Going back to school may mean more time at home, so why not make your days unique?

Surprise: Your back to school shopping list may include more furniture this fall.

Depending on where you are, you may be:

• adjusting to plans for a full-time return to school
• planning for a hybrid approach that keeps your kids home a couple of days each week
• preparing for a completely virtual experience

Whatever your plan, setting your child up for success in school this year will require more than just the right supplies. To start, you’ll need a home environment conducive to learning.

Doing so is within your control with a bit of help from your Deco Team.

First step: Plan ahead

Don't get us wrong, life happens so having some flexibility will come in handy.

Pro Tip: Preparing for what many parents consider the “worst-case scenario” will avoid some scrambling later if your school must close temporarily.

Practical tips for your homeschooling space

Since spring, you may have picked up on some of your children's habits and how they work best. Here's what experts say about making the most productive space for your child(ren):

• Consider your children’s needs. If you have children with different learning styles and schedules, now’s the time to hang that giant chalkboard or family message center in their learning space.

• Good lighting is essential. Make sure the computer glare is balanced out by natural light whenever possible. You can also consider setting up a desk light.

• Keep the temperature comfortable, but not too comfortable – research says 72 degrees is best.

• Make sure your home’s Wi-Fi is up to the task.

• Make sure your child has a supportive chair and a sturdy desk. Remember, it’s very hard to do your best work from your bed.

• Limit outside distractions, including noise. Close windows or add white noise makers like fans, if necessary. And keep the family pets out of the learning space during school time.
  
  
• Limit inside distractions, such as clutter. A good rule of thumb is that if the object would be out of place in an actual schoolroom, it probably should not be in your dedicated distance learning space (looking at you, Xbox and hockey sticks!) 

Make the most of every inch

One way to maximize the learning potential of your home is to create areas or “stations” for replicating at-school activities at home. For example, create separate spaces for formal study, arts, and recreational activities.

If you are providing study space for multiple children, mounted shelves or a long counter-like surface against a wall can accommodate two or three workspaces.

Repurpose and reuse

With all the economic uncertainty that the pandemic has brought, no one needs to spend money on homeschooling furniture and fixtures. A little bit of creativity and imagination can go a long way.

Look around your home and garage for possible workstations, seating, and shelving solutions. Corral some of last season’s décor for storage and organizing options.

You’ll need some ingenuity and lots of humor but remember to have fun by introducing some happy design elements into your hard-working learning spaces. Your kids may not appreciate it, but it will make you feel better.

If you're still figuring out how to set up your space during this new reality, bring us with you along the way! Our boxes have a variety of handpicked items that can be delivered straight to your door.