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10+ Homeschool Room Ideas for Small Spaces

No homeschool room? No problem! Learn how to set up a homeschool classroom – even if you’re short on space – with 10 Homeschool Room Ideas for small spaces!

Need a homeschool room, but don’t have the extra room to spare? No problem! We’ve been homeschooling for 4 years and have never had a dedicated classroom. Today, I’m sharing our multi-purpose dining room which demonstrates some of my favorite homeschool room ideas for small spaces.

Homeschool Room Ideas for Small Spaces

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links for products or services.

Multi-Purpose Dining Room and Homeschool Classroom

Recently, I shared our updated home tour and mentioned that our dining room serves two purposes – both eating and homeschooling. While our home has rooms that could be utilized as a dedicated homeschool classroom, I prefer to use the dining room.

Why? Our dining room is central to the home. Right off the kitchen, it is where we do paperwork, complete schoolwork, eat meals, and play board games.

Dining room table in a Homeschool Room with chalkboard and bookshelves

Of course, there are pros and cons to homeschooling in the dining room. For example, unlike the photo above, our table is never clean and empty. Also, when homeschooling in a central living space, you have to minimize distractions.

For that reason, a small desk in my son’s bedroom provides a quiet space when needed. Still, the bulk of his schoolwork is completed at the kitchen table.

This year, my daughter has started homeschool, too. With two kids in school, a key goal of the dining room makeover was to set up an organized homeschool room.

Whether you homeschool in the dining room, kitchen, basement, office, etc., these homeschool room ideas will help you make the most of your space.

10 Homeschool Room Ideas

#1 Hang a Chalkboard

Hang a chalkboard or whiteboard in your homeschool room. If you don’t want to hang a board, an easel is a great alternative solution (I prefer easels that include a paper roll).

In our dining room, we hung a vintage chalkboard that fits our home’s decor. Not only is it functional for school lessons, but we also use it to write messages for birthdays and holidays.

TIP: Buy high-quality chalk for chalkboards. After much research, I chose HAGOROMO chalk which writes smooth, solid lines.

Homeschool Room with chalkboard and wall organizer

Not into vintage chalkboards? Choose a board that fits your home’s style:

#2 Make a Hanging Wall Organizer

One of the key solutions for small rooms is utilizing vertical space. Since homeschool requires office supplies such as pencils, pens, scissors, etc., a hanging wall organizer can help keep your homeschool room tidy.

Learn how to make a hanging wall organizer or buy a pre-made wall organizer:

Chalkboard and wall mounted wood bin organizer

#3 Install Additional Lighting

Hard-working rooms such as kitchens and offices are equipped with ample lighting due to the type of work performed in those rooms. Similarly, the room in which you homeschool should be outfitted with sufficient lighting for task work.

The lighting solution for a homeschool classroom may include a combination of natural light and artificial lighting. In How to Brighten a Room (the Ultimate Guide!), you’ll find

  • 3 ways to brighten a room with artificial lighting and
  • tips and tricks for hanging window treatments that maximize light.

One of my favorite solutions in our homeschool room is a set of plug-in wall sconces that significantly brighten the room and workspace (aka. the dining table!).

Homeschool Room with chalkboard, wall sconce, and wall mounted organizer

#4 Utilize Bookshelves for Storage

No homeschool room is complete without a spot to store books. Therefore, bookshelves, or wall shelves, are essential to a homeschool room layout.

We use a combination of free homeschool curriculum, textbooks, workbooks, manipulatives, and classic literature. Therefore, we need ample storage space for all of these materials.

In our homeschool room, I chose 3 low bookshelves to organize homeschool supplies. By opting for low bookshelves, we are still able to hang a chalkboard and mount wall sconces.

Dining Room and Homeschool Room combination with white bookshelves for storage

Plus – since the room is multi-purpose – the top surface of the low bookshelves also acts as a serving buffet during parties.

What type of bookshelf, or wall shelf, works in your home? Choose a solution that maximizes your small space and provides ample homeschool storage.

#5 Dedicate a Shelf to Each Child

Once you’ve placed a bookcase in the room, dedicate 1 or 2 shelves to each child.

By allocating each child a shelf, they can self-serve. Each day my son knows where to grab his textbooks, based on the lesson plans laid out for the day. If it’s time for free reading, he knows where to find a collection of storybooks.

White bookshelves for homeschool organization

In the same way, my preschooler knows where to find her art supplies, stickers, and puzzles.

TIP: These sturdy, acrylic bookends are nearly invisible while keeping books in order.

#6 Integrate Educational Tools as Decor

In order to keep key resources at hand, integrate educational tools into the homeschool room’s decor. Vintage globes, art history books, botanical posters, paintings, etc. are just a few of the educational resources that teach and inspire.

Students will enjoy learning – and you’ll enjoy teaching – in a space that ignites creativity and stimulates the desire to learn.

Vintage globe and vintage atlas in a homeschool room

#8 Utilize Baskets and Bins for Supplies

Further organize shelves and work surfaces with baskets and bins. We use a variety of wicker baskets and decorative boxes to store homeschool supplies, such as:

  • office supplies (pens, pencils, rulers, scissors, etc.)
  • art supplies (paint, brushes, crayons, etc.)
  • STEM supplies (science projects, math helps, etc.)
  • school resources (flashcards, CDs/DVDs, etc.)
Organize a homeschool room with bookshelves, baskets, and decorative boxes
Wall mounted wood bins for organizing homeschool supplies

#9 Repurpose Furniture

Utilize a bit of ingenuity and repurpose furniture for your homeschool room.

For example, since our homeschool room is also a dining room, I couldn’t give up our dining cabinet. Rather than buying classroom furniture or putting my china dishes in storage, I improvised.

Dining room hutch and cabinet

The top of the dining cabinet displays china and the bottom hides additional homeschool supplies.

How can you utilize furniture you already own and repurpose it for homeschool storage? Buffets, dressers, kitchen cabinets, etc. can all be used to organize homeschool supplies.

#10 Hang Clipboards or Corkboard

In a homeschool room, you may need to display posters and teaching sheets on the wall. However, this can be a dilemma if:

  • you don’t want to damage walls or
  • are homeschooling in a multi-purpose room.

I’ve struggled with this dilemma over the years, but recently found a solution: decorative clipboards. Similarly, an attractive corkboard or magnet board could serve the same purpose. Here are a few of my favorites:

Wall mounted clipboard for homeschool lessons - displaying Bible memory verses

Homeschool Classroom Ideas

So, what is your best tip for homeschool room organization? I’m always looking for new ideas!

After all, our homeschool space – just like my kiddos – is constantly changing. As your kids grow, continue to evaluate your homeschool space, making it effective for your family and home.

Want to remember these homeschool room ideas? Pin it!

10+ Homeschool Room Ideas to help you get organized!
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Rachel

Tuesday 10th of January 2023

This post was very inspiring, as after 3 years of having my dining room commandeered as a homeschool room (aka messy and unsightly) I'm ready to reclaim it as a dining and entertaining space, whilst still using it for school! So glad to see I can do both with a little creativity. Love your ideas. I also love your curtains... can you tell me where you sourced them?

Lora Green

Friday 13th of January 2023

Thank you Rachel for your kind comments! I'm glad the post was helpful :) Unfortunately, the curtains are vintage. I found them at a consignment shop many years ago and don't have a source. I would think the best way to replicate them would be to seek out vintage fabric or sheets, and have it made into curtains. Hope that helps!

Kippi Ohern

Monday 3rd of January 2022

Your homeschool room is perfect! I love the chalkboard and the wooden DIY pencil and chalk holders. Have a great school year, Kippi

Lora Green

Wednesday 5th of January 2022

Thank you, Kippi!

Kay

Wednesday 29th of July 2020

Thank you very informative and I love the fact that it’s vintage and minimal. I usually don’t read entire post but this I did.😁

Lora Green

Thursday 30th of July 2020

Awe thank you!! I really appreciate that :) Made my day!!

Ashley Berry

Monday 13th of July 2020

Love this!! We are setting up our homeschool room in our above the garage spare bedroom/office right now as this is our first year homeschooling. Curious where you got the open low white bookshelves??

Lora Green

Wednesday 15th of July 2020

Thank you! They are the Carson bookcase from Target.

Melissa

Monday 6th of July 2020

This has been a breath of fresh air to me. I am starting out in the homeschool journey with my 2 young kids. We do not have space yet for a room, and I am not so sure I want one. Your style and tips are totally my way of thinking and it was a huge encouragement to me. Thank you!!! :)

Lora Green

Tuesday 7th of July 2020

Oh, Melissa, your words are so encouraging to me! I'm so glad you found it helpful and encouraging - that makes my day! I appreciate your sweet words, and hope your homeschool journey is wonderful. We have loved homeschooling!