I really wanted a new table and more comfortable, functional chairs for our school room this year. The dining table legs were annoyingly in the way, and the dining chairs were just not intended for the amount of usage they get from a homeschooling family!
I started shopping around for a new table, but then my mom remembered a table one of her previous tenants in her rental house had left behind. It was under a bunch of junk, and was unfinished and beaten up — which meant I thought it was perfect. Ken brought it home and I finished it. Now that beat up old table is lovely, in a pleasantly weathered sort of way. The best part: we were only out the $12 it cost me for stain and paint brushes!
Since we ended up getting the table for free, I decided to look for new chairs. After much online and in-real-life shopping, we bought two hot pink desk chairs that swivel and have pneumatic height-adjustment. The new school table sits a bit higher than the old one, so the new chairs allow Kathryn to be at a comfortable height. That stool is so that Kathryn doesn’t have to leave her feet dangling.
(Make your own version of the handy-dandy supply caddy on our school table! My instructions are here: “Cute and Cheap Art Supply Organizer“)
While I was at it, I bought myself a new chair for my computer desk, because I had been using a stool retired from a medical office. Yay for comfy chairs! And this year I finally got that lovely U.S. wall map laminated!
My computer desk is still just across the room from the school table, so if Kathryn is working on something independently, I can be doing some work of my own and still be nearby to help. You can see how central our schoolroom is to our home; that’s the school table in the foreground, with the living room at left (where the fireplace is), and our front door at the right of the photo. Our kitchen is off to the right.
I spent a couple of weeks reorganizing our shelves and craft/school supplies, and rearranging last year’s books to accommodate this year’s books. (Psst! IKEA shelves rock!)
Most things that Kathryn uses on a daily basis are on a separate small bookcase right behind her chair within easy reach. (Especially with those new swivel chairs!)
I keep print-outs for nature study notebooks, lapbook projects, our timeline book, and state geography notebook in hanging files in a plastic crate. It’s easily transportable, and it’s even my favorite color! My homeschool planning notebook happily nestles right in this same crate.
It’s ridiculous how happy organization makes me. I have to have my things not only neat, but pretty, too. I thought I was just weird like that, but I was recently reading about learning styles, and for a visual learner like me, clutter truly does affect my thinking negatively, and pretty/organized things affect my thinking positively — like I’ve been saying for years!
So, that’s our little schoolroom. Keep in mind, though, that not all our learning happens in this space! Our living room sofa gets at least as much time because that’s as we read our good books! And some learning is outside, or on the computer, or in the kitchen…
Want to see more homeschool rooms? I’ll be linking this post up at HOTM’s Not-Back-To-School Hop and The Homeschool Post.
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Love the school room! I think I like to organize and sort and plan more than I like to do the actual work!! This room would brighten anyone’s day! Blessings.
That is very pretty and I just learned something about me. I never made the connection that if you are a visual learner and you don’t have organization then you can’t function well.
I always thought that was the case for everyone, but apparently it is even MORE imperative for those of us who learn visually!
Thank you for this a-ha moment for me too. I am the one who writes out the “dobbing” on the white board so I can keep the kid’s stories straight. I am definitely a visual learner and your point about pretty organisation is so spot on. Now I understand why!
Best wishes
Jen in Oz
What a pretty school area! Love it!
Cindy recently posted..Homemaking Without Kids
Everything is so beautiful! Thank you for the great idea about the crate!
Trisha recently posted..Dear Diana
Love the new school room! It looks great!
Kris @ Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers recently posted..Seven Links
Love it!! This is actually very similar to our set up…you walk in the front door, and our kitchen is to the left, school “room” (known in some houses as a dining area!) is to the right…My desk is also across the room, sort of in our living room!
LOVE the office chair idea! We are using an extra chair from our kitchen table, but it is definitely not the right height for my daughter…I never thought about an office chair! I’m off to find one!
happiness is seeing Jamie’s school space
Thanks for sharing!
Sally {with eager hands} recently posted..2011-2012 Curriculum Epic
Love it! Very inviting. That is what I look for most in an environment. I want to walk into a room and WANT to stay. I like the way the color of the pink chairs pop. The table it perfect!
Julie recently posted..It’s ONLY Thursday?
I love it! I’m getting new ideas for mine!
So cute! I want to come learn there!
Ronnica recently posted..To Be God’s Free Agent
It looks great! I always have to have things cleaned and organized before I begin a task.
Jess recently posted..Maine! (since I am unable to find any witty quotes about the state)
You have a beautiful home – so sunny and fresh looking. I also am much, much happier when things are organized and look pretty. (I’m a visual learner too!)
CM in the City recently posted..Something about science
Lovely! With a smaller home, I’m always slightly envious of such large, spacious school rooms!!!
(Ours is packed in and separated between the kitchen and a small “Discovery” room). Great job, it looks amazing!
Cass@ Unplug Your Family
Your room is beautiful! Enjoy your year
Jen recently posted..WUTW :: {Not} Back to School Edition – 8/4/2011
Absolutely lovely! Very nice and clean. I also love the hot pink chairs!
Love your new table and chairs!! Also, love how neat and beautiful all your shelves look!!
Alicia recently posted..Not Back to School – Our School Room 2011 – 2012
Love the new table – I keep forgetting to pick up Tabs for our workboxes, wrote it down – and I love the idea of investing in chairs. We rent a furnished house that only has plastic patio chairs – I think new swivel chairs would be fun!
Angie Wright recently posted..School Room Week
Angie – yes, our chairs are quite fun! And they were on a pretty good sale, too!
How beautiful!! I am jealous of your smashingly girly pink swivel chairs. Your handy hanging file portable crate – brilliant! I am going to have to check out your ‘how to’ post on the caddy in the middle of your school table (love that frugal living -reusing an available table). I agree that learning happens all over – but you have a lovely learning room! (and, I hope you do join us for a Nana pastel lesson very soon. Very easy with beautiful results
Tricia @ Hodgepodge recently posted..Connect with us!
Tricia – I’m serious! If you wouldn’t think I was a total stalker, I would beg to come over to your house in real life for one of those pastel lessons.
Love your room! It is beautiful! I wish that I loved to organize …
Steph recently posted..The Homeschool Mother’s Journal
I love how bright your room is. It’s so nice and organized too!
Jenny recently posted..Not Back to School Blog Hop: School Room
I love it! I am a sucker for pretty and organized myself.
Sam recently posted..Our Classroom
I love how organized it looks! Also, it is so pretty and bright and open!
Mary recently posted..Weekly Accomplishments 8/1 – 8/4
IKEA shelves are the best! I have the same ones. Love the room!
BlessedMom recently posted.."Not" Back To School Blog Hop: School Room Week
wow! It’s right there in your living room and yet it all looks just lovely!
brenda recently posted..Our School Room 2011-2012
*Love* What a beautifully decorated and organized room! Happy Homeschooling to you!!
Kim recently posted..Our Classroom
Love it! I really like your colors- what a great learning environment!
Jamie… you are officially my school room hero. I showed your pictures to my husband last night and said “puh—leeeze???” We are getting ready to rip put our basement and do a new floor plan than what is there right now and guess who will be getting a school room?! When that time comes I am going to have some questions. Your room is beautiful!
Angela, you made me actually LOL! I’d be happy to help, so feel free to shoot me any questions! In fact, if I lived close enough, I’d just come on over and help you set it up! I love that kind of stuff!
If we still lived in GA I would take you up on that!
this is beautiful! well done, it is very pretty!
I love your schoolroom. Ikea shelves are awesome!
Now I need pink chairs. And a radio with flowers. Yes, I said “need.”
Michelle recently posted..Where We Learn
I LOVE your schoolroom. I agree with a previous comment – I think I like to plan and organize than the actually teaching. And I figured if staying organizing helps a visual learner like me, then I need to do just a little more before we start on the 22nd!! Love your blog and just subscribed.
Adena recently posted..Five Question Friday
OH my word, that huge wall-length book shelf system is giving my jealous pains like crazy!! So lovely. Your room is gorgeous!!! You have done a fantastic job, love the organization!
Jade =) recently posted..Not Back to School Blog Hop: School Room Week
So beautiful Jamie! I agree. I also think much clearer in a tidy and pretty space.
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Candace recently posted..“Not” Back to School Blog Hop: School Room Week
Your home is beautiful. So bright and airy! I love the table–what a great deal! it’s BEAUTIFUL! I love that cute little radio too–when I saw that, I thought right away that you are one of those people that always has things neat and tidy. I SO envy that!
Theresa recently posted..Our Learning Area
I love it! It’s so pretty.
Cara recently posted..“Not” Back to School Blog Hop: Our School Room(s)
awesome room! have a GREAT school year!!!
Blessings,
Angela @ Kinder Days
So lovely! I can tell a lot of thought and effort went into creating your spaces.
I just got myself a crate, and can’t wait to get it organized!
Amanda recently posted..Not Back-to-School Blog Hop: School Room week
Hopping over form the NBTS Blog Hop. Do you want to come remake my room like that? That looks great!! And thanks for the idea on the lazy susan…magnets…ahhh that’s the trick to keep them from tipping over! Thank you!
Happy Homeschooling!
~ Your newest follower! =)
Jen @ Gricefully Homeschooling recently posted..Our Home School Classroom
I absolutely LOVE your space and your table!!!!
I love your Ikea shelves and those cool pink chairs – but I think my boys would kill me if I ever had pink chairs in the house – I am seriously outnumbered at my house.
I love how your room is right in the middle of everything! Just like mine! You have melded it in so nicely. Thanks for sharing!
Very nice Jamie! Looking forward to seeing your Weeklly Wrap Ups in your new room!
You did a beautiful job on the table. I love your school room. Have a great year.
Mominin recently posted..The Nursery
Must. Have. The. Pink. Chairs. Stat. Where do I get them????
Your house and your room ROCK! 
Angela, we got the chairs at Office Max. At the time, they were having a great sale!
Your school room is so organized and beautiful. What a fun space to learn in. Thanks for sharing!
Mindy
Inspiration Station recently posted..Our “newer” school room
Love it all! It looks great. I made us one of those lazy susan caddies the other day. Thanks for the idea.
I love it. And I have a living room just like you that lends itself to pull this off. Two questions: What is the model of those Ikea shelves? And is the chair Ikea as well?
Now you are making me want some Ikea shelves for my living room too!! Love the schoolroom, Jamie!! That carousel is such a help, isn’t it? Whenever I see new tins at Target I get all excited to change it out!
Jolanthe recently posted..Our New {Home} Schoolroom!!
I agree. I love your schoolroom. I made us one of those lazy susan caddies the other day.
Rene Farrell recently posted..Cancer Tattoos Tumblr
Hopping over form the NBTS Blog Hop. Your handy hanging file portable crate – brilliant! Love your new table and chairs!!
Stefanie Medina recently posted..Acne Tips
What a pretty school area! Thanks for the idea. With a smaller home, I’m always slightly envious of such large, spacious school rooms!!! Tricia – I’m serious!
Nora Herrera recently posted..Many Mops
I love peeking into other peoples school rooms.
)
Deborah recently posted..Memory Link Up and Character Freebie
Thanks so much for showing me your home school room! Now that we are looking for a new house in Denver, I’m trying to envision which space we’ll be able to set up as our school room. This helps to give me inspiration, as I’m also a very visual person. Thanks, again!
Chandra Regan recently posted..Changes for the Regans
Your school room looks functional, well organized… and pretty! Like you, I love things that are beautifully organized. I am just not always able to accomplish pretty AND organized! That’s why I visit blogs like yours.
Love your file crate – great idea! And I think IKEA shelves rock, too!!! Love them!
Now I understand why I need pretty organizational baskets, boxes, folders, etc. I’m going to stop fighting it and indulge! Thank you for the “ah ha” moment and inspiration!
Donna Engborg recently posted..Words About Me