Kitchen Study Room Ideas

Many a mom, including me, likes her kids to do their homework in the kitchen so she can answer kiddie questions while they work.

If your kids study here, too, keep all supplies closes at hand, so the kids aren't continually jumping up and down (and prolonging the whole homework process) for erasers, compasses, protractors, dictionaries, etc.

These study room ideas can help you create an efficient study space for your child's homework efforts, whether that is in the kitchen or elsewhere in your home.

Study Room Ideas for the Kitchen and Beyond

For a kids' study hall in the kitchen, empty a cabinet and create a small office supply center with notebook paper, construction paper, folders, pencils, pens, rules, calculators, markers, crayons, and whatever else your kids use.

Leave room to store ongoing projects, such as term papers and note cards.

Or, you could designate one spot in the house for each kid's study space. It should be in a quiet corner far from distractions. A friend's daughter likes to study at the kitchen counter while Mom cooks. Another child works at the dining room table.

Study Room Essentials

Wherever a child studies, she will need a large, flat surface and good lighting. Make sure she also has the tools of the trade. Keep a drawer or basket of school supplies nearby, so she doesn't have to jump up and down every time she needs to erase or staple something.

She will also need a file drawer or bucket to file papers or ongoing projects. Older kids will need access to a computer, too.

Create a Homework Station

Whichever location you choose, these study room ideas can help transform it into a kids' homework station.

Start by setting up a file system for various subjects. Per child. You'll need to set aside a file cabinet or box for each child's use. If you're sharing homework spaces with your kids - such as in the home office - study room ideas include those cute home-office portables you see in the home decor mags. The rattan-lidded file box. The everything basket.

Next, outfit the desk with necessary homework tools. These will vary by your child's age, grade, and the subjects he's studying this school year. But the basics include pens, pencils, highlighters, erasers, tape, a stapler, and probably a hole punch.

Mom's Magic Homework Project Basket

Here's the answer to the "But Mom, it's due tomorrow!" demand. This is a cleaning caddy chock-full of all those items I used to have to dash to the store for: poster board, glue, sequins, fabric swatches, permanent markers in several colors, pipe cleaners, and a zippered plastic bag filled with aquarium leftovers and other glueable figurines.

Study Room Ideas: Just for Reference

Create a bookshelf reference library with resource books and current texts. To cut down on back strain, consider buying a duplicate set of texts at the beginning of each school year.

Seeing my older two middle schoolers lugging bulging backpacks that they can barely pick up, let alone carry, has convinced me that it's a cost-effective alternative to corrective surgery. I'm going to try to keep the kids from writing in the books I buy, and perhaps sell them to the next grade. We'll see how that goes.

I've gotten out of the silly habit of tossing shoeboxes. They're now underneath my bed, awaiting new life as a class project or diorama. As for the odd-side posterboard: I stash the blue, white, and red paper behind tall bookshelves in the living room.