After setting up a home school last year—with pencil pots and reams of paper everywhere—we needed to get our house back. The dining table is for eating, not for school, so we set about reorganising, partly because we’re preparing for new home offices, and partly because we didn’t want to throw everything out in case another lockdown happens.
We had different approaches across the lockdowns. The first time we were full of energy and anxiety, working long days to juggle our jobs and the kids’ learning. By the third lockdown we were frazzled; we kept regular work hours while a child sat beside each of us. I even found myself answering spelling questions during board meetings. It wasn’t ideal, but we managed.
Now that the kids are back at school full time, we used the summer to clean up and reclaim our rooms. I made a small makeshift workspace in the corner of the dining room and tucked all the school supplies into a big kitchen cupboard. The right storage boxes make a huge difference.
I used SmartStore baskets from Orthex made from recycled plastic with bamboo lids—stylish and practical. They look great on my shelving unit and will sit on my desk once the office is built. They’re perfect for hiding stationery and organising the children’s things. We also have matching self-watering plant pots from Orthex, which have been handy.
While we were schooling at home we covered the table to protect it from pencils and other sharp items—Isla has a habit of scratching things with a pen. A cheap, wipeable PVC cover from B&M did the job and lasted the year.
Next year one child will be in Year 6 and the other in Year 5, and we want to take Noah’s learning more seriously at home. We created a small desk area for him despite his tiny bedroom, and gave Isla a desk for writing stories on her laptop and doing her hair. It feels like we’ll be better prepared if we need to homeschool again.
The great thing about storing homeschooling supplies in accessible boxes is you can grab them quickly if needed. The dining table can be turned back into a school space and snack pots moved to the side. We’ve since added desk spaces in both children’s bedrooms so they each have a dedicated place for homework or homeschooling if it happens again.
What did you do with your home while homeschooling? Did you change things up?
