4 Tips for Creating a Productive Study Space for Kids

Pro tips for choosing a desk:

• If you anticipate a lot of paperwork — worksheets, artwork, drawing-related projects — look for a desk that features concealed storage or file storage, interior designer Erin Coren of Curated Nest Interiors says.
• If your child is mostly on a laptop, tablet or other device, consider a smaller, simpler writing desk. You can place one almost anywhere, even to the side of a child’s bed to double as a nightstand.
• If your child is active and likes to move around during the day, consider an adjustable-height standing desk.
• If you have limited space, professional organizer Tara Button of All Buttoned Up suggests using a wall-mounted desk, especially one that features a surface that folds up to be tucked away.
  
  Families who live in smaller spaces should also keep multipurpose furnishings in mind. “Any surface like a kitchen counter, dining table, coffee table or large windowsill can be used as a workspace,” Coren says. “Desks can even be shared in shifts. It may take some adjusting, but it’s all about getting organized in advance.”

Coren and her design partner Lina Galvao redesigned the compact bedroom in Brooklyn, New York, seen here, for a second grader who will be participating in distance learning in the new school year. The design team prioritized a desk versus a dresser, and chose a desk with a storage hutch and a built-in pinboard to keep papers handy.

3. Practical Storage and Organization System

As the school year progresses, the amount of projects and assignments to keep track of will grow. The possibility of clutter and for things to get unorganized is magnified for families who have multiple children at different grade levels. Having a solid organization system in place is critical to ensuring a smooth and successful schoolday.

“Shelving with bins is great for organizing each kids’ specific schoolwork,” Carr says. “Think of it like their at-home lockers.” Designate a prepared box of individual school supplies for each child to minimize any friction between siblings and help with cleanup routines at the end of the day.

“Channel Marie Kondo and seriously purge your space of clutter and invest in some organizational tools,” Coren says. “Bins, shallow boxes, stackable trays and art caddies are all great options that can be easily moved around as needed.” She also recommends vertical storage to maximize tight spaces.

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Pro tips for organizing a home-school schedule:

• Add a magnetic chalkboard or dry-erase board close to a child’s desk. Davies says this visualization tool will help kids plan and complete their assignments, and will provide a central place to display reminders or jot down learning tips, like multiplication facts.
  
  A board is also a good spot for writing down future assignments and meeting schedules, and for displaying artwork or photos of classmates. Cork tiles or a pinboard is another option.

The converted garage seen here, designed by Smart D2 Playrooms, features a floor-to-ceiling pegboard with numerous options for keeping supplies organized and within reach for young kids.

If your family uses a multipurpose workspace like a kitchen countertop or dining table, create a portable system for supplies. “The ability to put away supplies quickly and neatly, or move papers or half-completed art projects, is important,” Button says.

Having a clear container that can be snapped shut, like the scrapbook paper holder shown here, can help a child stay organized when a schoolwork space quickly transitions into a mealtime area. “For younger kids, you can try doing art projects on a cookie sheet so you can move them easily,” Coren says.

Shop for storage bins and boxes

4. Good Lighting

The right lighting helps kids stay focused and can protect their eyes. A layered approach that combines natural daylight with artificial lighting is ideal. Carr says task lighting is a must-have, and there are a lot of fun options to choose from. A directed task-light source will be especially important when the sun sets earlier in the fall and winter.

How a Professional Designer Can Help Create a Functional Workspace

Many families feel overwhelmed right now as they face the new school year, and they already know the challenges that will come with distance learning. So it’s worth considering hiring a design or organizing professional to help you set up a functional workspace. Coren says her firm is seeing unprecedented requests for help creating spaces that better accommodate families who are spending more time at home. “For kids’ spaces, for adult offices, for kitchen renovations, family rooms, craft rooms … people are just laser-focused on making their homes more functional in response to COVID,” she says.

A design professional, especially one who specializes in working with families and kids, can help reimagine a space, optimize the layout and give purpose to each element. “As a designer, much of our work can support families who are ready to invest in this new normal,” Galvao says. “Also, supporting function in these areas while keeping it beautiful is our specialty.” A professional can make sure shared spaces are effective while promoting independence for kids, so every family member can efficiently get through the day.

Many professionals offer virtual consultations and e-design options to help homeowners create functioning spaces from a distance.

Show us: Have you set up a space for distance learning? Share photos of your kids’ workspaces in the Comments.

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