10 DIY Back-to-School Homework Station Ideas

Kids get distracted by, well, everything when it’s time to do homework.

Keep distractions at bay with these budget-friendly homework stations that’ll give each child everything they need within reach.

 

1. Repurpose a wooden pallet for an inexpensive folding wall desk.

Spend a day or two turning an old wooden pallet — which you can get for free — into a compact folding desk.

Get the full instructions here.

 

2. Fill a rolling cart with supplies for a mobile homework station.

Any multi-tier rolling cart will work, but IKEA’s $29.99 RÅSKOG cart is perfection.

Kids can roll the cart to whatever work surface they choose.

 

3. Separate a long desktop with storage units for multiple kids.

 

Personalized workstations may be the key to a distraction-free zone when you have multiple kids.

Set up one long desktop (or line multiple desks in a row), and separate the stations with shelving, individual supply bins and bulletin boards.

 

 

4. Set up display boards between kids.

You can pick these tri-fold boards up from Walmart for under $3.

Clip to-do lists and deadlines to the board every week, along with motivational quotes and messages!

 

5. Hang a pegboard above a table for a well-stocked workstation.

Mount a pegboard over a tabletop or desk, then hang baskets, hooks, and cups to keep homework supplies within reach.

Home Depot sells this 2′ by 4′ sheet of pegboard for just $22.04.

 

RELATED: Ingenious Dollar Store Organization Ideas

 

6. Build your own wall desk for around $29.

Remodelaholic used this Better Homes and Gardens wall desk as inspiration for her own $29 version.

Use our Home Depot hacks to get everything you need at the best price.

Then, get the full instructions here.

 

7. Create a double-sided homework station using a bookshelf.

Mount two halves of a thrift shop table or desk to a bookshelf — giving each child their own space to work.

You can pull that off for a lot less than the cost of IKEA’s Kallax shelf/table combo ($137.98) — but that option is always there, too.

Just purchase another tabletop, two legs and a second set of mounting hardware to secure another workstation on the opposite side.

 

 

8. Build a portable homework caddy from the dollar store.

Don’t have much space to use beyond your kitchen table?

This caddy can easily fit into a cupboard or pantry when homework is done, and everything you need can be found at your local dollar store.

Check out 32 more ways to organize for back-to-school.

 

9. Turn a gutted closet into a workstation.

Don’t buy a new house just to get that office space — choose a closet you can do without, and remove anything that won’t enhance your new homework station.

The Home Depot lumber department will cut a white board to the right length (the board will cost around $16 and the cut is free), then mount the board over plastic file drawers (I found these for $9).

You’ll have a custom workspace for under $40.

 

10. Place a comfy adult chair nearby or combine workspaces.

Kids love having Mom or Dad nearby while they’re trying to figure out their latest story problems.

Make it easier on everyone by adding a few comfy chairs nearby so you can read or catch up on your meal planning between problem solving.

 

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