How can I improve this home school "room"

[keyley1090]

The home school "room" for my 13 DD is actually a closet. I just put in a desk, book shelf and a desk lamp. There are shelves above to store things on and the walls are styrofoam (can't spell that word) so I can easily pin up papers and maps. Any suggestions to make this "room" more functional. Any storage ideas?

Also, how do you organize your home school papers? We have yet to find a successful, helpful, non-stressful way to do so. Not what you use, more of techniques I suppose. Thanks.

Above view:
http://tinypic.com/r/2rz2exf/5

Bookcase:
http://tinypic.com/r/8xsgph/5

Top shelf:
http://tinypic.com/r/f535o9/5

The other one is the same.

Map:
http://tinypic.com/r/b46ddl/5

http://tinypic.com/r/2rz2exf/5

http://tinypic.com/r/65u1qq/5

[Savoir Faire]

Hello! Small spaces can be FUN!

First....I'd put in a rug or something on the floor. Something light and colorful to bring some color to the area. Second. I love that desk. It is awesome.

Can you paint the styrofoam? I definitely think that would help a lot.

The paper-chase of homeschool is really amazing, isn't it? I am a huge fan of binders. I see you have one of those plastic "shelves" where you can put papers. We have one of those, too.

Here's what I do:

*We have an "in" shelf for each of my children. As they finish things, they put it in there. From there, I go through their work and decide what to keep/toss. As we don't do grades or anything like that, I'm looking for quality if it is an area where we don't keep everything.

I have a few different colored binders (1 inch) to keep current work. We have one for handwriting-- my daughter does cursive, so I date each page and put it in. At the back, I also have a separate section for copywork out of different books.

I do the same with spelling tests and mid-week reviews (on earlier sections). I really find those binders with dividers on the inside have helped us immensely. If it doesn't go in a binder, it doesn't stay! (We do story of the world for history, so we have sections for pictures of the stories, the activities she does and also maps.

Hope this helps!

[Savoir Faire]

Also...here's something from Real Simple about turning a closet into an office.

[One_Girl]

I think a lamp and maybe some way to get in natural light (if that is an option) would make it a more appealing place to study. Have you asked your dd what she wants to add to the room to help her learn? At that age she should have some say within reason. For storing work, I use a different folder for each subject and keep them in a plastic box that stores easily under things. Binders with dividers and folders can also be helpful for some kids.

[TanyaS]

I have one of these on order for my paper clutter at home
http://www.amazon.com/Green-Reisenth.../dp/B001UY22Q0

It might be too long to work in the space, though.

[Lillian J]

I think I'd start with the aesthetics, because that's something that will make a huge difference in how functional the space is for her. I'd paint - maybe a pale sunshine yellow/gold, pale turquoise, lilac, or peach? - whatever feels good to her - with a remnant of floor covering that coordinates well with it to bring a more cheerful feel, and make it feel more cohesive, more peaceful, less chopped up. Something as simple as that can make it more conducive to relaxed concentration. If the styrofoam absolutely needs to be on the walls, it could be covered in fabric to give them a softer, more pleasant, feel. If those are some sort of electrical cords on the shelf, they could be encased in tubes of some kind - even cardboard tubes that could be painted or covered in fabric.

And I'd put a mirror up above the desk area to reflect the doorway, which would bring in more light and more sense of space from outside the room - it wouldn't need to be very big to accomplish a nice effect.

If it were me, I think I might even paint the desk and shelves a cheerful white. And maybe she could have photos she enjoys lined up in a vertical strip alongside the desk in that empty space - maybe against colored paper or fabric...

I love that little office in the Real Simple link Savoir Faire posted - even the addition of that little curtain adds a great touch, making it feel more like a soft and inviting nook, less like a closet. I recently replaced a closet door with a lace curtain, and I love it.

Another possibility is to store and display as little as necessary in there - to keep things that are not in constant use in another room - so that the space feels as roomy, calm, and inviting as possible. This is something I've learned the hard way - that gathering things and pinning up things in an area that feels convenient is not always the best overall solution, because it can quickly feel like a distraction in the way of unattractive clutter.

I'd definitely coordinate with her, letting it feel to her like her own special space to decorate - she's of an age where that kind of thing could really matter to her a lot and go a long way in making it feel like a cozy place she wants to spend time in.

[keyley1090]

I'm really like the idea of taking off the door and putting a curtain, or maybe those fun beads that hang down.

Thanks for all the great tips. I am not entirely sure if styrafoam is able to be painted but I'll definitely be looking into it.

While many people think she'd be claustrophobic, she loves small places like that. She doesn't like learning with her sister who is 9 because she talks a lot. Lol.

Thanks again!

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by keyley1090

I'm really like the idea of taking off the door and putting a curtain, or maybe those fun beads that hang down.

Thanks for all the great tips. I am not entirely sure if styrafoam is able to be painted but I'll definitely be looking into it.

And putting fabric or wallpaper over it wouldn't be hard either. You could first staple it at the top to hold it, and then nail or screw a narrow piece of wood to keep it in place. I have dark old oak on the walls around an antique bathroom basin area that I'm going to cover in artists' canvas and paint a simple nature mural on to lighten up the area. Or she could even do some gradual collage for those walls - it could be a fun project. Lillian

[Fairy4tmama]

If you can't paint the Styrofoam you might be able to cover it with a light weight material or linen tapestry by tacking it to the Styrofoam. I would have loved a closet office as a kid!

[Lillian J]

Originally Posted by Fairy4tmama

If you can't paint the Styrofoam you might be able to cover it with a light weight material or linen tapestry by tacking it to the Styrofoam. I would have loved a closet office as a kid!

I was thinking the same thing - what fun it could be to decorate and redecorate such a small space at that age! Lillian