It’s finally happened! After 2 long years of saving and waiting, and saving, and checking online, it finally opened. Ikea. Right here in my backyard! (Well, not MY back yard, but you get the idea…its close…real close…almost too close.)
Anyway, like I was saying I’ve been eyeballing some shelves and desks for a couple years now, and so as soon as it opened, I headed out. I know crazy right? Going to Ikea right when it opens. But I didn’t go on opening day, I went the next day. It was a weekday, so I figured all the fanatics would be back at work after camping out, so I was safe. Good call on my part too, it wasn’t bad at all!
I seriously love everything in that store! I did get a little lost at one point though (I forgot how crazy-mazey it is in there) had to call a BFF to get me out LOL! She directed me to those handy little arrows on the floor and told me “follow the arrows, they’ll lead you out”. She was right. I stayed on the arrows and after just 2.5 hours had made my way all the way through the store.
I did get lost in one of those little apartments they have set up, a super cool closet lured me in. But eventually I found my way back to my trusty arrows. So happy they have those things.
But anyway, I’m sure you all don’t want to hear me ramble on about my trip to Ikea. The best store ever. So I’ll get onto my new schoolroom setup!
I started out by taking most of the things out of our school room to make new for the Ikea bliss.
Next I recruited the help of some able bodied folks to help me assemble.
And assemble…
And assemble. Why I thought swivel chairs that raise and lower would be a good plan is beyond me. I got sucked in to all the goodness by Ikea.
I know some of you will be disappointed that I’ve ditched my little desks for this year, but we’re going to try something new. We did school some in our kitchen last year and I liked having the kids together at one table. It made it a little easier to keep an eye on what everyone was doing, so we’re going to try that again this year with this cool setup.
And don’t worry, I didn’t ditch my workboxes, they’re still in the room. I was planning to use the Ikea drawer units for my workboxes, but couldn’t part with the 10-drawer ones I’ve used for the past 2 years, so for now the Ikea drawers hold their larger books and supplies like pencils, scissors, glue etc. That way people aren’t fighting over those things and they’re readily available in their top drawer.
After re-organizing all of our stuff in the new space, we ended up with this. I LOVE it! Got our big USA Wall map for our Road Trip USA studies.
What’s this whole setup include? I’m not advertising for Ikea here, but I figured some of you may want to know how to put this thing together yourself. They also have table legs you could use instead that are much less expensive, as well as Amon Shelves that are cheaper too. They also have different colors and sizes. What inspired me to go white with four young children and a bunch of enticing markers in the middle of the table is beyond me.
My school room is about 11′ x 14′, the total size of the desk is about 5’x5′.
- 4 – Vika Alex Drawer units
- 2 – Vika Amon Table Tops (I purchased two 2.5′ x 5′ table tops and put them together for a 5×5 table, these are now called Linnmon table tops. But they’re the same as the ones I purchased.)
- 1 Expedit Wall Shelf (The Expidit 5×5 units are no longer available, the largest one they offer now are 4×4 cubes and called Kallax)
- 4 Jules Jr. Swivel Chairs (Another potential mistake, these swivel and raise and lower…I’m sure we’ll get lots done this year)
- 5 DRÖNA Storage boxes
Here’s a close-up of the drawers and chairs for you. I turned them all in a pin-wheel pattern so that one set of drawers is facing each student. I’m strongly considering getting a glass top cut for this to protect all my whiteness, but that’ll have to come later as budget allows.
I used my old cube system from Target for my Teacher’s Manuals, the old bookshelf for games and such, then proceeded to fill my new Ikea Expedit Wall Shelf full of goodies.
And, yes, that is my Letter of the Week curriculum in the binders along the top row. Wow, all that for $10, I must really like you guys ;o). In case you’re wondering, I purchased page protectors, then put all the games inside those in binders. 26 binders. Really. No kidding. Plus a few more for the K4 Curriculum as well!
This cool Making Memories Caddy was one of my old scrapbooking items. I dumped out the supplies and filled it with markers. Yep, you know you’re a homeschooler when you start sacrificing your scrapbooking supplies in the name of school.
Here’s another look at our shelves, calendar area and All About Spelling board below:
On the opposite wall is my whiteboard, Word Jail bulletin board, and a smaller USA map we’ll be using for our Road Trip USA this year.
Now that I had my room all set up, the last thing to do was sort all my curriculum for the year.
Glad I got a big table. Yikes.
Pray for me.
So that’s it, our schoolroom is all set up, curriculum is put away, and all’s ready to go. Too bad the kids aren’t allowed in here anymore or we could start school tomorrow ;o)
Where’d I Get that?
- Making Memories Caddy (I purchased mine at Michael’s Hobby Store)
- Alphabet Palm Tree on wall
- 10 Drawer Workbox Carts (I purchased mine at JoAnn’s Fabric Store)
- Giant Whiteboard (Check your local www.craigslist.org I found mine for $5!)
- Blue Organizer Bins on Expedit Shelving
- Seasons Calendar Poster (This is held onto a cork board with small thumb tacks. Click here to see a closeup of our Calendar Activities)
Have pics to share? I would love to see what all of you have setup, leave a comment below to share!
You don’t have to get glass for the top of your tables. Mr. Clean sponges get off even permanent marker. I used this when I taught 2 and 3 year olds in Pre-school. Even gets off crayon. Clorox Clean-up is also a great helper with Mr. Clean sponges. 🙂 I love that you chose white. Did you get the caddy in the middle of the table at Ikea too? Love that!
the room looks great! you did an amazing job!
I have loved this room from the moment I saw it! So I finally convinced my husband that we needed it. The closest Ikea store is 400 miles away. I thought no problem, I’ll just have the everything shipped. Well, Ikea shipping cost was going to be $250!!! Ouch, that wasn’t going to work. So I started searching the internet for the same items. So if you don’t have and Ikea store close, here is what I found. I went ahead and ordered the table tops from Ikea. The shipping charge was $25 per table. Not exactly cheap, but I was willing to pay the extra $50. Then my husband actually found the exact same 5 drawer organizer at Michaels. They were $99 and happened to be 40% off that week! If they are not on sale, you can usually find a 40% off coupon online somewhere. If your interested here is the link to find the 5 drawer units. Or you can go to michaels.com and search for mobile 5 drawer organizer.
http://www.michaels.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Michaels-Site/default/Search-AdvancedSearch?cgid=entire&simplesearch=Search&q=mobile+5+drawer+organizer
I’m still on the hunt for the shelving unit, and chairs. But that should be easy! Thanks so much for the ideas. My table tops arrived the other day, and I can’t wait to get started on our new room!
Oh I forgot, they also sell the caddy in middle of the table at Michaels also! (Yay)
I love your room. Thank you so much for sharing. I’ve been on the Ikea site all morning and have been overwhelmed with all the choices and combinations. Your set up us just what I’ve been looking for. I am currently homeschooling our two boys but we are prayerful that God will bless us with more children (naturally or through adoption). This layout will definitely accommodate a growing family. Thanks again for the inspiration.
I love this! I was looking for an idea to combine my sewing room and the playroom which next year will be a homeschooling room as well. The table is perfect.
I was just on Pinterest looking for school area ideas. I thought to myseld, this looks JUST LIKE Erika’s schoolroom on her blog…. and CLICK…. and I was right, lol. 🙂 Love your school room. We have a tiny apt. and I want to start Tot School with our girly in the new year, but trying to figure out where and how. But, I do know that God put us in the apt. we live in, and if it’s His will that we homeschool, He’ll provide a way.
Love your website, printables, and lovely photos! We’re going to Ikea today and planning to buy the components to copy your homeschool desk setup…but I have one big question: is there enough space underneath the table for the kids’ legs, especially for as they get older? From the picture, it looks like it might be a bit tight or their knees might bump up against the drawers? If you could let me know, I would be so grateful. Thank you!!!
Where’d you get the train alphabet wall border? Can’t find it online. Thanks
We’re re-doing our school room and it’s IKEA week for us, so I am searching google images and found your room! We are thinking of a similar set up with the drawer units and rolling chairs. I am wondering if you can tell me how your table has worked out? Do your children mind not having a wide opening for leg space? Do the drawers work well for holding their books?
My bigger kids will be in 8th, 6th, and 5th, so I am hoping this arrangement works for bigger kids too. I already have a wall of floor-to-ceiling white Billy bookshelves. We’re setting up the basement with the Trofast system for toys/play area.
I am also trying to decide rooms and dimensions. Our current room would only fit a 4’x5′ table. If we moved to the den (with French doors that close) it would fit a 4’x6′ table. Or we could move to the unfinished basement and have more room, but I would not have painted walls and hardwood floors ; (
Decisions, decisions. Advice?
Love your homeschooling space!