Make It: DIY Small Homework Station

Make It: DIY Small Homework Station

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School starts in two days at my house and we’ve been running around getting ready for my son to start the third grade. Although it is not much, my son is becoming the age where homework and projects need to get done at home. My dining room table has been the landing zone for everything. After homework was finished, it continued to remain all over my dining room table, making it a mess. This year, I decided to make a fun and organized place for homework and craft projects so I could take my dining room table back!   

Materials

DIY Small Homework Station

The Desk

The most important piece of this project was the desk. I wanted a small child-sized desk the height of his desk at school so his feet could touch the ground while he worked. Here’s what I used:

  • A pre-treated board ready for table tops. (in lumber section at your local hardware store, usually by the trim) I paid about $5 more but it was worth not having to sand and plane it down to make it smooth for writing.
  • 22-inch table legs. I buy mine here for less than $4 a leg.
  • 4 table leg connectors

The rest of the materials I gathered were things I already had around the house. But, I did purchase a rolling cart from IKEA and a cork board to complete the station.

DIY Small Homework Station

DIY Small Homework Station

Step

DIY Small Homework Station

DIY Small Homework Station

Assemble the desk and paint or stain.

Step

DIY Small Homework Station

Recover the bulletin board with fabric.

I decided to cover the badly painted bulletin board with a large fabric scrap. In these moments, I’m so glad I’m a little bit of a fabric hoarder! My bulletin board was so big I needed two yards of fabric to cover it.

DIY Small Homework Station

DIY Small Homework Station

To recover the bulletin board I needed:

  • Spray adhesive
  • Thumbtacks
  • duck tape (not pictured)

I ironed the fabric and then simply used spray adhesive on the front and folded the excess around the back.

DIY Small Homework Station

DIY Small Homework Station

I suggest using a middle weight to heavy duty spray adhesive for this project. I lined up the top and tacked it down before I used the spray adhesive. After spraying and smoothing the front of the bulletin board, I wrapped the fabric around the sides and tacked it. The duck tape was simply to keep the edges nice and neat. You could also use a staple gun here.

DIY Small Homework Station

Above is a look at how I folded the corners.

Step

DIY Small Homework Station

Hang your bulletin board and set up your area. I like how the varying color of stripes blend with my grey wall.  This is pretty bland though… it’s time to brighten it up!

Step

DIY Small Homework Station

DIY Small Homework Station

Start organizing. I grabbed all the things my son would need for his homework or studying and put it together. I grabbed boxes to store the items. I just simply thought through all the things he normally asks me for and put them right by his desk. He will probably still ask but at least they’re there!

DIY Small Homework Station

I stored his pencils, pens, and markers in little white containers. 

Step

DIY Small Homework Station

Make it fun. I found these battery operated lights at the Target dollar store section.

DIY Small Homework Station

I love this Better Homes and Gardens rug from Walmart. The ottoman is an estate sale find. I wanted the homework station to feel different than school where my son has to sit in a chair. He likes to sit on his knees when he works. He can’t at school, but I don’t care at home.

DIY Small Homework Station

I always put my son’s “to do” list on sticky notes. He takes them off when he’s done and it helps him see all he has to do… or how much he has done. The little monster is my favorite. My son drew it on some tracing paper and I traced it onto some fabric. He learned to sew by stitching the lines.

DIY Small Homework Station

My house is also a full blown paper aviation factory. My son loves to make paper airplanes so he made a few for his bulletin board. I call it motivation for what you get to do when you’re done with homework.

DIY Small Homework Station

Now we are ready for school. Well…that depends on who you ask in my family.

DIY Small Homework Station
Pin It: DIY Small Homework Station

Need more organization for school. Check out these cool ways to organize your school stuff.

Looking for more small spaces ideas?

51 Kids’ Rugs That Add Softness And Fun

51 Kids’ Rugs That Add Softness And Fun

Kids’ rugs add softness and fun to a decor scheme. Large rugs completely transform the look and feel of a room, gently dampening the acoustics and creating a cozy factor. Small accent rugs inject a bolt of color, humor, or whimsy. Both create warmth and comfort underfoot. In this collection of 51 kids’ rugs, we will take a look at inspiring designs of all different sizes and shapes. There is something to suit every decor scheme, from cool pastel colors to dazzling brights. You’ll find a mixed bag of themes, including outer space, dinosaurs, animals, and clouds. There are rugs that support play, and educational rugs to aid learning.

Curtain Lengths: How Long Should Your Curtains Be?

Curtain Lengths: How Long Should Your Curtains Be?

Curtain lengths: How long should my curtains be?
Photo: Lidy Dipert

Is there a “right” option for curtain lengths? That depends on who you ask, and often just asking the question can leave you more confused than you were before. The long and short of it is (no pun intended): it’s up to you. But we’re here to help as you answer the question, “How long should curtains be?” We’ll be taking a critical look at curtain lengths, tall and small. What side are you on?            


Basic Curtain Lengths: To the Floor

Floor length curtains
Source: Little Green Notebook

Let’s start with what’s probably the most common of the curtain lengths: to the floor. This is the standard length for hanging curtains – either hitting the floor exactly or hovering a half inch off the ground. Sheer white curtains hung like the ones above (from Little Green Notebook) and the ones below (via A Cup of Jo) are both modern and classic. The curtain lengths make the ceilings seem taller and the room more polished, maybe even a bit formal.

Floor length curtains
Source: A Cup of Jo; Photography: Amy Moss

Cons to floor length? They may make your room look too formal for your liking. Dust will inevitably collect around the bottoms. Also, children may be more likely to grab them and use them as a climbing rope. If you’re asking yourself, “Should curtains go to the floor?,” and kids, pets, and dust aren’t a concern, then floor length is probably your best bet.


Floor-to-Ceiling Curtains

Floor to ceiling curtains
Source: Lonny; Photography: Carol Viziri

You may have heard that hanging your curtains from the ceiling will make your living space appear taller. But how? Visually, your eye tends to follow lines. Whether it’s the double yellow line on the highway, or the walkway to your front door, your eye is drawn towards (and up) pathways. By hanging your curtains from the highest point on the wall, your eye travels up the line, causing you to notice that there is height in the space you are standing in. 

Sheer floor-to-ceiling curtains
Source: AVharrison Publishing

If your living space has high ceilings already, compliment them with tall curtain lengths. Floor-to-ceiling curtains can also help to divide space, whether you’re tucking away a window seat (like the floor-to-ceiling curtains via Lonny) or cutting a whole room in half. Heads up: The worst thing you can do when hanging curtains from the ceiling is to hang them too short. The heightening trick-of-the-eye doesn’t work well if the curtain line abruptly cuts off before it hits the ground.


Short Curtains

Short curtains
Source:  Pinterest

Then there’s the other end of the curtain lengths spectrum: short curtains. Visually speaking, high-water style is not the most appealing way to hang curtains. The shorter length can appear dated. Also, it can cut the visual height of your room in half. From a purely practical standpoint, however, short curtains are sometimes the best option. In the home, it seems like many parents choose shorter curtains for kids’ rooms, probably to avoid the whole Tarzan situation, or just to limit sticky fingers from touching the window treatments. You may also be forced to hang short curtains by the presence of heat-producing radiators or heaters.

Sill-length curtains
Source: Style at Home; Photography: Christy Wright

If you hang short curtains, aim to hit a perpendicular mark on the wall. For instance, the curtain lengths should meet at the top of the baseboard, or the bottom of the windowsill.


Café Curtains

Cafe curtains in kitchen
Source: Heidi Piron

Café curtains are fairly common where there’s a window sill over, say, a sink in a kitchen. Or, in their namesake, cafés, where you wouldn’t want curtains dragging the floor of such a busy, public place.

Cafe curtains in bathroom
Source: Decor Pad

Café curtains are hung usually at the halfway point of a window, or on the bottom pane of a two-part window. They’re great for when you need a bit of privacy (like in this bathroom pictured above), but don’t necessarily want to block out all the natural light coming through the window. Because café curtains are short and cute, they can give a room a more casual vibe.


Breaking at the Floor

Puddling curtains
Source: Amber Interiors

We’ve discussed short curtains, and curtains that hit the floor perfectly. What curtain lengths are left? Long curtains. The more billowy a curtain becomes as it breaks at the floor, the more dramatic it will look. A simple “kiss” to the ground, like the curtains pictured above (via Amber Interiors), adds a touch of flair to this otherwise simple window treatment. This option is similar in style to floor length, but will require more care – dust bunnies like to live in the folds of the billowing curtains!

Puddled curtains
Source: Blinds.com

Last, there’s the most extreme curtain length: puddled. This is a typical French look (think the Rococo period), and is most successful with high ceilings and, usually, expensive fabric. Typically silks are going to billow the best, being both lightweight and a natural fiber. 

Obviously, this look adds a lot of glam to even the simplest decor. But, you really need to have the right architecture to pull it off. 


So, how long should curtains be?

The answer is up to you, your style, and your needs. Hopefully this primer on curtain lengths will help you pick the best window trimmings for your home!


Curtain Lengths 101
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So, what are the best curtain lengths for your space? Are you Team Shortie? Puddler? Somewhere in between? Leave us a comment and let us know!
Japandi Style Home Interiors With Cute Kids’ Rooms

Japandi Style Home Interiors With Cute Kids’ Rooms

These three modern home interiors are each inspired by fresh Scandinavian style decor elements, whilst exuding elegant Asian distinction. An en vogue, graceful archway motif unites the aesthetics of the Japandi apartment interiors, along with a warm natural wood tone and crisp white colour palette. Visualised by Elemental Design, this group of inspirational homes are designed as contemporary family units with functional open plan living spaces. Practical storage ideas make use of small hallways and home entryways, bedrooms are multifunctional with dressing areas and home workspaces. The kids’ rooms are cute, colourful and compact, with fun ideas for kids’ closets, built-in bookcases, bespoke bed designs, kids’ desks and adorable decor.

Recommended Reading:  51 Modern Kid’s Room Ideas With Tips & Accessories To Help You Design Yours

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