Homework Heroes: 7 A+ Ideas for Squeezing in a Study Space

Summer isn’t officially over for another few days, but it sure does feel like it’s a distant memory. The smells of sharpened pencils and waxy crayons are thick in the cool air now that school is in full swing across the country. This means, of course, that homework and projects will be coming in fast and furious. While much of this work is usually done around the kitchen table, when dinner time rolls around, everything needs to be picked up and disrupted only to resume once the dishes have been cleared. A better idea? Squeeze a dedicated study space for your kiddos in a more private space at home. Read on for serious inspiration.

Above: This study space/play room spotted on El Mueble may seem only fit for a spacious home, but there are some ideas here that can be employed in any sized house. Create a nook where there is none by setting up a desk or work surface against a wall, then framed it out on the other side with a shelving unit. That will create the illusion of a “room”, even if its totally out in the open.

Have a roomy hallway that’s just being used for traveling to and fro? Take notes from Household No.6, and use it to set up a computer station. All you need is a floating surface, supported by some file drawers. Round it out with some chairs, art and a runner and you’ve got yourself a certified study room.

Similar to the above idea, this shiplap-clad triple work room from New England Home is perfect for multiple youngsters with different study needs. A supported shelf overhead holds binders, books, supplies, and anything else needed for homework.

If you’re willing to convert a whole room (whether a spare bedroom or living area), this space from Magnolia Market is serious #studyspacegoals. A custom painted black-and-white floor feels creative and energetic (honor roll-worthy ingredients, of course!).

Already have a home office set up for yourself? Turn it into a multi-use space by adding in a simple table and cubbies (with pint-sized stools), like Be True did in the above room.

From Planete Deco, this is actually an alcove in a teeny 29-square-meter (~300 square feet) studio, but the lesson of lofting a bed to make room for a desk is a great one even if you have far more space to work with. This is an awesome solution for older kids, and if you orient the desk to one side, you can even open up some floor area to create a spot for lounging, reading or just hanging out.

Finally, if you simply have no extra nooks, hallways or bedrooms to dedicate specifically to a homework space, no fear, because Design Improvised has a clever solution. Here, she set up a homework station near the kitchen table for her daughter using a school desk she found at Goodwill paired with a rolling storage cart.