6 Ways to Enjoy Clutter-Free Home Schooling

Homeschooling is nothing new. Families have been educating their children in the home for centuries. But homeschooling has been on the rise throughout Australia for the last decade and, since the global COVID-19 pandemic, the number of children being homeschooled has increased significantly. Both NSW and Victoria saw a 20% jump in the number of homeschooled children in 2020, and Queensland reported a 26% increase.

But creating a dedicated space in the home for educational purposes can be tricky and that’s why, as one of Sydney’s top storage facilities, we thought we’d share 6 ways you can cut down on the clutter and maximise learning opportunities.

1. Make Decluttering a Family Affair

Who says mom or dad should do all the decluttering? Not us! It’s important to get the kids in on the action. Talk about areas that need to be decluttered…you’ll be amazed as you realise what bothers you doesn’t annoy anyone else and vice versa.

Create a plan for ways you can declutter a bit at the end of each school day. There’s no need to save the cleaning for the weekends…your kids deserve to enter a clean learning space each morning.

2. Keep an Eye Out for Patterns

Is there a certain spot that always seems to collect clutter? If so, that’s a sure sign that you need to create a specific space for the items that keep piling up. If it’s a pile of shoes next to a door, you may need to add a shoe rack to keep everyone’s kicks contained. If it’s a pile of book bags, it might be time to install a few hooks to keep them off the floor. Oftentimes, it only requires a simple fix to eliminate recurring clutter.

3. Choose a Dedicated Homeschool Space

There’s no need to designate an entire room as your homeschool space (unless you have the space, then we say go for it!), but you do need to have an area that is primarily used for school. Doing so helps both the parent/teacher and the students get into the mindset of “when we’re here, we’re working”.

Your homeschool space could be in a spare bedroom, in a corner of the family room, or even a rarely-used end of the dinner table.

4. Sort, Sell, and Organise

Whether you’re just starting out on the homeschool journey or you’ve been at it for years, it never hurts to go through your school supplies and get rid of things you no longer use. This could be books you no longer need, curricula your children have outgrown, craft supplies that are old and/or expired, and toys no longer played with.

As you sort, make piles of items that are still in good working condition and can be sold (other homeschool teachers would love to have the curriculum and books you’re finished with). Anything that you can’t sell but still works can be donated, and everything that’s broken or no longer usable can be thrown away.

Once you’re left with the items you want to keep it’s time to start organising. Create spaces for books, curriculum, toys, and crafts to live within your homeschool space. Having designated spaces for each item type will help you keep your space ready for learning and clutter-free.

5. Containers are Key

Keeping items in clear containers with lids is a game-changer when it comes to decluttering. The clear bins allow you to easily see what’s inside and the lids let you stack containers and save space in the process.

But containing the clutter isn’t limited to storage bins. Rolling carts are wonderful for keeping multiple bins and homeschooling supplies in one spot. We love this trolley from IKEA that allows you to roll your supplies next to your workspace, then roll them out of the way when school is over.

6. Consider a Storage Unit

There are times when decluttering just won’t cut it. If you find that you need to temporarily remove large pieces of furniture that you truly love, or if you have tons of curriculum and books that you currently don’t need but aren’t ready to get rid of, a storage unit may be just the thing you need to keep your belongings safe until you’re ready to bring them home again.

If you’ll be storing books and furniture, opt for a climate-controlled unit as both books and wood furniture are prone to mildew and warping if exposed to fluctuating temperatures and humidity levels.

If you decide that a storage unit will be part of your homeschool decluttering process, we hope you’ll contact us at Holloway Storage. Our team of pros can provide you with a custom quote for the perfect amount of storage, ensuring you’ll have just enough room to safely store your belongings without paying for more space than you need.