Tips for Setting Up a Child's Room for School

July 7, 2025, 11:00 am | Read time: 5 minutes

Just recently, it was all about changing diapers, and suddenly it’s time to prepare for your child’s upcoming school start. myHOMEBOOK editor and interior designer Odett Schumann explains how to set up a child’s room for a school-aged kid—without a big financial investment!

When your child reaches school age, they need a backpack, textbooks, and various other school supplies. Since homework is done at home, it’s also important to set up the child’s room to accommodate their school needs. You don’t always have to buy everything new, and our tips will show you how to optimally prepare your child for school by setting up their room accordingly.

Adapting a Child’s Room for School to New Functions

Young girl sitting at a desk and writing — Positioning the desk at a 90° angle to the window provides ample daylight for homework without causing glare

As your child starts school, the room setup needs to be adjusted accordingly. New functions should be integrated into the space, while areas like play zones may need to be reduced. Ideally, the child’s desk should be placed near a window to ensure plenty of daylight during study or homework time. To avoid glare, it’s advisable to position the desk at a 90° angle to the window. Ideally, the child sits with the long side facing the wall, looking at a board with memos, a schedule, and early art projects. Books, notebooks, and other items should be easily accessible on a wall shelf. The child’s bed is best placed along a longer wall. If there’s a loft bed, the old play area that made way for the new workspace can be integrated underneath. If the loft bed is near the window, it can be optimally combined with the new desk.

The Ultimate: The Right Desk

Girl sitting at a desk with a laptop doing homework — Nowadays, a laptop or PC is part of school life and must also find a place on a child’s desk

Undoubtedly, the most important piece of furniture for a school-aged child’s room is a desk. Whether new or secondhand, it should ideally meet several criteria. Besides being oriented towards daylight, the desk should have a certain width. A model should measure between 100 cm and 120 cm. This is important because, in addition to school notebooks, a PC or laptop often needs to find a place there. Therefore, shelves and drawers are necessary to store items that can’t fit on the desktop. It’s also advisable for the desk to be height-adjustable to grow with the child. This feature allows the furniture to be used for many years without needing constant replacement. When purchasing a child’s desk, ensure the model has no sharp edges and is free of harmful substances.

Setting Up a Child’s Room for School: New Furniture vs. …

Child sitting on an adjustable swivel chair at a desk doing homework — Furniture like a swivel chair, which a child uses almost daily, should be easily adjustable for comfort

Where there’s a new desk, a suitable chair is also needed. Just like an adult’s workspace, a model with wheels is advisable for the mini version. Swivel chairs are usually ergonomically designed, allowing for individual adjustments in the seat and backrest, promoting a healthy sitting posture for the child. Ideally, the configuration should be easy to adjust so the child can do it independently. When buying a new swivel chair, it’s also wise to invest in a floor mat. This prevents the floor from being damaged during wild spins during a study break. If the new desk doesn’t have enough drawers and cabinets, a rolling container is recommended. It provides storage space for all school items, keeping them out of sight after work is done, allowing the child to focus on play without being reminded of school.

…Used Furniture

Under a child's desk is a rolling container with open and closed compartments — As the child grows, their school needs increase, requiring more storage solutions over time

In addition to rolling containers, there are various shelf models, sideboards, or wall rails to create storage space in a school-aged child’s room. Existing furniture or secondhand pieces can also be used. Such function-oriented furniture is usually less important to children than a bed or desk. A neutral look ensures the furniture remains part of the child’s room for a long time. As the child acquires more school materials and possessions with age, more items need to be stored. When acquiring different storage solutions, it’s advisable to maintain a balance between open and closed storage. Closed fronts generally provide a tidier appearance, even if chaos lurks behind the doors.

Also interesting: Tips for Setting Up a Shared Room for Siblings

A Bed with Storage

Since the child is still growing, a new bed is often purchased alongside the desk. These beds often have “adult dimensions,” making the purchase worthwhile until the teenage years. As storage space becomes increasingly valuable at home, more multifunctional beds are available. These beds feature drawers, open compartments, or a storage box, accommodating bedding and other items. This can save money on additional storage furniture like shelves or sideboards.

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Setting Up a Child’s Room for School: Don’t Forget the Lighting

A child lying in bed in the dark, reading a book with a reading light — As the child learns to read, a small reading lamp by the bed should be part of the new room setup, in addition to a desk lamp

As children reach school age, their room is no longer just a place for play but must also meet functional needs. For a welcoming atmosphere that supports comfortable learning, a bright room design is recommended. This is enhanced by appropriate lighting. In addition to a ceiling light, a school-aged child’s room setup should include a desk lamp. Ideally, this lamp can be adjusted in direction and light beam, and even dimmed. These features allow for adjustments based on the child’s size, preventing uncomfortable glare while studying. As the child learns to read and write, they may prefer to read bedtime stories themselves. Therefore, from school age, it’s advisable to mount a small reading lamp, such as a clip-on spot, on the bed frame.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@myhomebook.de.