To invigorate young minds, choose bright colors to decorate. Start with a foundation color of hot pink or bright orange, sunshine yellow or grasshopper green. Paint the trim and borders in a contrasting, equally bright color. Pick up some chalkboard paint and cover half of a wall so there is an evident collective workspace to figure out challenging math problems or write notes.
Hang patterned curtains that reflect the trim colors: Polka dots, stripes and abstract shapes give students something interesting to contemplate when their eyes wander during schoolwork.
If your children can work well together, place a large picnic-style table in the center of the room for them to share as desk space. A 5x8 area rug set off to the side of the table, complete with brightly colored bean bags, works well for a reading corner.
Paint bookshelves fire engine red and make sure you provide each child with a cubby hole to house their school supplies. Spend an hour helping kids to personalize their storage boxes. Supply them with paints and sponges.
Inspire children to think outside the limitations of their textbooks by offering them a broader world-view perspective. Create this through a wall panel or painting that highlights the globe. National Geographic offers a large cream color-based map that includes all the continents, with geographic coordinates etched around the edges.
A neutral paint scheme works best. Think African safari and pull all outdoor elements inside for reflection. Desks can be handmade out of scrap wood, or simply bringing in a coffee table will allow your kids to place pillows below it and use as a workspace or to enjoy a puzzle. Pick up some khaki-colored hanging canvas chairs, and install them in the corner of the ceiling of the reading nook. Recycle old wood boxes to be used for school supplies. Encourage the kids to get crafty and paint them shades of green, yellow, blue or brown and stencil their names along the side.
Switch out the decor of your school room to match with the seasons. Assuming you homeschool year-round, this gives you four opportunities to create new stimulating learning zones. If you have several children, allow each of them to pick their favorite season and lead that particular seasonal project.
In the springtime, for example, paint walls grass-green, and include large trees and a sun on the wall, with blue sky and birds flying overhead. In the summer, run a picnic theme through the room, complete with a checkered table cloth for the work table; use shades of yellow and navy to complement the area. Allow the kids to decorate their desks with details reflective of their individual tastes. A fall example involves switching the walls to a natural earth tone and free-hand painting or stenciling on trees with brightly colored fall leaves. Place dark brown wicker baskets in the corners for books and school supplies. Toss big cushy orange and red pillows on the floor for a reading corner.