Create learning zones at home

From the Resene decorating blog

Home schooling has become a normality for many of us in recent times. It might not need to happen all the time, but families have increasingly had to work out just how to manage lessons from bedrooms and kitchen tables with mixed success.

Having a dedicated learning zone at home can be really helpful in getting children and teens to switch into a learning frame of mind. That’s useful not just for small children but especially as they get older and the homework levels grow.

It can also be a challenge if your family home is already a bit stretched for space, but there are ways to create fun, engaging interior spaces using Resene that your kids will want to learn in.

Work with what you have

The first thing to do is try and find a dedicated space in your home to turn into a learning zone. Having a consistent place to sit down and do schoolwork helps get your kids into the right frame of mind. It could be a corner of their bedroom, in a spare room or in a living area.

A key thing to think about when choosing a space is how to make it inviting and stimulating but not distracting. That might mean being in a bedroom, or other play area, next to the lure of toys and games may not be the best choice.

It’s also a good idea to think about how much space you’ll realistically need. If you have younger children who will be learning together, or who need supervision for their lessons, you’ll need a bigger space than just a small school desk for example.

If you are setting aside a corner of your child’s bedroom as the designated learning area, you can use paint and wallpaper to clearly define the space so it feels a bit like a room within a room. You can theme the study space to whatever colours and interests they have. How about an Amazon jungle with Resene Wallpaper Collection 91250 or fill it with mermaids with Resene Wallpaper Collection 30569-1. You could create the illusion of a secret cave by painting an irregular shape in moody Resene Bokara Grey or Resene Nocturnal and add spots of glow in the dark paint, Resene FX Nightlight to look like glow worms at night.

This idea of a room within a room works well for homework spaces for kids of any age. It not only gives them a designated learning space, but also a bedroom they’ll love.

If your children are studying at the dining room table and aren’t able to keep books, tablets and stationery out ready for the next lesson, think about some fun, portable storage solutions.

Get your kids to decorate a wooden crate with Resene testpots to store all their school belongings in and keep it in a corner of the room. Alternatively, you could paint an old wooden trolley to store school supplies and roll it out when it’s time for lessons to start. Setting up the space can become part of the ritual that gets your kids into the mindset of learning.

Glue sections of corkboard to a folding wooden screen – and paint some sections with Resene FX Chalkboard Paint or Resene FX Write-on Wall Paint. It’s a great way to create a classroom environment at home.

Think about colour

No matter what age we are, surrounding ourselves with the right colours is a huge help in stimulating concentration and creativity needed for learning.

There’s always been plenty of debate about what colours have different impacts on our mental and emotional state.

Warm colours like yellow, red and orange are thought to inspire creativity; try Resene Thumbs Up, Resene Red Herring or Resene Twisted Sister.

Soft pinks like Resene Soulful, Resene Ethereal and Resene Shilo, and greens like Resene Nourish, Resene Peace and Resene Unwind are said to calm an overstimulated mind.

Blues are thought to be associated with increased productivity – try Resene Excalibur, Resene Meditation or Resene Remember Me. Reds are considered to be intellectually and emotionally stimulating – try Resene Flame Red, Resene Pohutukawa, or Resene Jalapeno.

That said, the most effective colours for learning at any age, will be the ones the learner loves and responds to the most, which could be anything from bright pink Resene Cranberry and orange Resene Valencia to bold Resene Teal Blue or Resene All Black.

Just a pop of a favourite colour on a chair, desktop or shelf can be enough to create engagement with your study space.

The key to designing a learning zone your child will want to be in, is making it personal to them, as much as you can in the space you have available.

Quick hacks for inspiring study spaces

• The right lighting is important in learning zones to keep everybody alert and avoid eye strain. Natural light is best but if your desk is in a darker area – or for night-time study – a good study lamp is essential.

• Comfortable seating is a must-have for a study space. If kids aren’t comfortable it’s going to be hard to keep them sitting down. Think about seats and desks or tables that are the right height, or that are adjustable. Maybe add some giant comfy cushions for activities like reading.

• Keep things organised. A cluttered area is distracting and can make it frustrating to find the books or tools you need.

• Shelf room dividers are a great, multi-functional way to divide your study space in larger rooms.

• If you’re tight on space, consider raising the bed on a sturdy frame to the height of a top bunk, and put your desk or study table underneath.

• Mask geometric shapes on a wall near your desk and paint with Resene FX Blackboard Paint, Resene FX Chalkboard Paint or Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen to create a surface that can be used like a chalkboard.

• Look beyond the home office section for items that can help you to organise, divide and conquer clutter. Items designed to help you organise other parts of your home, like your kitchen or laundry, can offer opportunities for clever solutions.

• Introduce at least one easy-to-care for plant into your space to bring beauty, oxygen and life to your study area.

• Get children to paint a ‘homework in progress’ sign using Resene testpots which they can hang out so other family members know not to disturb them.

April 17, 2022

For more ideas and inspiration to create handy spaces in your home, visit your local Resene ColorShop or see the decorating inspiration gallery on the Resene website.

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