portable homework station ideas

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April 29, 2022

Portable Homework Station | 7+ DIY Portable Homework Station Ideas To Help You Prepare Your Kids For Back To School

This post is all about portable homework station ideas that are perfect for small kids, tweens, and teens, and can even be modified to create a portable workstation .

If your kids are anything like mine, they don’t enjoy working on their homework in a specific space. For example, my teens sometimes do their homework on the kitchen table or in their bedrooms, and other times they want to work on homework in the living room. So for us, a portable home station was the way to go.

So if you are in the same boat as us, then you are going to love these DIY homework station ideas. They are seriously genius and make homework time a lot less stressful.

In this post, I am sharing with you some creative DIY homework station ideas that are not only organized but are all portable so that your kids can move around with them as needed.

This post is all about how to make a portable homework station.

Portable Homework Station Ideas:

Here are some amazing portable homework station inspiration ideas you can easily recreate for your kids at home.

1. Rolling cart and containers

A must-try portable homework station idea for kids of all ages is using a rolling cart to organize all school supplies. These rolling carts are perfect because you can roll them from room to room with minimal effort and you can fit plenty of school supplies in them, as shown in this example by a Night Owl Blog .

Shop for a similar rolling cart on Amazon.

2. Metal baskets and jars

If you don’t have room for something like a rolling cart, try a cute metal basket like this one that Making it in the Mountains used here. It fits plenty of school supplies and it is a perfect portable homework station. And if you are looking for a homework station idea that won’t be an eyesore to leave out this cute idea is a must-try!

Shop for a similar metal basket on Amazon.

3. Flat serving tray

Do you have an extra tray lying around? Give it a new use by using it to create a homework supply station for your kids. You can keep it simple and do what the Southern Couture did, as shown here. You can also pair it with containers to have a little more storage space. I seriously love this idea!

Shop a similar wood tray on Amazon.

4. Large plastic bin

If you are looking for something more budget-friendly, here is a great idea by Stuffed Suitcase where a white plastic bin paired with a few other containers is used to create an organized portable homework station

You can usually find similar plastic bins at the Dollar Tree or any other dollar store.

5. Large tray

If you liked the tray idea but need a little more storage, this idea here will probably be the one for you. Here, Remodelando la Casa uses a tray paired with a few other jars and containers to create a fun and functional homework organization station that can easily be moved from room to room as needed.

Shop for similar glass jars from Amazon.

6. Dollar tree caddy

Okay, how genius is this portable homework caddy? Not only will it be functional, but it’s also insanely budget-friendly!

You can usually find these caddies at the dollar store. Visit Simple Made Pretty to see how to recreate this exact one.

7. Crafters canvas caddy

This idea is genius! Love the way Today’s Creative Life used this pouch to create an incredibly functional and portable homework station that can be taken even in the car if needed. LOVE this idea so much!

Shop for a similar pouch on Amazon.

Portable Homework station | Q&A:

1. what do you need in a homework station.

This definitely depends on your child’s age, but here are some staple items that my kids have used consistently throughout the years.

Led pencils
Highlighters
Sticky notes
Glue sticks
Craft Paper
Color pencils

2. Where should I put my homework station?

There is no specific space where a homework station would work best. I think this can be a different space for everyone. For example, if you or your child prefer to have an assigned permanent space to work on homework, then I would definitely set up a desk or even just a space on your kitchen table and designate that space as the homework station. However, if you are someone who prefers to move around the house, I would suggest creating a portable homework station that you can move around with you. You can keep this homework station in a closet, inside a cabinet, or just out on display between uses.

3. How do I create a study space without a desk?

If you do not have a desk, then a portable homework station is going to be the way to go. The best thing about a portable homework station is that you do not have to have a designated space for doing homework. Your child can take their portable station wherever they need it. And because it is portable, it can be stored out of sight when it is no longer in use if you prefer it that way.

This post was all about portable homework station ideas.

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Creating A Portable Homework Station

Get ready for back to school with this portable homework station. if you don’t have a lot of space, this is a great way to organize school supplies at home..

toddler holding notebook and pulling paper out of her homework caddy

Today we’re talking about something that’s on the mind of every parent: back to school. 2020 sure has brought on a lot, and figuring out schooling arrangements has not been easy on anyone.

That’s why I’m teaming up with 14 fellow bloggers to share back to school (at home) decorating and organizing ideas to help you as you figure out what doing more or all schooling at home this year. I’ll link to everyone’s creative ideas at the end of this blog post so you can go check out what they’re doing to make the best of back to school this year.

Although I don’t have school-aged kids, Chloe turns 3 this fall and is already accumulating an astonishing amount of papers, workbooks, art projects, and craft supplies. We need a quick way to clean up the table before dinner and contain all of her things so they’re easy to get back out again later. I imagine you can relate!

My solution is a new portable homework station! This is a simple organizing idea that will work for any age kid. It’s more of a crafting/coloring station for us right now but can grow into a learning station and homework station as Chloe gets older. Ready to see it?! It’s so useful yet SO SIMPLE (always a win in my book!).

<<PIN THE IMAGE BELOW FOR LATER!>>

image of homework caddy with text overlay

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Setting Up A Portable Homework Station

Gather up supplies.

First things first, round up everything you need to store or make a list. Do you have a ton of small office supplies? What about workbooks? Do you need a spot for a Chromebook to live?

This was easy for me, I just went to our dining table and sorted through the mess of papers and coloring books and crayons😂. My goal was to create a home for basic school supplies with enough room for several notebooks/activity books

Choose A Container

Now that you know what types of school items you need to store, the next step is to locate a container.

Some things to look for in a container:

Handles – helps make your container easily portable
Size – you probably want something big enough to hold notebooks and paper, do you need it to be a little bigger to also fit Chromebooks and binders?
Not Too Big – you want to keep the size small enough that it’s light enough to carry around and small enough to live on a shelf or sit on a table.
Sturdy – workbooks and electronics can get heavy, so look for a container that’s durable enough to hold up to a lot of use

Your container doesn’t have to be fancy. In fact, you might already have something that could work!

For Chloe’s portable homework station, I used one of these large bins from The Container Store. I actually just used one of these to organize under our kitchen sink last week, and I absolutely love the size!

It’s wide enough for notebooks and has a removable divider that works well for separating paper and notebooks from smaller supplies.

And if you need extra space for school supplies, you might consider a bin for paper/notebooks plus a Lazy Susan like I used as Chloe’s art caddy.

homework station filled with school supplies and notebooks

Compartmentalize

That brings me to the next step: compartmentalize! Add smaller containers, pencil cups, or pencil cases to organize all of those school supplies so they don’t get lost.

I recommend using something that can be easily removed from your container, like a big pencil cup that can be set in the middle of the table during the day. If you don’t have removable bins, make sure your kid can easily reach all of the supplies inside of your homework station.

I dropped in 4 of these little baby bins that are designed to be a perfect fit inside my large bin. They have a few different sizes and heights so they’re really versatile. See how I used a taller one as a pencil cup and shorter ones for other supplies? They keep things organized and easy to grab.

hand pulling small container of pencils out of larger container holding school supplies

Fill With School Supplies

Now for the easy part…fill up your containers with all the school supplies your kiddo needs! In addition to the obvious supplies, you might want to add a printable assignment tracker or monthly calendar to a clipboard to keep things extra organized.

Chloe’s portable bin is stocked with notebooks and coloring books in the back half. And the smaller bins are filled with all sorts of basic supplies (though the big bottle of glue is 100% only in there for photos, no way am I giving my toddler that unsupervised!).

toddler coloring at table with portable homework station in the background

I’ve never met a label I didn’t love, so of course I went a little extra with a few quick labels for things. This is totally optional, but really cute and could be handy if you have multiple kids all working in one space.

I added Chloe’s name across the front of her homework bin using Cricut vinyl ( FYI I have a whole video tutorial on that process ). Can’t you see a row of these bins sitting on a bookshelf, one for each kid in the family?

Give It A Home

Lastly, designate a permanent “home” for your newly organized homework station. This is portable so it’s meant to move around, but that also means it should have a home to live in between work sessions.

Give your portable homework station a spot that’s near where most of the schoolwork will happen and ideally somewhere where your kid can reach it themselves (or not, if you’re like me and have an almost-three-year-old who can’t be trusted on her own with red markers😉)

Ours is currently living on this little cabinet next to our printer. It’s next to the kitchen so easy to carry over the the dining table when we need it, and quick to pack back up and put away.

portable homework caddy sitting on a cabinet next to a printer

Now who’s going to assemble a portable homework caddy like this ASAP?! So helpful, no matter your kid’s age. Extra helpful with more schooling at home, but also useful in a normal year.

My friends are sharing some awesome back to school ideas this week, go take a look at their tips and projects!

Looking for more back to school inspiration? Take a look at these blog posts:

Organizing Homework With A Free Printable Assignment Tracker
An Organized Toddler Art Caddy
10 Homework Station Ideas Perfect for Any Home
Organizing A Modern Home Office Nook

Have a fantastic day!

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About the author

Emily Counts is the founder of Small Stuff Counts, a home and organization blog she created in 2013. Her goal is to help moms make home life easier so they can create beautiful, organized, and thriving homes. She shares life at home as a working mom juggling two young kids, a corporate job, and all that goes into managing a home. The Iowa-based blogger lives in the suburbs of Des Moines, Iowa, with her husband, two children, and rescue dog. Emily has collaborated with brands including The Container Store, Cricut, Command Brand, Bissell, Sam's Club and Rubbermaid.

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Labels and bins within bins… you are speaking our language!

I love the homework station and how you can pull it out and put it away! So smart!

i LOVE having everything organized and totable! so smart!

This is such a great idea to keep it all organized!

Emily, I love this cute portable school supply box! You’re so smart to put smaller containers inside the larger one — that definitely helps keep everything more organized (and easier to find!).

Comments are closed.

image of office and school supplies with text overlay

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Dollar Tree Portable Homework Station DIY

July 26 By // by Simple Made Pretty Editor 40 Comments This post may contain affiliate links or a sponsored post.

Dollar Tree Homework Station DIY

I love using Dollar Store products for home organization, crafts, DIY decor, and creating inexpensive gift baskets. I decided it was time to create a homework station for both our kids since they both will have homework in the approaching months. I came up with this Dollar Tree Portable Homework Station DIY since we don’t have a dedicated homework space in our home (and I’m not a fan of clutter). I wanted to make a portable homework station for our kids to use. Dollar Tree was the perfect source for inspiration to create this simple homework station. Get ready for a clutter-free school year with this back-to-school DIY and my free printable chalkboard labels!

Get ready for a clutter-free school year with this simple Dollar Store portable homework station and our free printable label! Back to school, homework station, back to school DIY, back to school ideas

Why Create a Portable Homework Station?

I created this portable homework station so my kids could take their school supplies anywhere to do their homework. They can take this Dollar Tree caddy with their school supplies on road trips, to the park, to their grandparent’s house, and more!

Should you do homework in your room?

I suggest doing your homework where you feel most comfortable. You should have a quiet place where you can concentrate. With this Dollar Tree DIY Homework Caddy, you can do your homework anywhere! Try a few areas in your home so you an decide what works best for you!

Is it good for kids to have a desk in their room?

Both of my kids have a desk in their bedroom because we don’t have the space to put their desks anywhere else in the house.

Where can I sit down and do homework?

My kids will do their homework at the kitchen counter, the kitchen table, at the desk in their bedroom, while watching TV in a comfy chair, and at the library.

How to Make a Portable Homework Station

This portable homework station is a shower caddy that I spray painted silver , added a pretty chalkboard label along with some plastic cups (also from the Dollar Store!) to keep everything tidy. Simple right? You can easily make this and get organized before school starts!

DIY Dollar Tree Portable Homework Station

Shower Caddy
Spray Paint (optional)
Twine /Ribbon/String to attach the label
Plastic Tumblers (also from Dollar Tree)
Homework Supplies (crayons, pencils, glue, scissors, etc)
Free Printable “Homework” & “Belongs To” label (get it below)

Directions:

Spray paint the shower caddy if desired. The green caddy and white cups that I picked up are also fun colors, I just wanted a neutral 🙂

Add cups and homework supplies and the kids can get to work. Woohoo!

This Dollar Store portable homework caddy will be a lifesaver once school starts. I love that this one has a handle so we can hang it as well! Head to the dollar store and make one now so your kids can complete their homework like a rock star!

What does your homework station look like?

Print the Instructions:

DIY Dollar Tree Homework Station

Homework Supplies (crayons, pencils, glue, scissors, etc)Free Printable "Homework" & "Belongs To" label (get it below)

Instructions

Spray paint the shower caddy if desired.
The green caddy and white cups that I picked up are also fun colors, I just wanted a neutral 🙂
Print, cut, and attach the label to the caddy. Add cups and homework supplies and the kids can get to work. Woohoo!

Grab the Free Printable Homework Station Labels!

Psssssttt…Right now I’m offering a FREE 3-Day Course to Organize your Kitchen FOR GOOD! The free course includes instructions, tips, and pictures for how to de-clutter, simplify and organize your kitchen in only 3-days! Hurry up and sign up here ! (Course instructions will be sent after subscribing)

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links or a sponsored post. All opinions are always 100% mine and I don’t partner with any product or company that I don’t use and love. Please see our Full Disclosure for more information.

Reader Interactions

July 31 at 12:22 am

Great idea! This would work on my craft desk too! BL

August 1 at 1:25 am

Great idea Lisa!

July 31 at 11:34 am

Such a great idea and the kids would love it, especially with their name on it. BL

July 31 at 12:02 pm

kids would love these

October 30 at 11:39 am

how do you get the cups to fit caddy….it is separated into small sections…..i use them for lots of things but a cup would not fit in those 3 compartments……….thanks….love new ideas

October 30 at 4:21 pm

Hi there, They are plastic cups so they can be manipulated to fit in the caddy.

August 23 at 2:03 pm

Thanks for sharing! This is a great way to be neat and tidy but also creative!

August 27 at 9:24 am

Glad you enjoyed it!

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All content on this site is copyright © Simple Made Pretty LLC and simplemadepretty.com. Many of my posts contain affiliate links. If you click on an affiliate link and buy something, I may receive a small commission. Read more on my PRIVACY POLICY PAGE .