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Is your home ready for the new school year?

Hispanic girl in a green shirt writing on a sheet of paper at her desk with a full white bookcase in the background

Summer is winding down, and many households are actively preparing for the academic year ahead. In all the excitement, one item often gets left off the back-to-school shopping list: The home. Here’s how to create a smarter living space for the next school year.  

Designate a home study room

Is your kitchen table big enough for the kids to do their homework? Do they have a space to practice their instrument? Organizing your home for back to school means designating spaces for your kids to readily get things done.

Look around the house and figure out where your children can do their best work with the least distraction. Depending on the needs of your young students, that can be any of the following areas:

  • The kitchen table allows your students to sprawl out on existing furniture, making clean up easy
  • Bedrooms are a go-to spot for solitude and creative exploration – why not add a desk?
  • A guest room is a less-frequented space in your home, limiting noise and distractions
  • A  space converted into a home study room turns an unused area into a zone for learning  

Design and redesign for your household’s needs

Want a space that’s designed to serve you better? Here’s how to make it happen in your home.

Practicing in privacy

Your student can improve their skills more easily by rehearsing in a dedicated space. Think about high-traffic areas in your home, and rooms that only see limited use.

The best place for your band or choir student to practice their overtures may be in the basement by the window, so they can play away and read their sheet music in the afternoon light. If you live in a warmer climate, the garage can be a great location for your dance student’s steps to flourish.

 

A Black boy plays a keyboard with headphones on while he's in his room

 

Make your furniture fit your needs

Sometimes, we already have the tools we need to set ourselves up for success. With a little creativity and some heavy lifting, spaces can be transformed to fit our needs.

  • Look through your idle furniture and see if you can put it to better use elsewhere in the house
  • Remove décor to see how much room you have to rearrange furniture, and store it as needed
  • Add risers to lift furniture to the perfect height

Add just what you need for the setup you want

If you’ve and you still find your home needs something more, it may be time to pick up the missing piece. While it’s tempting to overhaul a space for the functionality you want, a little ingenuity and creativity can go a long way, as shown in the examples below.

  • If you don’t have room for a full desk, add a folding shelf or workstation
  • Get a power strip and extension cord to bring electricity into the sunroom
  • Save on furniture by getting a two-in-one bunk bed/desk combo

These opportunities can create great bonding experiences over deciding what materials will be used to prepare the space, with room for your child’s personality — and perhaps a little DIY.

Look for ways to upcycle

School won’t last forever, so plan ahead by choosing items that can be repurposed later, like these examples::

  • Repurpose a minimalistic desk as a buffet in an entryway
  • Use plastic totes that once held school supplies for fishing gear or household items
  • Get two uses in one with a modular shelving system for their favorite books, games, and toys

Focus on ways you can personalize each room, taking it from a frenzied place to a functional space with the features you need. 

Parents and other adults who also watch children, don’t forget—you may need a spot in your home that gives you the freedom to focus, too. We all deserve a designated space to relax or quietly get work done!

 

A Black woman and white man eat ice cream with their son and daughter; the boy consumes his excitedly, freaking everyone else out

 

Stay celebration ready throughout the school year

Many schools and households celebrate things like good grades, 100 days (left) of school, or the end of an athletic season. Stay ready for any festivities by keeping your home stocked with frozen treats, and make sure your home is always ready for an impromptu movie night.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you’ll not only see how you’ve made your home work smarter for you this year, but how much farther your children can go as a result.

Congratulations on wrapping up another summer, and best of luck on the school year ahead!