks.
    Clamp Style Photo Holders

    I’m a big fan of this option. Everyone has dedicated space and no one is encroaching on the other’s turf.

    Double sided homework station with white table and chairs, separated by white shelf against bright teal wall.
    Better Homes and Gardens

    This desk utilizes a stacking bookshelf to create two separate work areas and provide ample storage for each user.

    White playroom area with plenty of storage and desk space for completing homework with cute world map mural on wall.
    Source: Pottery Barn kids

    This study zone melds learning and fun. It’s an especially fantastic space for large families. The multi-functional area can accommodate everything from homework, to art projects, and amazing Lego builds.

    Colorful craft room with white walls and white cabinets with craft supplies on the wall and a pegboard.
    Craft Room Reveal

    During my own work hours, I share a space with my son. Our craft room makeover project had to include key elements like tandem work spaces, ample organization elements and creative ways to display our greatest hits!

    PRO TIP: Peg Boards are excellent additions to any Homework Station. They allow you to customize your storage and wall display without limits. Here’s how we built a DIY pegboard organizer.

    • giant pegboard storage for crafts and office supplies
      Source: Fabric Paper
    • Desk area with large pegboard for craft and office supplies.
      Craving Some Creativity

    Space Saving Solutions

    House a homework nook in even the tiniest space.

    • ladder style space saving desk mounted on the wall.
      Wall Mounted Desk
    • Leaning ladder desk next to a bed in a dorm room.
      eHemco Leaning Ladder Bookshelf
    • Wall mounted secretary desk that saves space.
      Mounted Folding Desk
    • Wall Mounted Folding desk laid out with supplies on it.

    These space saving desks are brilliant!

    1. A wall mounted desk takes up so little space and is sturdy.
    2. a ladder style shelf pulling double duty as a bedside table and study station?
    3. This mounted desk closes up easily for a dorm room or tiny space
    4. A larger fold away desk keeps supplies neatly organized and convenient.
    5. A pretty folding chair keeps your room clutter-free in between assignments.

    Do you have a dedicated studying area in your home? What’s your top tip for handling the daily homework assignments?

    Weekend DIY project. A pegboard organizer in the craft room above the desk workspace.

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    More Ideas You May Enjoy

    • Colorful craft room with white walls and white cabinets with craft supplies on the wall and a pegboard.
      Craft Room Reveal
    • Kid's chore chart with chores on the right side and days on the top row.
      Kid’s Chore Chart
    • Collage of outdoor games for kids and adults.
      Outdoor Games
    • Masculine gray office with antique desk and black office chair. World clocks on the wall.
      Office Reveal

    PS I love seeing your creations! Be sure to take a photo and tag #cravingcreative on Instagram! You can also stay in touch with me through following me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Subscribing to the Newsletter!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bren says

      August 31, 2015 at 11:36 pm

      5 stars
      Love, love, love this collection of ideas. I’m now itching to redecorate/reconfigure!

      Reply
    2. Meredith @ The Palette Muse says

      August 31, 2015 at 10:42 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve got to get our homework station figured out! We can never find pencils, paper, or even the homework! Thanks for the inspiration…

      Reply

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