by Sally Brooks

Designing a homeschool space that works for your family can be daunting, particularly when there are endless pictures on Pinterest of perfectly organized and immaculately decorated workrooms that no matter how hard you tried, you could never quite copy. The task becomes even more Herculean when you are dealing with a small house or apartment. Unlike those with larger homes, families who are homeschooling in a smaller space often don’t have an extra room to dedicate to school work.

So, how do you create a comfortable and inspiring school environment for your family when it seems like every square inch of space is already being utilized? First, you must let go of your picture of a perfect homeschool space. Next, check out these ideas for making your small home work for your homeschool family.

Work with Your Kid(s) on the Design

As you well know, kids are often better problem solvers than they are given credit for. So when designing the workspace, seek their input on decorations and work stations. According to ApartmentGuide.com, giving your child a say “will give them a sense of ownership of their workspace and will take the space more seriously.”

Take Stock of the Essentials

Having every possible resource available in your home is a luxury not afforded to families with small spaces. So instead of trying (and failing) to create a space for every book, worksheet, piece of technology, craft supply, game, or learning aid that you might need, Renee Tougas of the blog FIMBY suggests you take stock of what you are using on a daily or weekly basis. If it’s not being used, you don’t need it in your home. If you are lucky enough to have a storage space like a basement or storage unit, try packing up the non-essentials and putting them in storage temporarily, so they are accessible if you need them. Odds are, you won’t find yourself needing to open those boxes and after a time, can confidently sell or give away the excess.

The next step is to look at what you have remaining and take stock a second time, this time asking yourself whether there are other means of acquiring this material, whether through the library, Internet or other community resources (like a homeschool co-op). You may find that you don’t necessarily need to keep physical copies of all the material that you use, which will free up more space for learning.

Invest in Organization

Even after you’ve purged your space of non-essentials, you are going to need to invest in some kind storage solutions to keep your small space organized. A bookshelf or cubbies that fit into your space will help keep everything put away when it is not being used. This may be where checking out Pinterest ideas might actually help.

Think Beyond the Home

No matter how creative you are at making the most of your small space, there are times when it is going to feel cramped. When that happens, get out of the house. Use the resources around you, whether that is access to a park or forest for a science lesson, or a museum for history or art, or even just a trip to the local library for in-depth research. Your kids will be enriched by the adventure and it will make the time spent at home feel less confining.

Disregard Everything You Just Read

Well, not really, but just remember that what works for one homeschool family will not necessarily work for you. One family’s “no work on the dining room table” rule is another family’s “no work in the bedroom.” Use the above tips as inspiration and adjust to your situation. After all, the only absolute must when it comes to homeschooling is flexibility.