As we prepare for our kids to head back to school, new clothes and supplies are at the top of the list – but have you figured out where your children are going to do their homework?? In the age of iphones, ipads and the internet, parents are wise to consider alternatives to setting up desks in their children’s rooms. In my homework days, there was no threat of texting instead of studying or ‘facebooking’ instead of finishing a math problem.
Most of my clients with young children are opting to provide a central spot in the kitchen for homework where kids can be monitored and parents can assist if required. This provides a dedicated nook for papers, a computer and supplies without cluttering the dining room or kitchen table.
The tricks to keeping this space neat are:
1. Ensure that there is ample storage for all the electronics and wires required.
2. Provide pencil drawers, closed door storage and shelving that can accommodate the amount of junk that can accumulate.
The messier the family is, the more likely I am to suggest more closed storage – nothing can deter more from a gorgeous kitchen then open shelving that is piled high with papers and books. This space should still be stylized while providing function. If a client confesses that they are not too neat, closed doors is a great solution!
The choice to drop the desk to the standard desk height (29.5”) vs. continuing the surface at counter height (36”) is a personal one. Depending on where the desk is located within the kitchen a chair can be pulled up from the table for a desk height solution. In the case of a counter height station, a stool from the island can act as a great double duty.
Either way – the kitchen homework station is a great use of space and an equally great way to keep your family from disappearing behind closed doors.
