DO: An EXTREME HOME(school) MAKEOVER

This August, I knew I had to "makeover" our homeschool room. The kids were getting bigger, now I have two homeschoolers...that means, twice as much stuff. uh-oh! I couldn't keep up with the stuff with just one!

CHALLENGE - Homeschool rooms have too much stuff! Craft supplies, books and papers...those are the top three organizing challenges...all heaped into one room with multiple kids trying to learn (and a parent(s) trying to keep their sanity). This year, my goal was to simplify our room, so it was an enjoyable place in which to spend our days.

Last year, we used the small table you see covered with Kraft paper. TOTALLY aggravating! Books, papers and pencils were continually falling off of it, onto the floor. So, we found these way adorable desks at IKEA. I love that what could be an overly cluttered room is beginning the school year looking clean, modern, bright & fresh!

Dum, da, da DAAAA!!! (that was supposed to be a trumpet blast! use your imagination! :) 

What I love:

The desks - they are petite sized. The bookshelf on the top is made for the desk. The piece under the shelf is a magnetic, white board. How handy is that? 

The bookshelves - Originally, I thought I would want a large bookshelf, but I love symmetry and that would have thrown it all off. I also wanted the kids to be able to see each other. So, we went with the two narrow bookshelves and I love them. Each one has their own bookcase for curriculum and other reading materials. 

The filing cabinet - Yes, there will be papers and lots of them. This keeps them under wraps...and I already had it upstairs (love to shop the home!) 

The lights - also from IKEA, bright, clean and they don't take up any desk space. 

Ok, I admit...I did go a little crazy at IKEA this year. Here we have this great big room to do school in...but, it was dim and pretty cluttered. By the end of the year, my clutter meter was on empty...or would that be full?? Anyway! Here are some other cuties that I found at IKEA for super cheap...

Magnetic strips, you can hang them vertically or horizontally. (Easy install, you just screw them into the wall...well, easy for my hubby :) Either way is super cool. I love how modern and crisp they look. They are the perfect color orange. Then, I purchased some great red magnets. Great place to hang the kids artwork all year long. (btw, you cannot write on these with white board markers.)

This is our craft table...which I will also be using for our THEMES throughout the year. I love covering it with Kraft paper...easy & charming. I love that they can get out any of the craft supplies that are right at their fingertips and create! And, the BIG PINK ERASER...we are going to talk about that a lot this year. We all make mistakes...thank God, He erases them!!

Do you know what this is?? This is one of my favorite things in the entire room. Why? Because it gets backpacks off the floor!!! One of my pet peeves is things lying on the floor...It is amazing how long I have allowed that to go on! :)  I think the kids will like these too - isn't it great to have things in your home that just make you smile?

Ahhh....now, doesn't that feel better?? :) 

The kids have backpacks because, they belong to a co-op, and attend classes there two days a week. If you are interested in learning more about the co-op and you live in the Chicago area, here is their website: HSU Academy Website

Next week, I am going to post about some EASY organizational tips that I have learned in the two years that I have been homeschooling. Enjoy your upcoming school year! We can't wait to get going! B&B have been locked out of this room the entire month of August while we have been remodeling. Can't wait to see their faces...only four more days until the big reveal! 

Kristen