homework station

How To Create The Ultimate Homework Station (So You’ll Never Have To Ask “Is Your Homework Done?” Ever Again)

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Homework can be the bane of the school year and can often be the source of much drama in the household. “Where is my notebook?” “Have you seen my backpack?” and of course the often-used “Is your homework done?!”

Instead of playing into the drama, why not make your home set-up a point of calm amongst the chaos, and set your children up for success by creating (or updating) an incredible homework station.

Teaching your kids how to keep themselves organized is such an important skill. Tasks such as time management, tidying workspaces, and project preparation will not only help them with school work, but also with life and the challenges it brings as they continue to learn and grow.

As organizers, we have used these tips to create homework stations for elementary school aged children onwards and they can easily be applied to families looking to refresh their existing systems for kids of any age.

And big bonus – your kids will love their new work space so much, they may actually be excited to do their homework!

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our  disclosure  policy.

PIN for when you’re ready to organize!

FIND THE SPACE

First things first, you’ll need to find a room or space in your home that works for your child. Depending on their age and how much assistance they require, this spot could be in a communal room (think kitchen or family room) or at a desk in their own room.

The ultimate goal is to get them working in a proper set-up with a table and chair instead of working from their lap – this way they establish good habits, can properly work on their handwriting and have room to spread out all their materials.

To spark your creative juices, we’ve pulled  30 of our favorite homework station examples  to serve as inspiration:

• Dual Desks from  @littlelibertyrooms
• Fold Down Desk via  This Old House
• Rustic 3-Desk Set-Up via  Postbox Designs
• Closet Transformation from  This Old House
• Homework Station for 4 via  Householdno6.
• Modern Loft Study Area via  Houzz
• Display Wall Station via  Houzz
• Dual Closet Homework Station via  Houzz
• Hallway Station via  Jen Hannotte for Houzz

• 2 Desk Work Station via  Better Homes & Gardens
• Double Sided Desk from  Better Homes & Gardens
• Closet Study Area via  iheartorganizing
• Family Room Homework Space via  Better Homes & Gardens
• Classic Desks via  Classy Clutter
• Walk-in Closet Transformation via  Petite Party Studio
• Kids Homework Station via  Clean and Scentsible
• Freestanding Table via  Houzz
• Colorful Workstation for Four via  Houzz
• Study Nook from  @littlelibertyrooms

• Chalkboard Wall via  Houzz
• Station Under the Stairs via  Houzz
• Hallway Homework Station from  @ninaandcecilia
• Double Desk Space from  @littlelibertyrooms
• Hanging Chair Hideout via  Houzz
• PBTeen Sleep & Study Loft Bed
• DIY Kids Art & Homework Station via  Craft-O-Maniac
• Tri Station via  Juvenile Hall Design
• Pull-Down Hallway Station from  Sand and Sisal
• Homework Nook with Chalkboard via  By Dawn Nicole
• DIY Homework Station from  Tatertots & Jello

Now, if finding a dedicated desk space isn’t possible, consider making your own mobile supply station that can be easily moved in and out of the space (like the kitchen table) when it’s homework time.

We love these smart DIY ideas for a portable study station:

• Dollar Store Portable Homework Caddy via  Simple Made Pretty
• Mobile Homework Station Cart from  Design Improvised
• Ikea Raskog Homework Station via  Smashed Peas and Carrots
• DIY Organizer from  Sprinkle Some Fun
• Homework Study Station via  Mom Advice
• Side of Fridge Storage via  the 36 th  Avenue
• DIY Homework Station Turntable from  Mom On Timeout
• Over the Door Organizer from  A Bowl Full of Lemons
• Freestanding Homework Station via  Simply Organized
• DIY Cutlery & Canning Jar Caddy via  Clean Mama

MAKE IT COMFORTABLE + FUNCTIONAL

Select a good desk chair that is both comfy and supportive. You don’t want a chair to be the reason that your kids are gravitating to doing their homework on the couch!

A few of our all-time favorite options:

• PBTeen Ergo Chair
• Land of Nod Class Act Mint & Gold Desk Chair
• Land of Nod Toto Desk Chair
• PBTeen Emily & Meritt Bed of Roses Airgo Chair
• PBTeen Rockin’ Roller Desk Chair
• Walmart Kids Retro Molded Chair
• Home Depot Modway Edge Office Chair
• PBTeen Northfield Wingback Chair
• Walmart Urban Shop Swivel Mesh Chair

Although it may seem obvious, having a  trash/recycle can  near their desk will encourage them to not only throw out their old papers, but also (perhaps with a little coaxing), to purge the garbage from their backpacks on a regular basis.

GET IT ORGANIZED

Wall Organization

Hang up a cork, magnetic or pin board for your kids to put papers, reminders and a calendar. This is a space that should be within reach of their desk so they can easily add/remove important items on a regular basis. It can also give them a chance to decorate and personalize their space – hopefully inspiring them to actually use it!

There are so many amazing wall organizing systems available – take a look at some of these incredible ideas:

• PBTeen Cubby System Pinboard
• PBKids Build Your Own Modern Gabrielle System
• Land of Nod Stick With Me Magnet Bar
• Land of Nod Cloud Corkboard
• Target Bulletin Board with Chalkboard & Hooks
• Umbra Trigon Bulletin Board
• Sweet Jojo Designs Pinboard
• PBTeen Dot Pin-It Pinboard
• Land of Nod Beaumont White Shelving System
• Land of Nod Colorblock Corkboard Letters
• PBKids Butterfly Shaped Pinboard

DESK ORGANIZATION

Having supplies within reach of the workspace is key to their productivity (there needn’t be twelve trips around the house looking for the tools they need to complete each project!).

If there’s room on their workspace, consider keeping their supplies neatly organized in one of these nifty containers:

• Land of Nod I Could’ve Bin a Things Bin
• PBKids Rainbow Shaped Pencil Holder
• PBKids Candy Canisters
• Land of Nod Perfect Pitch Storage Caddy
• Lani Ang 4-Grid Desktop Organizer
• PBKids Printed Metal Lazy Susans
• Container Store Acrylic Accessory Drawers
• Land of Nod Multicolor Desk Accessories  
• Target Room Essentials Desktop Storage Unit

A version of these supply caddies can also be made for the road as there are often times that your child won’t be home when it comes time for homework (ie. at a sibling’s after-school sporting event!). Capitalize on that travel and waiting time with a to-go bag of their most needed supplies. We especially love  this portable storage one .

Make cleanup easier on everyone by using labels on your supply containers/caddy. This will help teach your children how to maintain their space and hopefully put an end to the continuing cycle of them asking where to put things when they are cleaning up.

We love  this no-fuss, inexpensive labeler  and also check out  these cool reusable chalk board labels .

As your kids get older, homework will often require the use of technology, which means cord and charging chaos! Keep their space tidy from the cord clutter by using some of these ingenious products and hacks to help cables stay neat and handy for when it’s time to plug in and charge.

• Cable Sleeve
• Container Store  Cable Twisters
• Cable Management Box
• Cable Catch

ESTABLISH GOOD HABITS

Time Management

Give them the tools to manage their own time  by keeping a clock or timer at their workspace . Setting time limits for each subject can help them stay on track and is a life skill that will bode them well in life after school.

If you haven’t heard of  the Time Timer  before, it is an ingenious tool that visually shows your child how much time they have left for a certain task. It is easy for them to set themselves, and they don’t need to know how to read a clock in order to understand the concept of time diminishing.

Subject Management

Help keep your child’s different subjects organized with  color-coded file folders  (1) — for instance, green for science, blue for english, etc. — so they can keep their notes organized on their desk and in their book bag.

A  simple file folder organizer  can help keep their most important documents at arm’s reach ( this one  (2) even has some extra storage underneath!). If there’s not enough room on your desk for one, try  this nifty cascade folder  (3) that you can hang on the wall when working, and collapse and bring with you on-the-go!

In/Out Parent Bins

There’s always a plethora of school paperwork and updates that need to get safely into your hands. Consider setting up some  in and out bins  where your kids can drop off any papers that need to be signed or seen by a parent. You can then go through them each night, and put any that need to be returned to school in the “out” bin, ready for them to pick up in the morning and pack in their backpacks. With a little practice, this can be an extremely effective method that can be used all the way through high school!

It is vital for older children to start learning how to manage their own calendar. Whether it’s a  desktop planner , or a  large dry-erase calendar  that can hang on the wall, it’s a great way for them to visually see what tests and assignments are coming up, so they can manage their time accordingly.

Form a Routine

Now you’ve got their work space expertly organized, help your child form a routine of  when  they do their homework. It could be as soon as they come home after a snack, after ½ an hour of “down” time or after dinner. Whatever you decide, help them stick to their routine for the first few weeks by setting a timer or providing gentle guidance. Hopefully with their new homework station in place, they’ll feel a real sense of ownership and be excited to get down to work!

After their homework is complete, consider helping them put a routine in place that will help make the morning rush less hectic. It could be as simple as establishing a nightly backpack check ensuring that all the books and papers needed for the next day are all packed away. Or having them place their packed backpack in a designated space (preferably near the door!) so there isn’t a mad scramble to find it in the morning.

RELATED:  For more smart tips and hacks for smooth morning routines see our popular post:  67 Life Changing Organization Tips & Hacks For Stress-Free Mornings

So there you have it mamas, tons of tips and inspiration to create the ultimate Homework Station. We wish you much success in the homework drama and hope you’ll never have to ask “is your homework done?” ever again!

Pssst – before you go, we’d love to have you  join our What Moms Love community  and we’ll hook you up with all of our exclusive resources including our popular  10 Screen-Free Toys For Guaranteed Quiet Time  (this is seriously a game changer mamas!),  Holiday/Birthday Coupon Book for Kid s  and  35 Food Subs & Swaps for Healthy Family Meals . Just let us know where to send all your goodies!

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MICHELLE HALE & ANNIE DRADDY

About The Authors:

Michelle and Annie are co-founders of  Henry & Higby , a professional organizing company in New York City. They believe that life should be as simple as possible and that the process of getting organized can help.

If you need help organizing your life & home, contact them at  [email protected]

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Wow, these homework stations are amazing! Almost too pretty to work at. Haha. I like the wall organization ideas the most. Always good to get stuff up and off the desk!

Wow, this post is pack full of good ideas! I think it is so important to have a fun, bright station that get kids actually excited to do their homework! Beautiful post.

So much inspiration here!!! My oldest just started kindergarten but I want to have good habits established early and these ideas are great!

These are amazing ideas!! I’m saving for the future

Always such helpful posts! Thank you!

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Published: Aug 5, 2021 · Modified: Aug 28, 2021 by Rachel

30+ Homework Station Ideas for Kids and Teens

Ready to make your family’s after-school or home school routine a bit less stressful? An organized homework station is the answer! I’ve included easy tips for small spaces and multiple kids so everyone can have a quiet, supervised space to study.

Table of Contents

It’s back to school time again and along with that comes a flood of emotion. While its sad to see our babies growing up, my inner organizing dork gets a boost of excitement. Create a cheerful space with these homework station ideas to inspire learning, even if you’re short on space!

A homework station is an inviting area that is dedicated to learning, homework, and informal learning like arts and crafts project. Although the kitchen table will suffice for a quick review or a worksheet, we’ve found it’s nice to have a homework zone where school supplies, books, and school calendars can have a dedicated place of their own. This cuts back on clutter and distractions.

I was inspired to write this post because of what I’ve learned from our frustrations with my son’s severe ADHD. At first, homework hour was a stressful experience full of tears (mine), yelling and every possible distraction under the sun. No exaggeration – 20 minutes of homework regularly took almost 2 hours. The material was never the issue. Home school moms, you have my admiration!

That’s where a dedicated space and equitable ground rules saved the day (and my sanity!)

How To Setup a Homework Station

I’ve learned a lot over several incarnations of our homework space. Creating a basic homework station area is simple and effective with these tips below:

• Choose a quiet area. The biggest chance of success is to limit distractions. Preferably with a handy outlet for a laptop, or charging accessories like headphones. For my son, I find that headphones with music (on loop) works wonders.
• Stock it with necessities. My son is the king of wasting time looking for misplaced items. Before official homework time, I ask if he has everything he needs to minimize the chances of him getting up from the desk.
• Set a routine. Same time + Same space = Success. I personally give my son a short break after school before we get down to business.
• Keep ’em close. While we must balance distractions, young children especially need supervision and usually help.
• Minimize your own distractions. When my son was in elementary school, I couldn’t continue working from home during homework time. It wasn’t fair to ask him to stay focused, when I myself wasn’t focused on his questions. So I placed a tiny desk in our kitchen. That way I had both eyes on him while I washed dishes or prepped dinner. I was available, yet still productive.

Homework Station Supplies

Below is a handy list of supplies that are sometimes useful.

• Pens and pencils
• Loose leaf paper for scratch paper or notes
• A timer or clock
• A folder with pockets
• 1 box of color pencils or crayons
• Computer and charger
• A planner (checklists are the lifeblood of this house!)
• Craft supplies as necessary – glue sticks and scissors are examples
• A comfy chair

Homework Station Setup Ideas

Finding the right space is often the most challenging part! I’ve included some inspirational ideas below to get focused. You don’t need to have an elaborate space, but these are great jumping off points to inspire your creativity.

Nooks & Crannies

While most of us don’t have room for a dedicated office, there’s usually space to spare like under the staircase, an unused closet, or an awkward alcove . These centrally located spaces are often quiet and can be quite magical.

A small closet can be transformed into a useful desk space. Source: This Old House.

The unused space underneath a staircase like this desk is also perfect for using as a small homework station. This design utilizes fun lines and strokes to make it visually interesting.

Homework Stations that Foster Creativity

I honestly believe that adding a little creativity to the space fosters the desire to learn and leads to great ideas. Classrooms are full of stimulating decorations for a reason.

Here’s a few creative concepts to enhance your learning environment:

Inspirational quotes on a paintable chalkboard from Dawn Nicole add a touch of whimsy and keep students motivated during tough assignments.

A simple wall Children’s art display like the desk above allows kids to hang their accomplishments and past artwork.

Add a splash of color or maybe some wall flash cards.

While these beautiful spaces are awesome, sometimes we just need a simple option like this portable homework station .

More portable homework station ideas :

• Use a bath caddy to hold supplies so you can grab and go.
• A tiny desk and rolling cart makes it easy to move supplies where you need them, when you need them.
• I love my car seat organizer for homework on-the-go. It’s a lifesaver when I have to run errands.
• This fold away desk vault in a box is brilliant!

Room for Two (or more)

If you have more than one child, figure out how they learn best. Do they prefer to  study  together? Try setting up the desk so it can accommodate everyone. A collaborative study area is less isolating.

I’m a big fan of this option . Everyone has dedicated space and no one is encroaching on the other’s turf.

This desk utilizes a stacking bookshelf to create two separate work areas and provide ample storage for each user. To save space, you could also have the desks face each other with the bookshelf between them.

This study zone melds learning and fun. It’s an especially fantastic space for large families. The multi-functional area can accommodate everything from homework, to art projects, and amazing Lego builds.

During my own work hours, I share a space with my son. Our craft room makeover project had to include key elements like tandem workspaces, ample organization elements and creative ways to display our greatest hits!

PRO TIP: Peg Boards are excellent additions to any Homework Station. They allow you to customize your storage and wall display without limits. Here’s how we built a DIY pegboard organizer.

Space Saving Solutions

House a homework nook in even the tiniest space. These space saving desks are brilliant!

Wall Mounted Desk

Ladder Shelf

Wall mounted

Space Saving Shelf Desk

Do you have a dedicated studying area in your home? What’s your top tip for handling the daily homework assignments?

More Ideas You May Enjoy

PS I love seeing your creations! Be sure to take a photo and tag  #cravingcreative  on Instagram ! You can also  stay in touch with me through following me on  Instagram ,  Pinterest , and subscribing to the newsletter!

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August 31, 2015 at 11:36 pm

Meredith @ The Palette Muse says

August 31, 2015 at 10:42 pm

Homework Station: DIY Tutorial

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It was that time again. Nights were getting cooler. Flyers were advertising fresh pencils and pens. Letters from teachers were arriving in the mail. It was time to go back to school time and mom had plans. Plans that involved upgrading the playroom from a place filled with toys and primary colors to a place that would allow focus and learning and productivity. I wanted a… Homework Station.

From Playroom to Big Kids Playroom

My children are 9, 7, and 4, so there’s still a lot of playing, but not as much as there was a few years ago. They now spend a lot of time in school and even when they’re home, their playing has changed.

While spending some time on Pinterest , I found some amazing inspiration, especially from Postbox Designs , which was simple, and had enough space for three chairs. 

When I saw her space, I knew it was game on.

Homework Station Planning

List of must-haves.

Not all homework stations are created equal, nor are they designed for as many kids as I have (just three, but still). Before we jumped into building, I created a list of must-haves for the space.

• Space for three kids to work and sit.
• Paper storage for study guides and long-term homework
• Display area for tests and artwork
• Storage for school supplies and crafts
• A simple, sophisticated look

Can We Repurpose?

I toyed around with some ideas for repurposing two different tables we already had. Unfortunately, both possibilities would have made it awkward for 3 children and chairs. We decided if we were going to redo our room and if we intended for our children to use it for years to come; it was worth spending a little of money on a new surface.

Homework Station Materials

We headed off to Ikea, by far the best place to get inspired for a project like this.

We needed a nice sturdy surface that was long enough for three chairs.

Homework Station Work Surface

When I saw the Karlby counter and fell in love. I loved the wood, the stain, and the simplicity. It was exactly the look I was aiming for.

I was a little disappointed to find it was not solid wood all the way through like some other butcher block options, but it was the perfect length, so we wouldn’t be exposing any of the inside.

This counter can also be sanded and refinished, if needed. The particleboard inside makes the counter lighter, which was helpful for how we intended to install it — mounted to the wall with legs for support .

Homework Station Legs

While at Ikea, we picked up 4 simple metal legs to help define each work space and support the surface.

We planned to install one leg on either end of the counter and install 2 additional legs in the middles, creating spaces for three chairs and, more importantly, clear boundaries for children.

After getting the Karlby counter, my vision came together. I was going deep and dark with the wood and the walls, and I’d rely on white and gold accents and natural light to brighten it up.

I decided on Gauntlet Grey by Sherwin Williams . It’s on the darker side but not too dark, it’s oh-so-pretty and is in the same pallet as Mindful Grey , which is what many other parts of the house are painted.

Fun Fact: Home Depot will mix any color paint, regardless of which company created it. You can save a boatload of money and still get the exact color you want.

Homework Station Installation

After purchasing all the materials and painting, it was time for the installation.

Ledger Board

The first thing installed was a 2″x2″ ledger board that was 5 feet long onto the wall. Since the counter was 7 feet long, we cut the ledger board to 5 feet so it wouldn’t be seen from the sides of the homework station.

We calculated how high we wanted the table to be, then subtracted the thickness of the table. We also made sure the ledger board hit multiple studs so it would provide enough support for the countertop.

After we had the ledger board in place, I painted it grey. This step was probably a little excessive, but it ensures that even if you can see the ledger board, it blends in with the wall and doesn’t stand out like unfinished wood might.

Installing the Legs

Now we were ready to focus on the surface. To install the 4 legs, we flipped the Karlby counter upside down. We measured carefully, installing two legs on either end, then two evenly spaced in the middle. This left us with three perfect spaces for three little chairs for three children to sit.

Mounting the Homework Station

We flipped the countertop with the legs attached back over and centered it on the wall about the ledger board. We got 2.5-inch screws — this was important.

We got under the counter and screwed the screws up through the ledger board and into the bottom of the homework station. We did this to avoid screwing into the top of the counter.

Screw length was essential . Longer screws would have poked out the top of the homework station. Shorter screws wouldn’t have been long enough to hold the homework station in place.

Homework Station Organization

Now that the homework station surface was in place, it was time to add some fun details.

Paper Storage

I decided on wire wall-mounted baskets for the storage. I purchased one for each child and mounted them directly in front of their space.

Using my cameo silhouette , I cut out vinyl labels for each basket. Not only does this look nice, it designates an area for each child.

Art Display

I then selected black metal grid boards for displaying children’s artwork. The clips seemed safer than tacks, and the black grid contrasts nicely with the wall color.

Displaying kids’ artwork isn’t essential, but it supports your child and helps boost their self-esteem.

Plus, this is a playroom and the art is… art!

Arts & Craft Supplies

We brought in a three tier cart for supplies and coloring books.

I looked around my home and used what I had for storing all the art supplies. I had metal buckets left from a birthday party and then grabbed some mason jars for skinnier writing utensils.

UPDATE: The cart wasn’t a great solution for us. A few months after this post, I purchased a cube shelf from Ikea. Here’s how I organized it with all our supplies .

Homework Station Decoration

The homework station was a fun spot to decorate. I kept most of the decor black and gold, which looked great on the wall. I also tried to keep it educational-ish.

To create a cohesive look, I stained a wooden board to match the Karlby counter, then added simple black shelf brackets .

Mounting a shelf up top provides an out-of-the-way space for decor and frames the space nicely.

I added a simple letter board like this to write “encouraging” messages, a black globe ( Ikea ) that’s more decorative than educational, a geometric wire shape (Ikea), and some plastic plants in gold pots (Ikea).

Homework Station Seating

Finally, a chance to repurpose — I used chairs from tables we already had in the basement, so those were free. While they aren’t a perfect match, they are good enough for now. Maybe someday I’ll refinish them someday.

I added black seat cushions (Ikea, again!) to keep little tushies comfortable.

Homework Station Wall Art

I kept things simple on the walls. I created a few designs myself and cut heat transfer vinyl using my cameo silhouette .

I also hung a fun map of the US up on the wall. Mine is from Hobby Lobby and no longer available, but here’s a similar map with a fun look .

I found gold desk lamps at Walmart that perfectly matched the gold flower pots on the shelf. The lamps were less than $7 each, so grabbing three was an easy decision.

Homework Station: The Final Look

Overall, we spent about $350 on this space. $200 was for my best friend, Karlby, and his legs. The rest was the cart, storage baskets, grid panel, lamps, and paint. Overall, I’m very pleased with our choices, although I think if you were on a tighter budget and got more creative you could do a similar space for less money.

Using the Homework Station

We finished this project up just as school was starting in 2019. I have never seen children so excited to do their homework. All three kids happily sit here and do their homework. When homework is done, they stay and color or create art projects. This space gets quite messy, but with systems in place, it’s simple to clean up.

I think this space will be really useful for our family in the coming years. There’s room to work and room for computers, should they be needed. For now, though, we’ll stick to art projects and homework.

2020 Update: Virtual Schooling at the Homework Station

Little did we know in the summer of 2019 exactly what was in store for us in 2020. This homework station got A LOT more use than anticipated. All three children used this space regularly when schools were closed in March of 2020, although only two children used it for school.

My preschooler sits in the middle seat, so when her spot was vacant, my two older kids had space for small laptops (and headphones) and some work space in between.

Virtual Learning Modifications

To accommodate additional cords without having them in the way, we drilled two large holes in the work surface and installed desk grommets .

We had removed the Raskog cart since it wasn’t ideal for all our art supplies, but we brought it back in for virtual learning because it WAS ideal for storing books, folders, and papers.

2021 Update

My kids are in school most of the time now, however they do occasionally switch back to virtual school when the school is concerned about an outbreak. The homework station is available for them and they will often work there, however if they prefer, they may work at the kitchen table or in their bedroom, as well. The homework station still gets used daily for crafts and coloring.

Love it? Hate it? I’d love to hear from you!

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31 thoughts on “Homework Station: DIY Tutorial”

Hi Melissa, Love your homeschool space, I’m getting ready to do the same for our 4 year old. Where did you get your map? Love the look!

Thank Janelle

Thank you so much! It was from Hobby Lobby 2 or 3 years ago. I loved it the second I saw it!

Hi how do you store school materials?

Hi Michelle,

We have most of our school supplies on a cube shelf to the right of this homework station. Check out this post to see . As far as school materials like workbooks, we reused that rolling cart I had initially used for supplies to hold books. One level for each child!

I love this idea! I just quit my teaching job and will be staying home with my three children as well. We are needing to set up a space for them to do their work and I love this! Where did you find the black metal legs?

Hi Belinda! Thanks so much! The metal legs are from Ikea, as well as the table top. They have a ton of affordable build-your-own desk options so we customized this one to work for us! It was important to me that they all had their own space and the 4 table legs helped achieved this! Enjoy staying home with your littles!

Thank you so much!

Love the space! Where did you find the shelf and brackets that are above the desk area?

Thanks so much, Erin! The brackets are from Ikea, the shelf is just a board of wood I stained to (attempt) to match the desk.

Thanks for sharing! Did you get the 74 inch Karlby or the 98 inch?

We got the 74″ top. Each of the table legs are 22.5″ apart. 🙂

Hi where did you get the wall back to school calendar. I love your setup

Walmart! I think it was $6ish!

Love this space! Where did you get your if you can’t be kind be quiet and abc signs?

Thank you! I actually made it using my cameo silhouette, heat transfer vinyl and the “reverse canvas” method where you take a canvas apart, stain the frame, and then staple it back together backwards. If you search Etsy there are tons of similar options! 🙂

Hi, I love your homeschool space. It’s so inviting. I am currently making one for our 3. I also thought of buying the raskog cart and using it. I’m curious why it didn’t work for you. I’m sure we will have a similar experience.

Hi Rebekah! The top of the cart was great for holding all the writing supplies, but I couldn’t fit vertical paper dividers in the bottom two tiers, so things ended up piling up there and getting messy. Perhaps if you’re storing different items than I stored, it would work well! It wasn’t ideal for us and our papers and coloring books. I’ve switched to a Kallax cube unit and that’s been going much better. Here’s a link the blog post I wrote about it .

This space is amazing! It was exactly what I was envisioning for our space! Thank you for sharing this! Just curious, did you paint your whole room gauntlet gray? Does the room look dark?

Thank you so much! We did paint the whole room, and it doesn’t look dark, but that room gets a lot of light. There are windows on both three sides of the house there, so it’s pretty light all day. It might depend a lot on your house and your space. 🙂

Where is the shelf on the wall from? I have found everything else to recreate this look.

The shelf is actually a board of wood stained to match the counter top. The brackets are several years old, purchased at Ikea. Good luck!

Fab job👍🏽.This is gorgeous and practical! Thanks for the precise shop details and instructions! I’m inspired.

Love it! Thank you for all the details.

Thanks so much!

How much did the table cost?

The surface and legs cost about $200 overall. Links are above if you’d like to check out the specifics!

After going over a handful of the articles on your web site, I really like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back soon. Please check out my website as well and tell me what you think.

Hi there! We’re still in the “littles” stage mostly – totally curious where you got those clear, locking storage cubes for your “prior” playroom? Thanks!

Hi Eryn! We still use them, they’re fabulous! They’re linked in this Toy Rotation Made Simple post! They’re Sterilite brand from Walmart! 🙂

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How to Build a DIY Homework Station

November 16, 2020.

It’s been a weird year. In March 2020, everything shut down. We transitioned to “online learning” and spent A LOT of time at home. We realized that with two grade-schoolers at home, we needed a dedicated homework space. Our two girls and both have small rooms (in our small house), so fitting a desk in their bedrooms wasn’t ideal. We decided to renovate our family room space in the basement and add a DIY homework station into an unused nook in the back of the room!

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Note: This post may contain affiliate links that won’t change your price but may share some commission .

Table of Contents

A Built-In Homework Nook

We didn’t want to spend a fortune, so we hacked some Ikea pieces to make a built-in homework station with plenty of space for both kids. They adore having their own workstations complete with file folder systems, drawers and pegboards! It made me so happy to see them just a little more excited about staying home.

The layout of our basement space was actually quite awkward (you can see the full renovation and details HERE ). We put the homework station in a weird little nook at the back of the room. The space has a low ceiling (ductwork runs above it) and no lighting, so we didn’t really use it at all before! It was just wasted space.

I love how finished it makes the room feel now and how much function it adds! The girls can come down here and do their homework and then lounge and relax when they are finished.

We used EKBACKEN Ash effect laminate counters from Ikea as desktops. They are inexpensive but surprisingly heavy and nicely made.

TIP: I’ve seen quite a few DIY homework spaces that use shelves as desktops. I personally don’t find this ergonomic. The space is too narrow to work comfortably. The 24″ deep countertop gives enough space to really spread out and work without feeling cramped.

The space is about 11 ft wide so we had to use two countertop pieces and cut them down to size. We put the cut ends against the wall so that the finished, uncut edges would make a clean line/join in the centre. We added a support bracket in the middle to help hold the weight, and rested the pieces on 1 x 2 supports fastened to the walls underneath.

Each station is exactly the same (because… siblings) with a SKADIS peg board . I love the SKADIS system . It has so many fun options to add to the pegboards to store pens, papers etc…You can move the accessories easily as well, which is nice since my girls love to organize things! There are even little clips to hang their artwork or current math or spelling words.

Office Drawer Units/ Filing Cabinets

The ALEX drawer units have their own built in filing drawer, which is perfect for storing art projects, report cards or anything else we want to save over the school year.

Floating Shelves

We added some white LACK floating shelves from Ikea for extra storage above each desk. We did the same thing that we did with the counter and used 2 shelves cut down to fit the length. They come with hardware that attaches to the wall to mount them without brackets.

We were going to add built-in wall sconces and decided that we would just keep it simple and use traditional desk lamps! These were actually in our bedroom before, but they work much better in this space! I love when you can shop your home and save money!!

This DIY homework station was quick, easy and didn’t break the bank. But it’s made a huge difference in how we use this space…aka we actually use it now!!

I hope this DIY homework station gives you some inspiration for using an overlooked space in your own home! You can add function to pretty much every inch of space, no matter how awkward with a little creative thinking!

MORE GOOD READS:

• DIY Custom Closet on a Budget
• How to Style a Bookcase in 3 Easy Steps
• Should You Choose Marble Countertops?
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Hey there! Love this — we’re doing something similar in our basement thanks to your inspiration! Just wondering, what type of bracket did you use for the middle? We only have a wall on one side so we’ll need a bracket for the middle and one for the other end too. Love the triangle look of yours cuz it seems sturdy and adds to the style.

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How to Make the Ultimate Homework Station + Printable Homework Chart

If you struggle with getting your kids to sit down to do their homework, you need my ultimate homework station ideas!

The first day of school is headed our way all too soon friends. And you know what that means right? It’s time for us moms to brainstorm ways we can make things easier on ourselves AND our kids this school year! So, let’s talk about the organization, shall we? The more chaotic things are at your house, the more likely stress is to show up. I’ve always found that having dedicated spaces, like the ultimate homework station, for daily activities makes life so much more seamless.

I’m referring to chill zones, homework stations, zen spots, and the like. Today we’re going to focus on the ultimate homework station, but I urge you to set up the other areas in your home for optimal enjoyment too. Create super relaxing bedrooms with serene colors and uncluttered spaces. Make your rec rooms fit for hanging out with comfortable furniture that the kids aren’t scared to sit on. You get the picture right? It’s all about making your homework for you!

Ok, now that we’ve covered that, let’s get to the topic at hand. Do you have a homework station set up at your home? If you don’t have the space in your home office or playroom, for example, to make one, you can always create a portable version. Just be sure to keep it fully stocked with everything your kids need to achieve a successful homework sesh. The less time they spend getting up asking you for things, the more time they spend studying!

Homework Station Must-Haves

A space to work.

Whether it’s their own desk and/or table and chairs or simply your kitchen or dining room table, make sure your kids have access to a quiet space.

A portable cart or shelving unit

The key to keeping things organized is giving everything a home. Bins and containers to store paper and writing utensils can sit on your cart or shelves.

Bulletin board

If you have a place to hang one, it’s a perfect way for your kids to keep track of deadlines, save ideas that inspire them etc. You can even leave them notes like hey kid, pick up your room. Haha!

Any work area should be well lit. Adding additional lighting in the form of desk lamps never hurts. Plus, they can really add a little extra flair to their desk areas.

Bright colors

Make your family’s homework station FUN! Your kids are more likely to want to sit down and work if they enjoy the environment they’re working in! Head over to Pinterest, type in homework station and you’ll find no shortage of cheerful design ideas!

Extra Supplies  

Don’t give the kids an excuse to have to get up.  Have extra pencils, crayons, rulers, scissors, notebook paper, and other school supplies they use regularly, at your homework station.

After a long day at school, having some yummy snacks on hand for the little learners will definitely help keep them focused.  Two snacks that my kids love are Veggie Straws and Granola Bars.

Now that you’re on your way to your own ultimate homework station, I foresee some stellar grades in your kiddos’ futures! They’ll be begging you to study! Ok, that might be going a bit far, but I bet they won’t complain as much. It’s the little things, right?

Are you still shopping for back to school?  Now is the perfect time to pick up all your homework station supplies at Walmart, the selection is amazing! 

Homework Chart Printable

In case having an extremely cool homework station isn’t enough to entice your kids to keep up with their homework, I have created a fun homework chart that you can print out to help keep track of what everyone has completed.

Homework Chart Printable Here

Need some more School Year Tips?  Check these out:

Tips for Keeping School Mornings Stress-Free

Prepare for Back to School Like a Pro

After School Routine Tips

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10 comments.

My twin toddlers aren’t quite to homework yet (thank goodness) but we sure do love Veggie Straws. I’ve already stocked up for the school year.

You have brilliant ideas here to attract kids to sit and do their homework. I strongly agree that we need to create a space and good environment and vibes to study and do their homework daily.

These are some amazing ideas on how to make the ultimate homework station. I will give some of these a try!!! My kids love those Veggie Straws, maybe I will have those for their snack too! love it!

This is such a great idea. My kids have a desk for homework, but for some reason, they usually wind up on the floor or in the kitchen.

Super ideas for a homework station… and also for our grown-ups work stations. It’s so important to have the right atmosphere and supplies to keep you focused!

This post will definitely help anyone who is trying to make a work station for their child.

I like that it should be fun. This is so great!

Homework station is such a fun idea. My kids ould be so happy to have their on.

Great tips for making a creative work space no matter where you are! I love veggie straws…they are such a great snack 🙂

Snacks is a definite must have for us when kids are sitting down for homework. EarthsBest has some amazing line of snacks to choose from

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Follow This Old House online:

Site search, 27 inspirational homework areas and study stations.

Steal ideas from these amazing home office spaces and watch the good grades roll in this semester

Adjacent Homework Station

Create a bright and lively space that’ll get your kid’s creative juices flowing! The cabinets used here were ordered in a factory-applied yellow that echoes the hutch across the room. There’s no reason you can’t get this look with some vibrant paint and a weekend of DIY. Putting a desk in a space just outside the kitchen provides a bit of privacy for independent workers but keeps them close just in case they need homework help. Easy access to snacks is also a plus.

Storage-Loaded Homework Alcove

Build a space-smart little office right in your kid’s room. All you’ll need is some stock lumber, storage bins, and tracks for a sliding work surface.

Creative Closet Space

Take the doors off of a little-used closet and line the walls with a fun pattern to create a handy homework alcove. Your kid’s design ideas may not match your own, but applying their feedback will make the space—and studying—more appealing to them.

Armoire Office

This clever contraption features a door with a fold-down table for a work station that can be tucked away when the studying is done.

Cozy Corner

Some wall-mounted shelves or cubbies and a small computer desk makes for a quick and easy study station.

Corkboard Wall

Cover an entire wall in cork tiles or chalkboard paint to make a bold—and functional— design statement.

Kitchen Counter Homework Station

This tiny desk at the end of a counter makes for an open-yet-compact workspace that isn’t tucked away into a cabinet or closet. It’s perfect for younger kids who need homework help and supervision while working.

Plugged-In Study Nook

Carved into a kitchen, this desk faces a wall to limit distractions for students trying to complete their assignments. Built-in cabinetry makes for ample book and supply storage.

Great Room Homework Station

If you don’t have a dedicated room for a home office or study space, you’ll have to learn how to share. Living spaces can lend themselves nicely to multiple uses. Put a vacant wall to use with a built-in work unit. But if there’s a television in the room, make sure it’s turned off at homework time.

Light, Bright Desktop

For sit-down kitchen desks, like the one shown here, leave about 30 inches between the bottom of the lampshade and the counter.

Budget Home Office

Kelly and Wayne Averbeck of Jerome, Idaho, used leftovers and bargain buys to age their office to perfection. Similarly, you can use what you’ve got to incorporate a homework nook to your existing built-in storage. See An Office Update With Vintage Appeal to learn more about this budget remodel.

Rustic Reclaimed Study Station

Outfitting a room almost entirely with recycled or reused finds can prove a challenge. Too much salvage, and your space starts to look like a junkyard—which is why interior designer Sally Bailey lets simplicity reign in her home studio, shown here. This interesting space makes a great study station for older kids, while teaching the importance of eco-friendly design. For more on how you can get this look, see How to Create a Rustic Reclaimed Workspace .

Side-by-Side Seating

This kitchen office was designed for a mom who wanted a space she could share with her 12-year-old son. Key features include outlets for two computers, a cordless phone, and a single printer, undercabinet task lighting, and a dividing column of drawers to stow craft and office supplies. This arrangement makes a great cooperative learning area for homes with multiple students, too.

Creative Catch-All

When kids are in the picture, the kitchen office can be part homework desk, part high-tech hub, part first-aid center. That’s the case with this multitasker designed by Greenwich, Connecticut, architect Jay Haverson: The lower cabinets in the teak-topped desk store office supplies, phone books, and recipes. Emergency supplies, including medicines and flashlights, as well as electronics, are hidden up high behind touch-latch cabinet doors. A corkboard “backsplash” creates a home for memos.

Space-Saving Station

If you’re really short on space, adding a dedicated homework station can be as easy as building this. Like a ladder-rack, this clever unit props up against a wall and can be anchored or left portable.

Modern Home Office

Lift storage units off the ground! Build and hang large, high-impact shadowboxes instead of mounting traditional shelves.

High Impact Work Station

Boldly colored storage boxes are great for stashing supplies and matching binders are perfect for filing graded papers.

Hidden Study Station

Slim bifold doors make it easy to hide a workspace that’s in a common area.

Wall-Mounted Wonder

This compact, folding work surface doubles as covered supply storage unit. Create a similar space with easy-to-install wall-mount desks .

Adjustable Storage Station

Create a nook with a network of adjustable wall-mounted shelving if built-in storage is out of your budget.

Catch-All Cubby Bins

From wicker to brightly-colored fabrics, choosing the right storage bins for open shelving can add to the look of your space.

Pretty and Punctual Homework Area

Be mindful of clutter, but allow your child to pick a few decor items to personalize her space. A wall-hung clock will get your kid into the habit of scheduling and getting work done in a timely manner—or at least in time for their favorite TV show.

Walled-Off Study Station

Throw up some wall frames and create built-in room dividers, like the ones shown here, in a larger rooms.

Work Space With a View

Make homework time pleasant with desks facing a window. You’ll eliminate the need for using a lamp or overhead lighting in the daytime.

Kid’s Corner

A small corner of a kid’s room is all you need to create a homework station.

In-House Computer Lab

Make sure your study stations have enough outlets to power computers and charge gadgets. In homes with more than two kids, a set up like the one shown here ensures all of your young learners have an equal amount of real estate.

Reader-Created Study Station

Reader Carol Dregne of Galena, Illinois, created this vibrant work station for her two boys to share. The world-map wall covering makes a great learning tool—and beats an ordinary atlas any day of the week.

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DIY Ikea homework station (with build in desk!)

By Becky Mansfield

Aug 16, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy .

The kids use this DIY Homework Station constantly.  I use it, as well.  I love to sit there to do my work, check emails, etc… 

I knew that I wanted a homework station, but I couldn’t figure out where to put it.  There wasn’t really wall-space in our kitchen and I didn’t want it in the living room.   I decided to put it in our living room. 

I had a little spot against the wall, in the corner of the room, where we decided to put it and it has been perfect.   It is a built-in desk and I love it.   Below, I’ll share the directions to make the desk, the products we used, the accessories, and a few affiliate links that I could find online. 

How we made our Homework Station from Ikea Furniture:

First, we bought two of these  Linnmon white Ikea table tops for $6 each.   My husband cut one of them in half because together they were too long.    

He then uses brackets to hold the table together (he reinforced it by using three of them).    

He screwed two pieces of wood to the wall to create a ledger.   This is what the table sits on.    You can then nail the tabletop to the ledger (nail it on an angle)

We bought the buckets and dial rod at Ikea, as well.    The buckets were $7 each (Fintorp Flatware Caddy).  The Fintorp Rail was  $9.    The total for these is right around $37.  (They have plastic ones for 99 cents, but I really loved these ones!)

We filled them with everything that they would need to do their homework.  Pencils, crayons, scissors, glue sticks, erasers, highlighters, and markers.

We found the end table at Hobby Lobby and my husband cut the legs off of it, to make it the right height to hold the desktop.

I love it because I use it to store all of their school supplies!   I use the drawers to keep leveled books, text books, and workbooks. 

You get the idea…

We even added a shelf (also purchased at Ikea) and light to give us more storage.  I added a tiny cork board, too, for our kids to hang things or add important notes. 

The kids come home right after school and take their backpacks into that room to “unload” their work.  They then bring their lunch boxes into the kitchen and drop their empty back-packs off at our DIY mudroom bench that my husband built.

More Posts Related To Homework Stations:

• 15 Homework Organizing Ideas
• What to do with kid’s homework & artwork when they are done 

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Categorized as: House & Home

I’m Becky, a former elementary school teacher turned certified child development therapist and blogger. I work at home with my husband and together we are raising (and partially homeschooling) our four children in the Carolinas. I love diet coke, ice cream, and spending time with my family.

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19 Comments

This is so darn cute!! I so love the buckets! 🙂 My nephews would love this for their space!

I need a set up like this myself too. We still apartment live while we save for a house. Its small so something like this will work in my space and easily move with me. I wish we had an Ikea!

Thanks. It was so easy to make! 😉 (well I can say that b/c my husband did it)

This is awesome! Can you provide more details on the wired end table and drawers. I’ve been to Hobby Lobby and they cannot provide any details on this item

Oh man! I don’t know any of the details, but it was just one of the little shelves they had at the time. I’m sorry. Good luck! Any cute storage unit will work!

Love this!! I will be featuring your homework station in a round up on the West Valley Moms website with a direct link back to this post. Would you mind if I use one of your photos in the post? Thanks so much!

Oh- thanks so much, Kara. Use whatever you’d like. 🙂

We are needing to cut the same table top from IKEA, as it is too long, can you please share what tools you used to make such a cut? Thanks!

Great idea! How did you get the tables from not chipping on the top while cutting them? Thanks so much!

Hi Becky, I love your DIY homework station idea! How long ago did you do this? I’m searching for the end table from Hobby Lobby, and I’m afraid they may not stock it anymore. We’re the drawers included with the table? Thanks, Anne

It was last year, but they always have cute tables (yep- the drawers came with it)

This is super amazing this DIY work station. Youve just given me a brilliant idea for my twins room.

I love your blog, thanks for writing it. It’s been helpful. I’m a busy mom too, I have 3 beautiful children ages 4, 2 and one. I was wondering if you can send me a link to the mud room area you and your husband made? I read it a while back ago and it encouraged me and I would like to make my own. Thanks, Jen

yay!! I wrote out how to do it here: https://www.yourmodernfamily.com/how-to-start-a-wordpress-blog/

Hi. Just coming across this and love the end table you used from Hobby Lobby. I know its older but is there anything you can share with regards to markings on the back, sku number, anything that I might be able to find one. I already have Linmon and similar set up but LOVE this. Thank you in advance.

I can’t find anything, but if I run by there this week I’ll stop in and see if they still have info on it. 🙂

That’s cute and simple. I love it. Most attractive things are the buckets for storage. I will soon gonna try this out. Thanks for sharing.

Can you tell me at what height the desk was installed? Thank you

We just put ours at the same height as our kitchen table because I was using the same chairs like the ones at the table. I’d suggest putting yours at the same height as a table that fits the chairs that you will be using.

Great ideas, I’m impressed with everything

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Homework Haven

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How to Create a Homework Space

Related To:

Does your kitchen look more like a classroom when five o'clock strikes? If the answer is yes, there's no doubt that algebra isn't the only problem on your kitchen table. In this episode of Smart, Simple, Solved, I'll show you how to keep your kid nearby but his homework out of the way. No more text books tossed in the way of table settings or crayons cozying up to the carrots. You can easily reclaim your kitchen table by creating a convenient, all-inclusive homework hub off to the side.

10 Ideas for a Smarter Homework Station

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Start with innovative ways to set up a tabletop in a public space. Then get a leg up on desk space by installing an adjustable arm to hold a tablet. I'll give you tips on turning cups into supply holders and tricks to create a homework board with pockets to keep papers in place and distractions at bay. It's also a good idea to provide comfortable seating for writing those persuasive essays. A homework hub this genius gives you plenty of room for salad, while your kids study for tomorrow's spelling quiz.

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Creating a Homework Station – 10 Spaces We Love

Set your kids up for some Back-to-School SUCCESS with a special spot to study and complete their assignments! Here are 10 favorite homework station ideas that will make doing homework a little less painful.

Here are a few more Homework Helps you might enjoy –  Homework Punch Cards + Rewards System,   Portable Homework Station,   Make Your Own Family Command Center , and  Reading Log for kids.

Kids Homework Station

Homework time can be a challenge for any family, but if kids have a dedicated study station with all the supplies they need for their assignments and projects, it’s so much easier to concentrate and get stuff done!

From a small homework nook with a homework caddie to a room with multiple study zones, here are 10 homework stations that kids will love! Take a look and get inspired to create the perfect workstation in your home. (Consider this your homework assignment!)

10 Homework Stations

See how Postbox Designs took a boring white hallway and transformed it into a perfect Homework Station! (This space is seriously my favorite!!)

I love this bright white homework area at the top of the stairs, from Decor Pad. The extra storage on top of those shelves is perfect! Such a great use of space!

The colors in this kid’s workspace are perfection! I love the drawers that separate the workspaces. From Home Bunch.

All the heart eyes for this clean and simple Double Homework Station by Decor Pad. That map wall is amazing and would be great for elementary school kids and teens, too!

Young House Love proves you don’t have to spend a ton on a functional DIY Homework Station . (Isn’t it pretty?!)

This Kid’s Computer Work Station is clean and simple… just the way I like it! From The Spruce.

A great way to maximize space, and avoid sibling contention! (BONUS!) I love this  Double Work Station by BHG.

A Wall Mounted Homework Desk is a great way to save on space. From BHG.

An organized cart from IKEA and a vintage school desk make this small space cute and functional! All the pencils, pens, crayons, markers, notebooks, glue, scissors, and erasers are within arm’s reach. From Design Improvised.

Last, but not least, this kid’s homework station from Hobby Lobby has all the fun supplies that make my heart happy! Who wouldn’t want to do their homework assignments in this home office? (Perfect for crafts, too!)

Busy moms, this one is for YOU!

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These are all such great ideas!

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12 Tips For Creating The Ultimate Homework Station

1. Create some easy cord control.

2. Keep all supplies close by.

Barbara Reich, a professional organizer and author of Secrets of an Organized Mom insists that “kids should have everything they need to work without having to get up or move to get it: pencils, erasers, sharpeners, highlighters, lined paper, or graph paper. It’s much less distracting.”

3. Choose the right-size work surface.

“The desks I make for kids are 28-inches high, almost adult height but not quite,” explains Gil. “That height ensures your child won’t outgrow it, they could use it until they head off to college! If it’s a little too tall initially, use an adjustable chair.”

4. Make it easy to go mobile when needed.

“Sometimes kids want to do homework at the kitchen or dining room table. For easy clean up, stash pens, pencils, crayons or whatever they need in a supply caddy. I really love the I Could’ve Bin a Art Caddy ($22; Land of Nod ),” says Reich. “It’s easy to put everything away and stick it in a cabinet.”

5. Don’t be afraid to fit a desk wherever you can.

6. get papers organized (and out of their backpacks)., 7. it’s all about location., 8. clear clutter daily..

“Having a trash can next to the desk makes it easy to throw away garbage and odds and ends. If kids have to get up to get rid of their trash, it ends up accumulating on the desktop,” says Reich.

9. Make sure there is enough room to spread out.

10. keep the desk looking like new., 11. get into a routine..

“Make every morning easier with repetition,” says Reich. “Every night homework and papers should go right from the backpack to the table, from the table back into a folder, then back into the backpack. No more frantic searches for papers and it develops great habits that will last into adulthood.”

12. Protect the desk while kids personalize it.

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Why Your Kids Need a Homework Station & How to Create One

As part of our “Back to School” series, I want to talk about why you need a homework station!

I can’t believe how quickly summer has gone by and school starts back in just 2 weeks! The beginning of a new school year is always exciting but it’s also a time to figure out how you can fine-tune your school routines.

There are so many ways we can streamline our routine – homework, school clothes, snacks (both for school and after school), school paperwork, the first day of school , and more.

Homework is an area that I feel we always need to improve on. The battle to get the kids to actually sit down and do their homework is never fun.

Although each of my kids has a desk in their bedrooms, I prefer them to do their homework at the dining table, next to the kitchen. Otherwise, I spend my time running between the bedrooms trying to help everyone with their work, while also trying to get dinner ready! Not fun!

I’d love to have space just for homework, but that’s not going to happen. My family room isn’t big enough to have 3 desks in it! So that’s where a homework station comes in.

Table of Contents

What is a homework station?

A homework station is a place where you can keep all the homework supplies, so they are instantly ready when your child needs to do their homework.

If you’re lucky enough to have space, then a homework station can be a desk area stocked with everything they need.

However, we use our dining table for homework. I can’t leave the supplies on the table because we need it to… well… dine at! So a mobile homework station is a perfect solution for us.

In the past, I tried one of the small plastic caddies but it just wasn’t big enough. With 3 children, all in different grades, they all have different supplies that they need.

And of course, there is the dreaded school paperwork! All those notes, permission slips and notices that come home. You need to keep them but where can you put them? The humble homework station to the rescue again!

Why you need a homework station?

I’m all for making life easier for myself and my family. As a working parent with 3 kids (and a house full of pets!), I need to make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible. And a homework station helps me do just that!

• Keeps homework supplies together so no wasted time searching for things.
• Makes it easy for the kids to start their homework, no excuses that they can’t find a pencil or paper.
• A mobile homework station can be pushed away out of sight when homework is done, so everyone can enjoy their evening.
• Gives the flexibility to do homework in any room of the house.
• Cuts down on those homework arguments.
• Helps create a homework routine.
• Gives you a place to store school papers.

I think you’re probably beginning to see that a homework station really is a sanity-saver!

What do you need in a homework station?

The next question is what sort of supplies do you need to keep in your homework station? Well, that’s going to depend on the age of your child and the type of homework they receive.

Here are the basics that you will need:

• Pencils or pens
• Colored pencils
• Glue ( bottles and glue sticks )

In addition to these supplies I used the following to make my homework station:

• Mobile Craft Cart
• Magazine Holders
• Pencil Cups
• Magnetic Spice Tins

That’s it!

Putting it all together!

Now you have your supplies, it’s time to put it all together.

Below are three different options for mobile carts depending on your budget. I decided to go for a heavy duty one because I wanted it to last. It gets pulled around the house every day, so I didn’t want it falling apart after a few months.

I used a bit of  washi tape  to decorate the cart. This is completely optional, but I wanted to make it look more attractive and fun in the hope that it might encourage my kids to do their homework!

• Paper – lined or plain paper for the kids to do their homework on or to use as scrap paper.
• To Sign – this is for paperwork from school that I still need to sign or fill out.
• To School – I use this folder to put paperwork, finished homework, library books etc. that need to be returned to school. I quickly check this file every morning to make sure we have everything!
• Keep – this is where I like to put paperwork from the school that I need to reference. School calendars, study guides, resource lists, project outlines etc.

Middle Shelf

I also used magnetic spice tins to stick to the outside of the shelf with the little things that always get lost! Such as pencil cap erasers, paperclips, binder clips etc.

Bottom Shelf

So there you have it!

Y our very own ultra-useful, tantrum-taming, sanity-saving homework station!

What are some of your homework tips? How do you make your after-school routine easier? Do you have a homework station that works great for you? Tell us about it in the comments below!

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Homework Station Ideas

Check out these fun and creative ideas for creating a homework station in your home.  No matter your size or budget, there’s something for everyone!

Setting up a homework station.

For this month’s Household Organization Diet , I’ve been working on the kids’ rooms .  I don’t really have any big projects planned – just lots of purging and re-organizing!  This weekend I’ll be going through their closets and tidying things up in their homework station .  For those of you that are following along with me {or just need some ideas for their own space!}, I’ve put together some kids’ desk ideas for you.  It doesn’t have to be fancy – there is something for every sized budget and space!

The end of summer is near and it’s {unfortunately!} time to start thinking about back to school.  For most kids, homework is one of those necessary evils and creating a dedicated spot in your home for them to complete their work can help them to improve their focus and develop proper study habits. Check out some of these great ideas to get you started…

Bedroom homework area  from Honey We’re Home.

Ikea Wall Mounted Desk via This Old Home.

 Smart idea for a double workstation from Better Homes and Gardens.

What is a homework station?

A homework station is basically just a dedicated spot in your home that your child is expected to do their homework.  It can be set up to your kids’ particular learning style and help them stay more productive and focused while doing their homework.  A homework area also provides one main location in your home to store and organize all of the school supplies and art supplies that your child needs.  This makes it easy for them to find what they need and gives them one less excuse for getting their work started!

  Kitchen Homework Station from Craft-O-Maniac.

  Trestle Desk from Pottery Barn Teen.  Love the ball seat too!

Desk with Art Gallery Wall from Centsational Girl.

Where to set up a homework station.

You can really set up a homework station anywhere!  Some kids have one in their room, others may share a space in the family office area, and others might end up doing at the kitchen table.  The important thing is finding out what works best for your child and your home space.

Independent learners and older children might prefer having their own space where they can be alone and focus.  If your child needs more assistance from you, having a space near where you work might be a better option.  As your kids gets older, the environment that they work best in might change, so stay open to new ideas.

Mini Homework Station from The House of Smiths.

Trendy Homework Station from Classy Clutter.

Rolling Cart School Supply Organizer  from Trebuchet.

What to put at a homework station.

You don’t really need a lot of supplies to set up your kids desk.  Basic school supplies such as pens, pencils, erasers, scissors, paper, etc. are kind of a given at any age.  Take an inventory of what you already have {re-using old school supplies from the previous year} and stock up on any needed items at the back to school sales. Use a caddy or pencil box to keep smaller items contained and organized. Stacking drawers also work well for providing extra storage in a smaller space.

Elementary school children will also likely need some colored pens and pencils and often enjoy a small area to display some of their favorite creations.  You can always add a few decorative touches to make the space more cozy and comfortable, but you don’t want it too cluttered or distracting.  Find more ideas on what to put in a homework station HERE .

DIY Fold Down Desk from Honey Bear Lane.

Homeschool Room from The Handmade Home.

DIY Cardboard Homework Station from Martha Stewart.

Roll Away Homework Station from Better Homes and Gardens.

Closet Homework Station from I Heart Organizing.

DIY Fold Down Pallet Desk from Thistlewood Farms via Infarrantly Creative.

For more ideas on how to set up a homework station, check out this post….

How to Create a Functional Homework Station

August 17, 2014 at 3:19 pm

Awesome collection Jenn!

September 9, 2014 at 3:35 pm

I love all the space-conscious ideas you shared! Nice roundup!

September 9, 2014 at 4:18 pm

Thanks! Glad you liked them!

September 25, 2015 at 8:13 pm

Love your ideas! Do you have free printable 2016 desktop calendar like the cute 2015 one you did??

September 27, 2015 at 6:08 pm

One will be coming out – I usually release it in December. 🙂

August 15, 2018 at 11:34 am

These where some great ideas. My favorite is the one from pottery barn! I would love to have that homework station in my home 🙂

August 16, 2018 at 9:52 am

I think that’s my favorite one too!

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Strange Glow Over Moscow Skies Triggers Panic as Explosions Reported

B right flashes lit up the night sky in southern Moscow in the early hours of Thursday morning, new footage appears to show, following reports of an explosion at an electrical substation on the outskirts of the city.

Video snippets circulating on Russian-language Telegram channels show a series of flashes on the horizon of a cloudy night sky, momentarily turning the sky a number of different colors. In a clip shared by Russian outlet MSK1.ru, smoke can be seen rising from a building during the flashes lighting up the scene.

Newsweek was unable to independently verify the details of the video clips, including when and where it was filmed. The Russian Ministry of Emergency situations has been contacted via email.

Several Russian Telegram accounts said early on Thursday that residents of southern Moscow reported an explosion and a fire breaking out at an electrical substation in the Leninsky district, southeast of central Moscow.

Local authorities in the Leninsky district told Russian outlet RBC that the explosion had happened in the village of Molokovo. "All vital facilities are operating as normal," Leninsky district officials told the outlet.

The incident at the substation in Molokovo took place just before 2 a.m. local time, MSK1.ru reported.

Messages published by the ASTRA Telegram account, run by independent Russian journalists, appear to show residents close to the substation panicking as they question the bright flashes in the sky. One local resident describes seeing the bright light before losing access to electricity, with another calling the incident a "nightmare."

More than 10 villages and towns in the southeast of Moscow lost access to electricity, the ASTRA Telegram account also reported. The town of Lytkarino to the southeast of Moscow, lost electricity, wrote the eastern European-based independent outlet, Meduza.

Outages were reported in the southern Domodedovo area of the city, according to another Russian outlet, as well as power failures in western Moscow. Electricity was then restored to the areas, the Strana.ua outlet reported.

The cause of the reported explosion is not known. A Telegram account aggregating news for the Lytkarino area described the incident as "an ordinary accident at a substation."

The MSK1.ru outlet quoted a local resident who speculated that a drone may have been responsible for the explosion, but no other Russian source reported this as a possible cause.

Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Moscow with long-range aerial drones in recent months, including a dramatic wave of strikes in late May.

On Sunday, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the region's air defense systems had intercepted an aerial drone over the city of Elektrostal, to the east of Moscow. No damage or casualties were reported, he said.

The previous day, Russian air defenses detected and shot down another drone flying over the Bogorodsky district, northeast of central Moscow, Sobyanin said.

There is currently no evidence that an aerial drone was responsible for the reported overnight explosion at the electrical substation in southern Moscow.

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Touring the Top 10 Moscow Metro Stations

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Komsomolskaya metro station looks like a museum. It has vaulted ceilings and baroque decor.

Hidden underground, in the heart of Moscow, are historical and architectural treasures of Russia. These are Soviet-era creations – the metro stations of Moscow.

Our guide Maria introduced these elaborate metro stations as “the palaces for the people.” Built between 1937 and 1955, each station holds its own history and stories. Stalin had the idea of building beautiful underground spaces that the masses could enjoy. They would look like museums, art centers, concert halls, palaces and churches. Each would have a different theme. None would be alike.

The two-hour private tour was with a former Intourist tour guide named Maria. Maria lived in Moscow all her life and through the communist era of 60s to 90s. She has been a tour guide for more than 30 years. Being in her 60s, she moved rather quickly for her age. We traveled and crammed with Maria and other Muscovites on the metro to visit 10 different metro stations.

Arrow showing the direction of metro line 1 and 2

Moscow subways are very clean

To Maria, every street, metro and building told a story. I couldn’t keep up with her stories. I don’t remember most of what she said because I was just thrilled being in Moscow.   Added to that, she spilled out so many Russian words and names, which to one who can’t read Cyrillic, sounded so foreign and could be easily forgotten.

The metro tour was the first part of our all day tour of Moscow with Maria. Here are the stations we visited:

1. Komsomolskaya Metro Station  is the most beautiful of them all. Painted yellow and decorated with chandeliers, gold leaves and semi precious stones, the station looks like a stately museum. And possibly decorated like a palace. I saw Komsomolskaya first, before the rest of the stations upon arrival in Moscow by train from St. Petersburg.

2. Revolution Square Metro Station (Ploshchad Revolyutsii) has marble arches and 72 bronze sculptures designed by Alexey Dushkin. The marble arches are flanked by the bronze sculptures. If you look closely you will see passersby touching the bronze dog's nose. Legend has it that good luck comes to those who touch the dog's nose.

Touch the dog's nose for good luck. At the Revolution Square station

Revolution Square Metro Station

3. Arbatskaya Metro Station served as a shelter during the Soviet-era. It is one of the largest and the deepest metro stations in Moscow.

Arbatskaya Metro Station

4. Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station was built in 1935 and named after the Russian State Library. It is located near the library and has a big mosaic portrait of Lenin and yellow ceramic tiles on the track walls.

Lenin's portrait at the Biblioteka Imeni Lenina Metro Station

5. Kievskaya Metro Station was one of the first to be completed in Moscow. Named after the capital city of Ukraine by Kiev-born, Nikita Khruschev, Stalin's successor.

Kievskaya Metro Station

6. Novoslobodskaya Metro Station  was built in 1952. It has 32 stained glass murals with brass borders.

Novoslobodskaya metro station

7. Kurskaya Metro Station was one of the first few to be built in Moscow in 1938. It has ceiling panels and artwork showing Soviet leadership, Soviet lifestyle and political power. It has a dome with patriotic slogans decorated with red stars representing the Soviet's World War II Hall of Fame. Kurskaya Metro Station is a must-visit station in Moscow.

Ceiling panel and artworks at Kurskaya Metro Station

8. Mayakovskaya Metro Station built in 1938. It was named after Russian poet Vladmir Mayakovsky. This is one of the most beautiful metro stations in the world with 34 mosaics painted by Alexander Deyneka.

Mayakovskaya station

One of the over 30 ceiling mosaics in Mayakovskaya metro station

9. Belorusskaya Metro Station is named after the people of Belarus. In the picture below, there are statues of 3 members of the Partisan Resistance in Belarus during World War II. The statues were sculpted by Sergei Orlov, S. Rabinovich and I. Slonim.

10. Teatralnaya Metro Station (Theatre Metro Station) is located near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Teatralnaya Metro Station decorated with porcelain figures .

Taking the metro's escalator at the end of the tour with Maria the tour guide.

Have you visited the Moscow Metro? Leave your comment below.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 am

An excellent read! Thanks for much for sharing the Russian metro system with us. We're heading to Moscow in April and exploring the metro stations were on our list and after reading your post, I'm even more excited to go visit them. Thanks again 🙂

December 6, 2017 at 10:45 pm

Hi, do you remember which tour company you contacted for this tour?

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