Back to School: How to Design Inspiring Spaces that Ignite Your Child's Passion for Learning

It’s that time of year again, and our kids are off to school (hooray for in-person lessons again!). It also means that it is time to reassess their needs in terms of homework, and how to create areas that are conducive to getting it done with a minimum of fuss and stress (for them and for you). I have been tasked with realizing numerous kid-friendly workspaces over the years. Here are my top 5, go-to solutions for designing functional and inviting homework zones.

Pops of Color

My own office is mostly white: white walls, white desks, lightly stained wood-floors-because I like to have everything feel clean and neat. However, I have added pops of color (in my artwork and accessories) to enliven the space and to prevent it from feeling too sterile. The result of this design is that my office is somewhere I look forward to going every day and working. The same thing holds for your child’s homework zone: it should be somewhere that is uncluttered and tidy, but also visually stimulating and enjoyable to spend time in. This is why I usually design kids’ rooms including a work space with an overall white base and inject color into them with accent walls, rugs, pillows, and artwork.

Multiple Comfortable Seating Choices

You get tired of sitting in the same position and at the same spot for extended lengths of time, and so do your kids. This is why it’s important to give them more than one location to do their work. I often provide 3 different spots in one room in my designs for maximum flexibility: a beanbag or floor seat low down, an ergonomic desk chair at the mid-point, and a top bunk or loft space that is set up with books, USB-port and supportive pillows.

Chalkboard Wall

If I had to choose a design feature that is a B Squared Design “signature” in kids’ rooms it would have to be chalkboard walls. We love everything about them-they foster creativity, come in a multitude of colors to fit any color scheme, and they create a truly dynamic space due to the nature of the drawing and writing changing all the time. Homework becomes more fun when you get to write on a wall! And they’re great for games during playdates too.

Bookcase Divider

Do your kids share a room where they both do their homework, but sitting directly next to each other creates too many distractions? A bookcase divider might be just the thing: it provides much-needed storage for schoolbooks, art supplies, etc., and also gives just enough separation so that each child feels like s/he has their own private space to get work done.

Unexpected Spots

I like to incorporate unexpected spaces in children’s rooms-somewhere fun to get cosy and read (for school or for pleasure). This can come in several forms depending the space: You can carve out a reading bench from bookshelf space or create a window seat with a custom seat cushion and a deep sill. Or how about a bubble chair floating from the ceiling if the structure allows? Or perhaps a hidden nook under the staircase, or in an unused alcove. Any space that encourages kids to grab a book and get lost in the story is a win.

There you have it – five of my favorite design strategies when it comes to kids and getting school work done without a battle. Do you have any others that you have found particularly helpful? Feel free to drop them in the comments below. Would you like to implement any (or all) of the above for your children in your own home? Schedule a discovery call here. I would love to help design your space!