Tips for Designing a Home Classroom Space for Your Kids

As the summer begins to wind down, our attention turns to back-to-school season. While some students prepare to return to a brick-and-mortar school building, others are gearing up for a year of school at home.

Though the beauty of homeschooling is the versatility of being able to work anywhere, it’s often helpful for parents and their young pupils to have a dedicated spot for schoolwork. Our tips for designing a home classroom space for your kids will help you create that spot.

Emphasize Ergonomics

One of the biggest challenges of doing schoolwork at home is sitting in the same spot all day. We can incorporate movement breaks throughout the day, of course, but to make the periods of quiet study more comfortable, you should give kids an ergonomic space. Consider the following:

• If your classroom uses a computer, make sure you place it so your student can work on it facing straight forward.
• Check desk and chair height to ensure students can type or write without stretching too far.
• Have your student test the chair to make sure it’s comfortable enough to sit in for extended periods.
• Add enough lighting so students can see their pages without eye strain.
• Place things like pencils, papers, books, and other supplies within reach.

Pro Tip: Pay Attention To Scale

Keep the size of your little scholar in mind. An ergonomic setup for a high school-aged student will not necessarily translate to a good setup for a fifth grader. If you need a setup that will work well for both, look for seats with adjustable heights and consider putting different supplies at different heights.

Create Learning “Zones”

Between math, music, history, and science, there’s a lot that students explore during the day. Trying to fit everything into a single space can create chaos, and a chaotic environment is difficult for focus.

To create order, consider creating “zones” throughout the room for different subjects. You can put a quiet reading corner with a bookshelf in one corner and a caddy with art supplies in another. This will also build movement into the day so kids don’t have to sit in the same spot for hours.

Don’t Neglect Fun

Just because you’re designing a home classroom space for your kids doesn’t mean it has to be all work and no play. Creating a space that emphasizes creativity and knowledge will encourage exploration and a love of learning. Get kids involved in adding fun elements, such as:

• A chalkboard wall
• A mural
• Hanging mobiles
• Quirky color schemes
• A themed tackboard

If you’re adding any paint to your classroom space, you want to be sure it’s kid-friendly. That’s why ECOS Paints has a collection of non-toxic* paints that are sure to brighten up the space of the young scholar in your life.

Non-toxic - Conforms to ASTM-D4236, specifically concerning oral toxicity, skin irritation and respiratory effects.