Designing a Homeschool Friendly Space

Monique
Feb 19
3 min read

Updated: Apr 20

Home education factors into a lot of our family life, one example is how it affects our home design choices.

I noticed we spend less time in our kitchen, lingering after meals. However, my daughter does all of her schoolwork at the kitchen table. Considering both of these factors, I wanted to refresh the dining area and create a cozy cafe vibe.

We’re still waiting on an area rug, but we all love the transition. This area is now one of our favorite spots! My daughter calls it "the aesthetic," and she cozies up there with a throw blanket and an iced coffee while doing her schoolwork.

We find ourselves lingering more after meals. Dean and I often spend hours here on Saturday mornings, chatting, enjoying coffee, and reading.

Creating Functional Spaces

We don’t have a dedicated school room anymore. While that setup worked well for a season, our teens enjoy spreading out. Now we focus on creating functional and beautiful spaces. We always advocate for loving the space you’re in. Our home isn’t huge, but every area is intentional and a joy to spend time in.

The Design Journey

Many people have requested a deeper look at the design process and links, so I'll provide insights into our journey!

BEFORE TRANSFORMATION

Let’s first go back a few years. Here’s what the space looked like before. Very light, bright, and minimal.

Designing with Inspiration

The initial inspiration for this transformation came from designs by Jeremiah Brent. I saw how he used bench seating to create cozy dining areas. I thought an L-shaped bench could be a fantastic way to utilize unused space and create an inviting area for both schoolwork and family dining.

After that realization, I began my search for benches.

Establishing a Color Story

Creating a cohesive color story has been essential in our home. I aim to maintain a consistent palette throughout to ensure continuity. I truly enjoy seeing these colors in different areas. Here are the key tones I use regularly:

Cognac leather and wood: This color palette appears throughout our home, including our camper!
Deep greens: You’ll find green paint, a velvet couch, and a plethora of indoor plants.
Black: A staple in various decor pieces.
White: Most walls are painted white for a bright feel.
Natural textures: These fibers, including rattan, add depth and warmth.

Choosing the Right Bench

I started with the bench and developed the design around it. We ultimately chose the Baxton Studio Riordan Mid Century Modern faux leather bench. Given it's a dining area, real leather felt impractical; plus, the faux option is budget-friendly.

You can find the bench here on Walmart. Since we live in Canada, we often have products shipped to the border and pick them up due to shipping limitations.

Mock-Ups for Visualization

Designing mock-ups has been incredibly helpful. Here is how I do it:

Upload images of your room and all furniture, rug, and curtain options.
Set the room picture as the background image.
Utilize Canva’s “remove background” feature to clear backgrounds from furniture images. Use "magic erase" if needed.
Arrange the images to visualize how everything integrates.

Through this method, I created around 30 design combinations featuring different curtains, chairs, and rugs. This visual approach gave me a clear idea of the final outcome.

Choosing Chairs That Fit

Overall, we are pleased with the choice of chairs. They are unique, space-saving, and comfortable. The black legs do extend above the seat, which could be uncomfortable for wider sitting positions.

You can find these chairs here (affiliate).

Alternatively, here's a similar mid-century mod style chair with rattan as a Canadian option: LINK HERE (affiliate) CAD.

Perfecting the Curtains

Curtains were essential to complete the look. We sourced them from a U.S. supplier since they had the right length and a quicker delivery time.

Check out the curtains here in the US (affiliate).

You can find a Canadian option here.

The Sideboard Addition

Lastly, we incorporated a sideboard featuring the same rattan design. I initially found it on Wayfair Canada but used Google image search to locate it on Walmart in the U.S. We modified it by cutting the back so it accommodates our microwave. It works great and adds to the look of the room.

You can check it out here on Walmart.