Like it or not, our school year will begin virtually. While our kids are set to return to the classroom at some point, our school system has selected to start everyone with remote learning. Seeing as that means I still have to work from home, I wanted to establish set learning spaces for each of my children.
In the spring when the world suddenly shut down due to COVID-19, I breathed a sigh of relief that we only had one child in school and we had purchased a Chromebook at the start of the school year. He was essentially set for the unexpected shift to virtual learning. I simply purchased a kindergarten workbook for our preschooler to do during “school time” and we managed to survive the remaining weeks of the year. Now, I’ll have both a kindergartener and 6th grader enrolled with schoolwork to be done – they need their own spots for this.
Ikea Latt Table to Desk Makeover
I know our daughter is going to need the most supervision as she begins kindergarten via remote learning. To best enable me to do this and work, I decided to place her right next to me. The Ikea Latt table set I bought for our son about 9 years ago doesn’t get as much play use anymore and fit perfectly in the space. I decided to freshen it up with gray chalk paint leftover from the bookcase in her room. It’s neutral enough for our guestroom/craft/office and will coordinate perfectly if we move it to her room later.
Next I added a pink desk mat. This was a lucky find. I was actually searching for a mouse pad and stumbled across this product. It works so much better! It covers the majority of the desk top giving it a pretty new finish, works for a mouse pad, and she can set papers on it to write without having to move it out of the way.
Products: Ikea Latt Table Set; DecoArt Chalk Paint – Artifact; Pink 23.6″ x 13.7″ Desk Pad; Touchscreen Chromebook (we opted for a 2018 HP 11.6 through Amazon Renewal. It saved us about 30% versus buying new); Ombre Pink Keyboard Skin; Himalayan Fern Logitech Wireless Mouse; Mpow Headphones; Gray White Chevron Canvas Bin – Kohls (purchased years ago).
Tween Boy Desk Makeover
Last month I repainted and changed up some of the wall decor in our son’s room, but pretty much left his desk area alone. On the wall in front of it hangs a decorative plane propeller (Target find) and metal magnetic board (DIY – 24×36 frame with galvanized metal sheet – so easy!). The desk itself is actually my old craft desk. He snagged it when I opted to treat myself to a larger Ikea desk last fall. Who knew these simple changes would benefit us so much in the coming year. Seriously pure luck.
I still wanted to add a little something and make the space special given, at least for now, it’s his new “classroom” for the year. I ordered a navy blue desk pad and a much needed new desk lamp. He chose a flexible style that clips to the desk and has adjustable light settings.
I also bought him a new bungee chair from the Container Store. He really liked the one we gave my mom as a gift a few months ago and needed a comfortable spot to sit as he tunes into live virtual classes and does his schoolwork. Given that his previous chair was a hand me down folding chair, he was in need of an upgrade that will last him many years.
Products: Dark Blue 23.6″ x 13.7″ Desk Pad; LED Clip on Lamp; Samsung 11.6 Chromebook; Ombre Blue Keyboard Skin; Blue Camo Logitech Wireless Mouse; Dark Blue Bungee Office Chair – The Container Store.
All in all my goal was to create a simple remote learning space solution for both kids. A place of their own where they can focus. Hopefully this will start us off on the right track for a great (albeit very different) school year.
