Homeschooling Without the Classroom “Vibes”

When I first started homeschooling, I thought I needed the perfect setup. You know—perfect desk, a chalkboard wall, cute bins with labels, and everything looking like it came straight off of a Pinterest board. But the truth is, homeschooling doesn’t have to look like a traditional classroom (and honestly, it usually doesn’t). If I wanted a classroom setting, I would send them to public school. The best factor in homeschooling is the flexibility, that goes with the setup too.

In our home, we keep things simple. All of our supplies live on one shelf, in our dining room. Some days we’re at the dining table, other days we’re on the couch, outside on the porch, or even snuggled up in bed with a stack of books. The beauty of homeschooling is the freedom—it’s about educating our babies in a way that fits our family, not checking boxes to make it look a certain way.

Your homeschool space doesn’t have to be a designated room. It doesn’t have to be picture-perfect. What matters most is that it’s functional, easy for you to access, and works for your family’s rhythm. If that means a tote bag of supplies you move from room to room, or a single shelf like us, that’s perfectly okay.

Some families thrive with a full-on schoolroom, and that’s wonderful! Others (like us) are happier with a flexible setup. Neither way is “right” or “wrong.” Homeschooling is not about recreating a schoolhouse environment—it’s about giving our kids the tools and space to learn in a way that feels natural.

So here’s your reminder: don’t stress about creating the “perfect” homeschool space. Create a space that serves your family, not one that looks like someone else’s Instagram feed. At the end of the day, your kids won’t remember how your homeschool shelf was organized—they’ll remember the time you spent learning and growing together.